[realsunjester]

Closed Threads
There are tons of accounts that are closed, so when people reply to a thread they fail to notice the account is closed, like this one, https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=5936100

Inactive Accounts
Maybe after a few weeks of inactivity an account should have a "soft close" on it, closing the user's threads, when they log back in and verify their activity (maybe by re-activating via email) their threads open back up.

It's alarming the number of threads that are "grave dug" back into the light only to have the OG poster inactive, then someone eventually saying "dude this thread is so old stop grave digging". When, in fact, if the thread would have been closed nobody could have posted in it in the first place and the flaming could have been avoided.

[Steve]

Your issue only really applies to sales threads and Member Contests. Most other threads from members don't necessarily require participation from the OP. We wouldn't want to prevent someone from posting on these threads simply because OP is closed.

Side note, a lot of members seem to be under the impression that "grave digging" is against the rules. It really isn't (assuming the post abides by all other rules).

[realsunjester]

Your issue only really applies to sales threads and Member Contests. Most other threads from members don't necessarily require participation from the OP. We wouldn't want to prevent someone from posting on these threads simply because OP is closed.

Side note, a lot of members seem to be under the impression that "grave digging" is against the rules. It really isn't (assuming the post abides by all other rules).

just so we're clear, my issue doesnt only apply to sales

[Xerotic]

just so we're clear, my issue doesnt only apply to sales

Besides sales and member contests (including giveaways where a PM from OP is required)... where is this an issue?

[Dark]

Besides sales and member contests (including giveaways where a PM from OP is required)... where is this an issue?

Tutorials with dead URLs, plenty of threads in the hacking sections suffer from that IIRC.

[realsunjester]

Besides sales and member contests (including giveaways where a PM from OP is required)... where is this an issue?

If you want I could start just picking up thread links and dumping them on this one. Threads like "pm me and i'll give you fill in the blank download" create this problem.

[Xerotic]

Tutorials with dead URLs, plenty of threads in the hacking sections suffer from that IIRC.

Those tutorials still likely contain some good content and since it is a public forum other users could post updated links in the thread for members.

If you want I could start just picking up thread links and dumping them on this one. Threads like "pm me and i'll give you fill in the blank download".

I'm waiting for an example that doesn't fall under the criteria that Steve listed.

[realsunjester]

Those tutorials still likely contain some good content and since it is a public forum other users could post updated links in the thread for members.


I'm waiting for an example that doesn't fall under the criteria that Steve listed.

I mean I was just making a suggestion, but if you want, I'll slowly fill this thread with dead threads.

also, member contests and sales threads are also affected by this as was pointed out by "steve", so it kinda of just reinforces the fact that this is an issue.

[Crypt]

I see where you're coming from, however, I don't think it's an issue and there's still a lot of useful threads by people that are now closed.

[Xerotic]

I mean I was just making a suggestion, but if you want, I'll slowly fill this thread with dead threads.

also, member contests and sales threads are also affected by this as was pointed out by "steve", so it kinda of just reinforces the fact that this is an issue.

"Dead threads" do not violate policy in any way. Any member can continue the discussion.

Every so often I see a gravedug lounge thread tbh.

I don't think this should be a feature though, many threads that would be closed under this rule are still actively used.

Gravedigging threads alone does not violate policy.

[realsunjester]

"Dead threads" do not violate policy in any way. Any member can continue the discussion.


Gravedigging threads alone does not violate policy.

this is the suggestion forum, not the "violate policy" forum. I was giving my suggestion.

[N1ghtm4re]

I mean, there's a lot of instances where the Topic of Discussion doesn't end with the Author alone. That being said, it wouldn't make much sense to do this.

There's other ways to deal with Grave digging, this seems ineffective.

[Dark]

Those tutorials still likely contain some good content and since it is a public forum other users could post updated links in the thread for members.

Okay, be real, no member is going to scavenge through 50-60 pages of comments on some of those mega-threads looking for updated URLs.
There's not a problem with them staying up as I agree they do contain good content (though it may not work anymore / links are dead / etc), but it just seems
counter-intuitive to have a thread that contributes very little topical information to the forum show up for new members browsing to see.

[Crypt]

Okay, be real, no member is going to scavenge through 50-60 pages of comments on some of those mega-threads looking for updated URLs.
There's not a problem with them staying up as I agree they do contain good content (though it may not work anymore / links are dead / etc), but it just seems
counter-intuitive to have a thread that contributes very little topical information to the forum show up for new members browsing to see.

They will only show up if someone has recently commented on the thread. Also, there is the date of the thread that's pretty noticeable. I really don't see too many threads show up that are very old, maybe a few months old but that's not a big deal. Xerotic has enough on his plate with the crew game and other updates, he doesn't need to spend time fixing things that don't need fixing.

[Xerotic]

Okay, be real, no member is going to scavenge through 50-60 pages of comments on some of those mega-threads looking for updated URLs.
There's not a problem with them staying up as I agree they do contain good content (though it may not work anymore / links are dead / etc), but it just seems
counter-intuitive to have a thread that contributes very little topical information to the forum show up for new members browsing to see.

My point is that you can't have a sweeping policy that closes all the threads of a banned/closed member because there are still good ones. The same argument can be said for both sides but for sake of continuing legitimate discussion threads should remain open.

As a programmer I have found COUNTLESS threads across the web that are from 2009 or even earlier than were last posted/updated in 2016/2017/2018 with modern information and standards.