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Automatically 'closing threads' idea

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Ian P13/02/2012 20:29:47
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Would it be sensible to automatically 'close off' threads after a fixed length of time to avoid the situation that Les pointed out (in his Forum Niggles topic) where a thread (especially one that had drifted significantly) gets woken up after being dormant for about a year.
 
To me once the flurry of the conversation has died down, if there have been no new replies, for say, three weeks, then it could be closed to further comment.
 
The thread would still be there for reference so it could be found by searches etc.
 
This should not give the editor any more work to do as it could be automated, I cannot see any disadvantages with an 'autoclose' like this but maybe I've missed an obvious flaw.
 
Ian P
Andrew Johnston13/02/2012 20:37:15
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Personally I disagree. Some build threads are only posted to infrequently, but are nevertheless interesting when posted to, even if they have been dormant for a while. As another example, some months ago I started a thread about the finishes obtaining when turning using insert carbide tooling under a variety of conditions. I intend to add further posts to this thread as and when I get time to experiment with more types of material. I wouldn't be able to do that if it was arbitrarily closed.
 
Regards,
 
Andrew
Ady113/02/2012 20:43:48
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Once a thread gets locked it's gone forever, different follow up threads with different titles then add to the disjointed nature of a subject.
 
In here the stirling engine thread is a good example.
 
 
 
422 posts and counting...

Edited By Ady1 on 13/02/2012 20:44:59

Ian P13/02/2012 20:49:57
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Surely when you were ready to update a post you started it would be better to create a new one with a link or reference to the original? Your original post might have wandered off, or be full of extraneous posts so when you add to it at a later date members would have to trawl through to get the whole picture.
 
The new one could have a similar title to the old, and could have links to all the relevant photo or file albums but its content would have the full up to date story and and any new replies would be properly focused.
 
Ian P
 
Ian P13/02/2012 20:59:56
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Posted by Ady1 on 13/02/2012 20:43:48:
Once a thread gets locked it's gone forever, different follow up threads with different titles then add to the disjointed nature of a subject.
 
In here the stirling engine thread is a good example.
 
 
 
422 posts and counting...

Edited By Ady1 on 13/02/2012 20:44:59

Maybe I was a bit hasty with my 3 week suggestion! When I started this thread I was going to say 12 months, changed it to 3 months but then put 3 weeks. Certainly at 3 months the hot air engine would still be active (it might even pass the 3 week test!) but my intention was to prevent dormant, off topic, posts being resurrected.
Ian P
Gray6213/02/2012 22:16:08
1058 forum posts
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I don't agree with the suggestion of threads being 'automatically' closed however, I do think that the originator of the thread should have the option to close or freeze the thread.
The site moderators should already have this facility and should excercise this with reasonable discression
Nicholas Farr13/02/2012 23:39:06
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Hi, I don't think it is such a good idea for threads to be automatically closed, or for the originator to be able to close or freeze it either, otherwise any new information which may be of use, or to correct a comment at a later date, would not be able to be added.

In my opinion, any information one gives is voluntary either a thread that one starts or comments on, it would be like giving someone a gift and saying oh! by the way you can only use it for a couple of months and then after that your only allowed to look at it.
Maybe an originator should be able to request posts that they feel are not appropriate to the thread, to be removed by discretion from the moderator, especially if they have gone wildly off topic. But my understanding is, this is a forum for any member to add posts to any thread at any time, and be able to speak freely, with the exception of abuse or offensive language. We can all get things wrong, so why shouldn't someone else who spots an error at a later date, make an attempt to correct it, or even challenge an idea, for the benefit of everyone.
 
Regards Nick.
_Paul_14/02/2012 12:30:41
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Why close threads "early" ? and does it really matter if they go OT a bit?
 
Personally I like to see them run as long as possible, maintains continiuty.
 
Unless they are abusive etc.
 
Regards
 
Paul
chris stephens14/02/2012 12:56:18
1049 forum posts
1 photos
Hi Guys,
If a thread is resurrected after a period of time and you no longer find it interesting, the answer is simple DON'T READ IT . It may surprise some folks that, even though you have joined this forum, there is no compulsion to read all posts.
Surely the proof of the pudding is that if a once dead topic is brought back to life and receives many new posts it deserves to live again due to a clear interest.
 
Admittedly with this present weather, not withstanding the temptation to hibernate, sitting at a 'puter reading posts is preferable to freezing the digits in the shed.
chriStephens
John McNamara14/02/2012 13:39:49
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1377 forum posts
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Hi All
 
A while back.....
 
With over seventeen thousand reads a lot of people are following it. I have made one hundred and nineteen posts and replies to it.
For a while now I have been working on a new design for a mill. made with Epoxy.
Once I start I plan to post it stage by stage during the build. to the same thread
It would be a great pity to break the continuity. a small trial machine followed by a much bigger project. I do hope that the suggestion to lock threads is not taken up.
 
Cheers
John

Edited By John McNamara on 14/02/2012 13:41:47

Gone Away14/02/2012 18:10:08
829 forum posts
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Posted by Ian P on 13/02/2012 20:49:57:
Surely when you were ready to update a post you started it would be better to create a new one with a link or reference to the original?

Trouble is, there would be no corresponding forward link on the original pointing to the new thread. So anyone who who arrived at the old thread, perhaps via a search, wouldn't automagically catch the new information.

 
 
 
 
 
Stub Mandrel14/02/2012 19:45:01
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Keep old threads open. If someone makes the effort to find an old thread, then it's not a bad thing to revive it.
 
Neil
Ian P14/02/2012 20:27:43
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Well, I did say when I created this topic that I may have missed an obvious flaw. Having now seen the light, I think maybe this thread should be closed!
 
Ian P

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