Necro(ing)

[Servo]

I have a genuinely not stupid thing to say/ask: When is it okay to necro a thread?

I regularly find threads that haven't been responded to in a while but the conversation is still relevant. In that case should I start a new thread or necro?

 

[Gakkone]

Necroing with the appropriate smiley is encouraged:

 

[spekkio]

There's a higher chance of being called a faggot for necroing a thread than for creating a new one - that's for sure.

Plus, creating a new one may give more work to the mods, if they get an urge to merge it with an old one.

So: it's a win-win situation.

 

[DragoFireheart]

Just don't necro anything in GD and use that smiley.

Should be fine as long as you add something constructive.

 

[felipepepe]

Yeah, as long as there really isn't a more recent thread on the subject, there should be no problem.

 

[Hellraiser]

It is only acceptable if you are a licensed necromancer third class or higher.

 

[Job Creator]

extratopicality and necromancy are good things, please don't inspire the administration to formulate unneeded rules about it

 

[Irxy]

I always thought the whole necro thing is just a dumb meme, nothing wrong in posting into old threads in general.
Well, sure, in some cases there is no sense in this, but it's also not so obvious - for example, it's annoying to google for something just to find the very same question you're interested in without any answers. So maybe the dude who asked for a hint to a game a year ago doesn't need it anymore, but forums are a public place and many others could find it helpful, especially considering the page has been indexed by search engines. Also why create a new discussion on a subject which has already been discussed to a significant extent? Not interested in a topic anymore - just shut up and unsubscribe ffs.

 

[spekkio]

The problem is, most of the time necroing looks like this:

Prima @ 2.2.2007: I think Fallout sucks!
Secunda @ 12.11.2013: LOL, ur a faggot!11!
Tertia @ 12.11.2013: No U!
Dark Underlord @ 13.11.2013: Banned Secunda, warned Tertia. OP is a faggot.

 

[DraQ]

There's a higher chance of being called a faggot for necroing a thread than for creating a new one - that's for sure.

But that's only if the reply doesn't contribute significantly to the thread.

Let no superstitions of peasantry stop us from practicing the art of
.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Try asking this next year, same thread.

 

[Infinitron]

Whatever you do, don't necro old newsposts.

Necroing in GRPG/GG is more acceptable, but it should be very rare that you need to post in a thread that hasn't been active for more than a few months.

 

[Crooked Bee]

It's usually counter-productive to necro old discussion threads ("What is an RPG" etc.) and as a rule better to start a new one.

It is, however, a good thing when people necro old game-related threads, imo, like the Wizards & Warriors thread for example.

 

[Burning Bridges]

I dunno, always feel reluctant to necro. I would recommend to use your brains when doing this. If the thread is still relevant, and the post adds something, or if you feel the topic may have been "forgotten", I would necro instead of creating a new thread. Otherwise it could only create confusion, for example if the thread is about a game announcement which has turned into decline or vaporware, or if the thread was retarded.

Another option could be to provide the link to the original thread in the first post.

I'm not a mod, so I would just go with what CB and Infinitron say.

 

[Dr Tomo]

I am still a bit new, but I have necro'ed a couple threads and see it more beneficial then creating a new one. But if you have to necro a thread you should consider in my opinion two things:

1. Will you be adding anything new? For me when I necro'ed the Zynga thread usually add more news posts of the continued decline and added my two cents as well. So in a nut shell add something.
   
2. If you are going to post in a old discussion use some common sense and realize the last date when it was posted. Example is the pc vs console thread where a poster brought up info on why pc is badass to counter another posters opinion using recent info when the discussion was made in 2011 or something. So obviously a lot has changed from when the discussion died.

I can only say for any of the gaming discussions as it really is the only place I linger and if anything in my opinion the worst case scenario it will die again. Not sure about the other sub forums as I rarely go else where unless the gaming sub forums are a bit slow.

*also quick edit usually the meme helps, I do it if I have to go on to the second page and after.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

Any thread that hasn't had a response within the last five minutes is old and should not be replied to. New threads should be made instead.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

Way I see it, it's only bad to necro when the subject isn't relevant anymore ("Fallout Tactics: now released"), because that is a dark road that leads to the "one thread per subject' megathread inanity. Also, confusing. If you want to show such a thread to today's users, it's better to include a link to it in a recent thread.