RANT Bringing back ancient threads

[jp10558]

This may be similar to the LMR RANT awhile ago - but does anyone else find threads popping up from 2013 or whatever kind of jarring, and also cause some confusion, because usually what they talked about back in 2013 barely applies in 2024 with all the changes that have happened? And usually it's not like there's been consistent posts like say the working from home humor, but like no posts for 10 years and then bam someone brings back a dead thread...

It seems like weird forum etiquette? guidelines? to me - I'm actually kind of surprised there isn't some age locking of threads that are dormant.

 

[theo]

Personally, I fail to see any harm or any problem whatsoever with old threads and posts remaining in place and "dormant" until later resurrected --- for whatever reason.
It's sometimes educational to "overview" changes in company acquisitions / mergers, as well as changes in costs, policies, markets and industry practices over the years.
In my view, the only threads that should ever be "locked" are those in which posters have gone off the rails with inappropriate or offensive content. YMMV.

That said, people may occasionally just fail to notice the date of a post to which they respond; I have certainly made that mistake myself in the past.

 

[jp10558]

I guess for me what happens is I see a thread, like "I had this problem at location X", and I click it and it's like, 2013. I'm like this isn't relevant, but there's no easy way to go to whatever is the current thing supposedly related. And usually it's not like an update on a resolution, but some other person being like "me too" which to me seems better handled with a new thread that links back to the ancient one if there's even actually anything relevant there.

I think this was the recent thread that made me go WTF?

How to deed ownership back

How do I deed my timeshare back to Pono Kai and what information should I know before i do it?

tugbbs.com

Like, what was added by resurrecting this thread from 2013? The OP has 2 posts, probably never came back. The reply to bring it back had all the info that would be needed in a new thread and none of the followups referenced the old info both because *there wasn't any*, it was just a PM for some reason, and because it would be very likely that any 2013 info would be out of date anyway for if there's a deedback plan, or e-mail addresses etc.

 

[HedonisticEpicurean]

From my perspective, the issue extends beyond just a TUG concern but rather encompasses broader internet content. Consider reviews from as far back as 2008 on platforms like TripAdvisor or listings of "Things to do in XYZ" from a Google search dating back to 2016. From a review and travel standpoint, information older than a year tends to be outdated and unreliable. Non of us use to buy old travel guides when we relied on the printed word.

While platforms like TUG timestamp posts, navigating the vast expanse of the internet presents challenges. It's frustrating encountering undated articles or blogs that may contain obsolete information, with no clear indication of their age or relevance.

Moreover, the question arises: will this information persist for centuries to come? At what juncture should we consider discarding (deleting) old blogs, posts, and other content? As time progresses, the need to maintain the accuracy, relevance and integrity of online information becomes increasingly imperative.

Another frustration within online information lies in broken links, which lead to dead ends or irrelevant pages. I'm finding this more and more. A hyperlink that once directed users to pertinent resources may now be defunct due to website restructuring, content removal, or domain expiration. This phenomenon further complicates the quest for accurate and up-to-date information, as users are left stranded without access to the context or resources promised by the link. IMO, It underscores the transient nature of the internet and the necessity for continuous curation and maintenance to ensure the integrity of online content.

 

[TUGBrian]

if the new content is unrelated, it gets deleted or moved to its own thread.

SOOOOO many owners find TUG based on searches that bring up older threads!

 

[Mongoose]

I do find some old threads to be informative. I don't reply, but I will give a thumbs up.

 

[dioxide45]

The only frustration I have is people that come along after a thread was resurrected and reply to a years old post that they think is new. This is why you will often see a thread title edited to include the year it was created. Sometimes this doesn't happen for a while, so there can be quite a conversation happening over something that is already years old. I've learned to start looking at the date a thread was created before replying, but sometimes I even make the mistake of replying to something old.

 

[Passepartout]

It seems like a lot of these 'reincarnations' are from non-TUGgers who have done an inquiry on Google (or another search engine) and then replied to the earlier TUG post. Some of these can be YEARS old.

 

[jp10558]

The only frustration I have is people that come along after a thread was resurrected and reply to a years old post that they think is new. This is why you will often see a thread title edited to include the year it was created. Sometimes this doesn't happen for a while, so there can be quite a conversation happening over something that is already years old. I've learned to start looking at the date a thread was created before replying, but sometimes I even make the mistake of replying to something old.

Right, the issue is that it comes up as a new sort of post which looks like a new thread, but it isn't actually.

 

[TUGBrian]

id imagine many of those are browsing on mobile devices and likely just dont notice the age of the thread they found via search but it was EXACTLY their situation or search question and joined to reply.

i personally have no issue at all with that as I dont feel it was intentional in any way shape or form. however someone finds TUG is irrelevant as long as they find it =)

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Sometimes I find TUG threads while doing a TS internet search - I read my own forgotten posts.
Occasionally those posts are useful to my current search.
LOL

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

The only frustration I have is people that come along after a thread was resurrected and reply to a years old post that they think is new. This is why you will often see a thread title edited to include the year it was created. Sometimes this doesn't happen for a while, so there can be quite a conversation happening over something that is already years old. I've learned to start looking at the date a thread was created before replying,

but sometimes I even make the mistake of replying to something old.

or even reply to your past self's postings

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I just put in my calendar to reply to this thread 5 yrs from now.

