Resurrect old or Start New?

While browsing other forums ( and I've seen it here as well ) I had to ask myself a question:

Is it better to resurrect and old thread or start a new one which is dealing with the same topic as the old?

For example, I always see people flaming others, " Jesus, this thread is two years old!! CLOSED!" but also, " Jesus, use the search, this topic has already been brought up!! CLOSED!"

Some new guy/gal ( we'll call him Joe) will come on to a forum and he has a question or is wondering about "X".

So, using the basic rule he does a search and finds that indeed there is a thread about "X" but the last post is say, I dunno a year old.

So now Joe is in a bind, he reads through the old thread and posts, but even if he has a relevant point or has new information or just wants to get a discussion going because he is just finding out about "X" and it interests him he now gets flamed and blasted for digging up and old thread.

Conversely, he does the same thing but after the flaming he gets from digging up old threads he now starts a new thread only to be flamed again and told to use the Search.

Poor Joe! What is he to do?

What, according to the members of this forum would be the best route to go with?
Or should Joe just go play Half-Life 2? :lol:

And no, I'm not "Joe" :wink:

I think that it is critical that you don't ask questions of people who probably haven't used the forum in over a year <I have seen this happen alot.

Search first ask questions later.

After he reads all relevant threads that he searched for and he still has questions then start a new thread, and if it is a topic that has been covered and his question really wasn't answered in the search then to keep flaming down by old timers, simply say "I used the search and found some threads on the subject but am still wondering about"X" maybe some body could clear this up better than they did in the old thread"


One thing to remember about just wanting to add your 2 cents into an old thread is the fact that

A. nobody cares anymore
B. it is quite probable that the members who posted in it are no longer active
C. if it died it died for a reason... either no one had an answer, it got too messy, or the question was answered.

Its not so much that someone brings up an old thread, its that they don't have anything of much interest to add to the subject. No point in bringing up an old thread that had 100 replies, and then to post one stupid comment, making everyone reread the entire thread.

If they have a legitmate question pertaining to the old topic, they should start a new one.

Personally I say post it up.... BOO HOOO if you have to read something that was posted last month. This is a forum Not a search engine. Honestly if you guys are that lazy...

Its not so much that someone brings up an old thread, its that they don't have anything of much interest to add to the subject. No point in bringing up an old thread that had 100 replies, and then to post one stupid comment, making everyone reread the entire thread.

If they have a legitmate question pertaining to the old topic, they should start a new one.
:werd:

I always tell newbies who bring back a old thread to start a new one and post a link to the old one if the subject interests them.

Like Formula said, if your question is unanswered by the old thread, post a new one, but link to the old one.

Noone will get upset that way, because the informed forum user, is a satisfied forum user.

See, Formula is always right :evillol:. I should get a crown to go with my gold stars :iceslolan.

No, Formula is a cheap whore.

Get it right.

No, Formula is a cheap whore.

Get it right.
Who says cheap whores can't have crown's. ? :rolleyes:

They get crabs not crowns

About old threads? I dont post any thing in them unless it was to answer something that hasnt been answer correctly. Not something to old tho. Maybe about a few weeks or something. if even that. Nothing stupid tho to post whore. like "yeah my mom has one of those and i like them..." post. Or having 3 birthday threads about yourself in 1 month.

If it's not on the current page, then I don't post there. If some brings up an old thread, then w/e. As long as it aint long, sometimes ill go with it, especially if i hadn't seen it or its been forever. Idk...i understand mods closing them so, meh.

They get crabs not crowns
:rofl: Thats explains the intense itching :grinno:

This is a forum Not a search engine.

Yea If you want a sig just click the end of my sig!

BTW - Welcome back man.

do what you want but dont bring an oldt hread up its unheathy