Old Thread Notification

I realize that it is completely my fault when I post to an old thread with my two cents of information that doesn't matter any more. However, on more than one occasion, I see a thread that has been bumped up because somebody else posted to it, then I end up posting to it, then other people do, then a moderator closes the topic. Couldn't this all be avoided with huge red bold lettering "This thread has been idle for __ and probably shouldn't be posted to." when the message has been idle for over a 2 weeks or "This thread is _ month(s) old and should be closed. Please start a new thread." if it is older than 1 month from the original post.

But hell. I've seen moderators do this for old topics that had very few messages and the latest message actually answered the poster's question in a useful way.

Anyway... just a thought. I know I would be less inclined to and post to an old thread if my whole screen showed this message

I thought that that was *exactly* what already did happen, but it seems not. the Quick Reply box is not available though. I believe that this certainly did happen, a banner above the reply box i think, but there's no sign of it now (assuming I see the same as everyone else). May well have been lost in an upgrade.

We do discourage reviving old threads by doing things like disabling the QRB. That being said, if 1) the thread is still relevant or 2) the new post is pertinent then reviving an old thread should in no way be seen as a bad thing IMHO.

--jeremy

I don't have a problem with old threads being revived as long as it's relevant to the original thread and or it's not a hijack of the thread.