Related Posts

[fiction-factory]

Ed, I wonder whether the Related Posts facility is misunderstood and is causing people to waste time posting on old threads and as a result AB is losing new members soon after they join.
A few days ago I raised a couple of examples of Crosswords threads from 2013 which were still getting pages of answers and new questions were being tagged on but clearly these would never appear on Latest Posts so users may think their post has disappeared into a black hole. I'm guessing they found these threads by clicking on a Related Post rather than a Latest Post.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1237973-7.html
I have also noted that some new users seem to answer old posts, e.g. this one from over 10 years ago was answered yesterday-
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question41943.html.
The poster answered quite a few very old questions and probably wonders why he gets no thanks.

Just a thought.
I wonder whether there is an easy way for techies to check how many

[Old_Geezer]

I would doubt it. One can browse and forget the possible age of a thread but think one is adding value anyway. Not everyone needs nor expects thanks. Whilst nice, trying to help is it's own reward.

Whilst being new creates a learning curve, you seem to suggest it's the norm for new members to be terminally thick.

[fiction-factory]

I don't think I suggested it's the norm but it does happen and whilst some will work through it as part of a learning curve I'm sure AB loses some along the way

[jno]

if what's added is correct, it probably doesn't matter much when it was written, it's still information that's worth archiving.

There might be a case for tweaking Related Posts in Crosswords so it doesn't show anything more tan say a week old, given that crosswords tend to have a short shelf life; but I doubt this can be done for individual sections.

[Hypognosis]

I like to see old crossword threads because I am convinced RT recycles a handful of clues and sometimes entire grids remind me of one from a year or so back.

[hc4361]

Just a thought - would it be worthwhile locking old threads so they can't be posted on but could be linked to in a new thread if relevant?

[Mamyalynne]

The two old crossword threads from 2013 have been reported and now closed - I wondered if some posters had them bookmarked and got confused.

Down to the poster to read the dates really.

[fiction-factory]

Some of course are just spammers who trawl through old threads like this one
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Jobs-and-Education/Education/Question988654.html
It may seem pointless when it's unlikely to be seen on AB but I suppose it leaves a footprint on Google searches etc and I think some spammers are paid for each footprint theuy leave

[ummmm]

Get rid of related posts. Serves no purpose as they don't appear until you've submitted.

I'm sure as well that it's not nice for people to post just to see something they posted some years ago when they were in a darker place.

[Baldric]

http://adamlambert641.deviantart.com/art/11230789-531286453685604-6601204475510660536-N-549922253

Makes a change from car parking adverts I suppose

adamlambert641.deviantart.com › … › Services
Car parking in Gatwick- meet and greet 11230789 531286453685604 6601204475510660536 N

[Baldric]

Oops wrong thread