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Missing Forum Members?

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  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, October 30, 2022 11:40 AM

IC_Tom

Your posts, Rich, are some of the most helpful I've read - and so are many of the other posters' in this thread.  I just hope that future judgment on on a thread's age or relevance is a bit less harsh than what's been described here.

Thanks for your kind words, IC_Tom.

I did go off on a tangent yesterday. It's just that I don't understand why some members object to other members raising the issue of reviving old threads.

I actually do revere old threads, particularly those that ought to be Stickies at the top of the forum because of their standout model railroading discussions. But, I do wish that there could be some way to place limits on the revival of old threads such as locking them after a period of time and inactivity. Any member would still be free to link to an old thread after starting a new thread.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, October 30, 2022 12:34 PM

richhotrain

 

 
IC_Tom

Your posts, Rich, are some of the most helpful I've read - and so are many of the other posters' in this thread.  I just hope that future judgment on on a thread's age or relevance is a bit less harsh than what's been described here.

 

 

Thanks for your kind words, IC_Tom.

 

I did go off on a tangent yesterday. It's just that I don't understand why some members object to other members raising the issue of reviving old threads.

I actually do revere old threads, particularly those that ought to be Stickies at the top of the forum because of their standout model railroading discussions. But, I do wish that there could be some way to place limits on the revival of old threads such as locking them after a period of time and inactivity. Any member would still be free to link to an old thread after starting a new thread.

Rich

 

That would be great if it was easy to link them.

I don't understand this concern over old threads.....

Or long running threads.

In one of my other hobbies, on a very popular forum for that hobby, with forum software that actually works, I started a thread on August 19, 2011. It is still on page one with over 1000 replies and 207,000 views.

Why? because may people appreciate the information I have shared, and I appreciate their feedback.

Going back to the layout room now....

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, October 30, 2022 1:01 PM

richhotrain
I actually do revere old threads, particularly those that ought to be Stickies at the top of the forum because of their standout model railroading discussions. But, I do wish that there could be some way to place limits on the revival of old threads such as locking them after a period of time and inactivity. Any member would still be free to link to an old thread after starting a new thread. Rich

Finding info on an old thread can be a gold mine if it helps you solve a problem. If you lock a thread how can updated information be added such as a new fix or download that is now available for old DCC technology for example? A locked thread may have a person feeling there is no solution after reading it when in the meantime one has been developed, such as a new aftermarket part for an old steamer or an upgrade for a DCC system. Being able to add to an old post could be a godsend to someone who was about to junk something.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, October 30, 2022 1:25 PM

BATMAN

 

 
richhotrain
I actually do revere old threads, particularly those that ought to be Stickies at the top of the forum because of their standout model railroading discussions. But, I do wish that there could be some way to place limits on the revival of old threads such as locking them after a period of time and inactivity. Any member would still be free to link to an old thread after starting a new thread. Rich

 

Finding info on an old thread can be a gold mine if it helps you solve a problem. If you lock a thread how can updated information be added such as a new fix or download that is now available for old DCC technology for example? A locked thread may have a person feeling there is no solution after reading it when in the meantime one has been developed, such as a new aftermarket part for an old steamer or an upgrade for a DCC system. Being able to add to an old post could be a godsend to someone who was about to junk something.

 

There is a difference between making a thread "sticky" so it is easy to find and locking it.

That other forum I refered to has a "stickies" section that is separate from other threads where people can easily look for basic data threads.

If our hosts, or any of you want to see how a good forum works, check out "MyTractorForum.com"

OK, my guests are here for the day, so I am going back to being a missing forum member.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Monday, October 31, 2022 5:49 AM

BATMAN
 
richhotrain
I actually do revere old threads, particularly those that ought to be Stickies at the top of the forum because of their standout model railroading discussions. But, I do wish that there could be some way to place limits on the revival of old threads such as locking them after a period of time and inactivity. Any member would still be free to link to an old thread after starting a new thread. Rich 

Finding info on an old thread can be a gold mine if it helps you solve a problem. If you lock a thread how can updated information be added such as a new fix or download that is now available for old DCC technology for example? A locked thread may have a person feeling there is no solution after reading it when in the meantime one has been developed, such as a new aftermarket part for an old steamer or an upgrade for a DCC system. Being able to add to an old post could be a godsend to someone who was about to junk something. 

Locked or unlocked, it is easy to copy a link to the old thread in a newly started thread. What I like so much about this approach, and dislike about the revival of an old thread, is that it lets the reader know that the thread, and its content, is old but, arguably, still relevant.

Most often, the revival of an old thread happens with a newbie, typically a first time user, so he can be forgiven for lack of familiarity with managing threads. But, anyone who knows how to post on the forum should be able to figure out how to start a new thread and link to the old thread, locked or unlocked, or at least reference it in the new thread.

Really, that is all that I am saying. Again, I have nothing against old threads. I often look for them myself using the forum Search function.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Monday, October 31, 2022 6:18 AM

I don't know Rich, last time I tried this forum would not let you copy and past an active link? There is some sort of little trick, but I'm really bad at remembering that kind of stuff.

https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/293202.aspx

I simply copy and pasted this, not active when you post the reply?

But what do I know? It does not matter, facts don't mean anything on here anyway.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Monday, October 31, 2022 6:32 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I don't know Rich, last time I tried this forum would not let you copy and past an active link? There is some sort of little trick, but I'm really bad at remembering that kind of stuff.

https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/293202.aspx

I simply copy and pasted this, not active when you post the reply?

But what do I know? It does not matter, facts don't mean anything on here anyway.

Sheldon

 

Actually, although that will not take you directly to the linked thread, it will allow you to Copy and Paste the link into the address bar to get you there.

The problem is the forum software that requires a patch to get this:

https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/293202.aspx

Rich

Alton Junction

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