One of my favorite things to do on my own forum and many of the forums that I manage is to browse back through the many threads that date back over the years. This is a fun trip down memory lane and let's me experience the relevant posts from members who have come and gone over the years. For instance, if there are 40 tabs on a subforum, I will click back to the last and work my way forward, reading relevant discussions. Much of the information shared is still very timely. And, even if I don't take time to comment or necropost, I learn a lot just by reading. Often, a much older discussion will bring new ideas to mind as to new threads that need to be written. Sometimes, when looking for inspiration for a new thread, you can simply look to the past and see what others talked about before. Not suggesting that you copy what was written before, but if it inspires a new topic that excites forum members into responding, then so much the better.
Do you ever browse back through your forum pages?
- Thread starter Beverly
- Start date
ForumSource
Resident
I don't think I've ever done this. I think once a topic dies on my forums it's dead for good. 😛
I've done that at several larger forums I was part of. It's fun to see how the conversations go and plus you learn more about the people you talk to by reading what all they posted in topics that you might have forgotten. It does give you ideas for new topics! Haven't done this in a while though!
Joshua Farrell
FP's Housekeeper
Every now and then I enjoy doing that. Not something I want to do on a daily basis, but still enjoyable.
I do this not only on sites I manage but I love to do this on sites that I'm a member of as well. If a site's an old one and I only joined a couple weeks ago, for instance, or a couple months ago, I love going back through old threads to see what kinds of discussions I might have missed out on over the years. On my forum in particular, we allow necroposting, so if I'm going through discussions for old time's sake, and I find something I want to add to any one topic, I'm more than happy to throw in my two cents, it's more fun to just read old topics than to reply to them sometimes, though, so it all depends on what I'm in the mood for or if I have anything to add to the discussion period. I love looking through old topics in general, though, especially if it's a forum that's been around for years and I've only joined up some time ago, like a couple weeks to a couple months ago, it's fun seeing what discussions a person missed out on prior to registering to the forum.
The Governor
Seasoned Veteran
I do it a lot, and still do. There's a few forums, some of the first I've ever ran, that are still up and accessible, they're just dead/inactive. The nostalgia trip every time I look back is just sad.
vx-enthusiast
New Arrival
Ive done this on some of the other forums im a member off as i have memorys of old cars i used to own on there with pics when i was at old meets.
I didn't know many people actually like to do this! I thought I was the only one strange, lol.
I like to do this, as a staff member or as a regular member. I like to revisit old conversations. Some are funny, some are touching, others are annoying, but it was nice memory. Sometimes it did give me an idea of something else to talk about. Or other rare times I may bump the thread with new input to see if the discussion could pick up. Also useful to clean up old threads/posts which might be missed previously.
But of course, not very often. It takes a lot of time, after all. 😛
Have you guys ever had a successful discussion after bumping old threads?
I like to do this, as a staff member or as a regular member. I like to revisit old conversations. Some are funny, some are touching, others are annoying, but it was nice memory. Sometimes it did give me an idea of something else to talk about. Or other rare times I may bump the thread with new input to see if the discussion could pick up. Also useful to clean up old threads/posts which might be missed previously.
But of course, not very often. It takes a lot of time, after all. 😛
Have you guys ever had a successful discussion after bumping old threads?
fantanoice
Madly Diligent
I used to do it but nowadays I only look back if I'm trying to recall a particular discussion that happened.
Sometimes people resurrect threads as well and then that's a good opportunity to re-read them.
Sometimes people resurrect threads as well and then that's a good opportunity to re-read them.
phio_chan said:
Yes and no. Sometimes you can rekindle an interest in a topic by bumping it with your own opinions/views/whatever. But I find that a lot of times, especially since a lot of members are used to forums that don't allow necroposting, it's not always very effective for bringing the discussion back to life. On my forums in the past, I have had some luck with reviving old topics, even a simple "What does everyone else think about this?" can be enough to bring people's interest back. So it seriously all depends.
Smitty Fan said:
That makes sense. I myself think that necroposting is unnecessary unless there is indeed a new update (e.g. a new update to a game that is in development since years ago) or if there are new ideas. Otherwise it's just too strange to response to old threads. But all in all, even viewing old discussions again brings back memories and sometimes ideas and interests with it, which is awesome.
phio_chan said:
Well, with some exceptions, I actually allow necroposting on my forums no matter what I've always felt that, as long as people have something relevent to say about the topic, why not bump it up with what you have to say? As long as it's not spammy and you stay on topic, I could seriously care less. However, one of the exceptions is, say forum software development. If a project has been abandoned/cancelled, or if they've already come out with a release for that project, a stable one, and all the post is is merely a demonstration about how the software update works, like what all the new features are or whatever, then I don't allow necroposting in that respect. What I advise people to do instead, is make a general topic about that software, like you could have a "General MyBB Discussion" or something like that, and just discuss all the new updates in the latest MyBB version from there. That's just a random example, by the way.
Claraviolet
Paragon
Yup.It's kinda nostalgic. We can find lots of stuff in that way.
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