Why so anxious to close threads?

[MattFL]

I'm just curious why it seems moderators are so quick to close threads here? For example, I found a thread about a motor that I'm interested in and asked the thread starter about it. The same day, before the TS even had a chance to respond, the thread was closed citing that the guy had not been back in 4 months. He may very well have returned after receiving email notification that there was a response on his thread!? Some constructive feedback; IMHO, closing threads super fast like this is frustrating to the participants and makes the forums less attractive.

 

[briangcc]

Forum rules. You're posting to a considered dead thread as the OP hadn't been on for over 4 months. It pops up in a banner before you try replying.

The mods here do an excellent job of keeping the forum running.

I'd suggest PM'ing the mod to bring this to their attention as opposed to starting a new thread...

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, its in the rules you agreed on
second, start a new thread
third, dont **** off the mods

 

[MattFL]

I tried to send a PM, but the message screen doesn't display properly for me, see the screen shot below. Chrome browser.

 

[jbcurt00]

Use this link to access messages, notifications and send PMs
https://forums.iboats.com/privatemessage/notification

to answer your primary question:

the overwhelming evidence tells Admin and Iboats management that after about 90days, esp members w few (if any) other posts and/or topics, its extremely unlikely that they will be back, across all sub-forums not just engine or restoration sub-forums. Any posts by others generates a new string of posts/replies about the new posters questions, none of which helps the Original Poster of a topic, as they are most likely not going to participate in the new discussion.

hence the 90day rule and our engorcement of it

To help minimize any confusion about abbreviations, we refer to topic starters (topics, not threads) as the Original Poster (OP) not the TS.

why post this under props? Moved to forum problems and concerns forum...

 

[MattFL]

Just for constructive feedback; if topics/threads are allowed to develop, sometimes they become even more helpful to everyone, whether the original topic start is still involved or not. And they can become great food for google, and a great way to draw new participants into the platform. For example, someone posts about a problem, there is some discussion and then the topic goes dormant. Then 6mo or 1yr+ later a new guy finds the topic via google, revives the discussion, and a solution or improvement to the original solution is found. Now the topic is even more complete. I've seen this type of thing happen many times over the years. I understand your view, I'm just trying to offer a different perspective.

 

[GA_Boater]

Matt - The OP got the notification, if he has them turned on, 2 days ago. His last visit is still 12/16 - He isn't coming back.

In my defense, that's if I even have to justify doing my job; Looking at the OP's forum posting history is one of the things I do. If he was still active chances are I would let it ride until someone other than the OP replied to your post because then the thread is hijacked and would be handled differently - The thread would still be closed with a message to the OP.

One of the reasons for the 90 day rule is to keep fresh topics on top of the list so active members can get the help they need.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the problem becomes that 99% of attempts to revive a thread have nothing to do with the original thread. not to mention, if the thread is more than a year old, most likely the OP is long-gone. in many cases.....literally

best to start a new thread, and if you want, link the similar thread.

think of old threads like a library reference book. you can look, read and reference, however not write in.

 

[GA_Boater]

Just for constructive feedback; if topics/threads are allowed to develop, sometimes they become even more helpful to everyone, whether the original topic start is still involved or not. And they can become great food for google, and a great way to draw new participants into the platform. For example, someone posts about a problem, there is some discussion and then the topic goes dormant. Then 6mo or 1yr+ later a new guy finds the topic via google, revives the discussion, and a solution or improvement to the original solution is found. Now the topic is even more complete. I've seen this type of thing happen many times over the years. I understand your view, I'm just trying to offer a different perspective.

Weak argument. Would you believe that a high percentage of old resurrected threads are by someone reading one post and not bothering to read the entire thread? I mean how many times can the OP be told to put the lime in the coconut?

BTW - Google finds individual posts, not threads as a whole. That's what causes the reopening. Never mind that the same answer was given later in the thread and months or years earlier.

 

[MattFL]

My final parting thought; I'm an engineer by trade and use various message forums almost daily, to get help and to provide help. Just this week I had a problem and found a dormant thread that addressed my issue, save for one detail. I responded to the thread with a request for more info, and 2 days later received a very helpful response from a participant other than the original poster. This is a very common occurrence on technical message forums. Similarly I have started threads which have become dormant, I had no reason to return to that particular forum for months, then out of the blue someone revives the topic asking for more info. I received the email notification, then went back and responded with any new info that I had at that point. Maybe the crowds work differently here?

There's no need to defend your position, I'm certainly in no position to tell you how to run your message forum. My goal was just to offer my experience for your consideration. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[tpenfield]

Can this thread be closed ??? :noidea:

 

[southkogs]

Yup.^^^ Good idea. Take this one up in PMs if y'all would.