 

[davidvel]

I guess for me what happens is I see a thread, like "I had this problem at location X", and I click it and it's like, 2013. I'm like this isn't relevant, but there's no easy way to go to whatever is the current thing supposedly related. And usually it's not like an update on a resolution, but some other person being like "me too" which to me seems better handled with a new thread that links back to the ancient one if there's even actually anything relevant there.

I think this was the recent thread that made me go WTF?

How to deed ownership back

How do I deed my timeshare back to Pono Kai and what information should I know before i do it?

tugbbs.com

Like, what was added by resurrecting this thread from 2013? The OP has 2 posts, probably never came back. The reply to bring it back had all the info that would be needed in a new thread and none of the followups referenced the old info both because *there wasn't any*, it was just a PM for some reason, and because it would be very likely that any 2013 info would be out of date anyway for if there's a deedback plan, or e-mail addresses etc.

I have to agree with Brian, and the example you give seems to be really no problem at all. Nothing necessarily outdated, and there is pertinent info there. If there are changes that people are aware about, they can add the current info. It is pretty clear that this person found the old thread based on a search that came up with the same question. If the thread was locked a newbie may not have been as comfortable (or have the knowledge) to start a new thread.

Also, mods are pretty good at editing titles such as "[2013-2024]."

 

[easyrider]

Some of the posts I like are older posts on hikes , beaches and outdoor adventures in places we travel to. The Las Animas Trail is one thread I was recently looking at.

It is interesting to do a Google search and then find an old Tug thread from a decade ago that I participated in.

Bill

 

[jp10558]

I have to agree with Brian, and the example you give seems to be really no problem at all. Nothing necessarily outdated, and there is pertinent info there. If there are changes that people are aware about, they can add the current info. It is pretty clear that this person found the old thread based on a search that came up with the same question. If the thread was locked a newbie may not have been as comfortable (or have the knowledge) to start a new thread.

Also, mods are pretty good at editing titles such as "[2013-2024]."

In that thread I just skipped it initially thinking why the hell is a "what's new" view showing me a thread created in 2013. Maybe a help everybody would be a feature request to the forum software people to have a button to take me to a "current" post that was made in say the last 3 months so I can actually see what's new? Honestly that thread wasn't really the most annoying case, it's more like one that had a bunch of posts 10 years ago, so like 3 pages of stuff, and then started up on a 4th page and got 2-3 pages of current stuff - clicking through multiple pages to find the current info is more what annoys me I guess.

 

[SmithOp]

In that thread I just skipped it initially thinking why the hell is a "what's new" view showing me a thread created in 2013. Maybe a help everybody would be a feature request to the forum software people to have a button to take me to a "current" post that was made in say the last 3 months so I can actually see what's new? Honestly that thread wasn't really the most annoying case, it's more like one that had a bunch of posts 10 years ago, so like 3 pages of stuff, and then started up on a 4th page and got 2-3 pages of current stuff - clicking through multiple pages to find the current info is more what annoys me I guess.

I just click the last page number.

 

[dioxide45]

I just click the last page number.

View attachment 90380

There is also a "Jump to New" button at the top of the thread that I use. It seems that if a thread has new posts but it has been more than 7 days since you last read that thread, it will always just go to the first page instead of the first unread post.

 

[klpca]

Sometimes I find TUG threads while doing a TS internet search - I read my own forgotten posts.
Occasionally those posts are useful to my current search.
LOL

Me too. I think "that is my exact question"! Then I realize that I started the thread. For me, it is the ePlus rules. I always forget the subtleties. Luckily, I am able to find the answers pretty quickly using a google search and finding my own thread.

 

[dioxide45]

Here's a good example of a thread dug up from the grave;

OT: Anyone have Fletch's contact info?

To those of you that are Tug oldies, how may I get in touch with John Fletcher. He used to be a regular on TUG. Last I heard, he moved onto Marriott sales. Im thinking of purchasing a Marriott and would love to give him the credit. Thanks, Tom

tugbbs.com

 

[davidvel]

In that thread I just skipped it initially thinking why the hell is a "what's new" view showing me a thread created in 2013. Maybe a help everybody would be a feature request to the forum software people to have a button to take me to a "current" post that was made in say the last 3 months so I can actually see what's new? Honestly that thread wasn't really the most annoying case, it's more like one that had a bunch of posts 10 years ago, so like 3 pages of stuff, and then started up on a 4th page and got 2-3 pages of current stuff - clicking through multiple pages to find the current info is more what annoys me I guess.

Many boards have an auto-locking feature that closes a thread after a period of inactivity. TUGBBS does not have that. I prefer it this way, as you don't get as many threads all covering the same topic when you search. The other way, one has to prepare a brand new thread, repeating what has already been asked/discussed. This then clutters up the board and when you search.

It can be a small annoyance to not realize it is an old topic, but I feel most people add some explanation and note that prior info is "old." As noted also, Mods do a good job editing titles. Maybe we can start a new etiquette where we note something like:

**** NEWER POSTS BEGINNING ***

or something similar to highlight the ongoing thread.

Either way I personally hope this functionality is not changed.

 

[pedro47]

The old threads bring back some good memories of old Tuggers that have gone on to heaven.

Plus, we are still discussing old topics liked timeshare scammers and the best way to purchase a timeshare after 20 years.

Also, current timeshare salesman lips, are still moving and spreading lies to make a sales, after 20 years. IMHO.