The poster has looked at every possible sub-forum and has determined that the 'Grand Hall' is the appropriate place for this topic, as it is most likely akin to a thread that would lead to a possible site suggestion more than anything else. The purpose of this thread is to discuss when forum etiquette is being breached and when a revival of thread is and isn't considered a bad thing. If the thread does not belong in this particular sub-forum, the OP would appreciate it if it was moved to the one deemed most appropriate by a forum moderator.
Hi guys! Today I was thinking about workings behind how to behave and conduct ones self on the forums. One of the things that really stuck out at me was that one needs to know that some things....eventually die, and need to learn when to let go. In the world of thread-based conversation, I'm referring to the ever-dreaded, and possibly sometimes misunderstood "necropost."
To those of you that are new to forum posting, a "necropost" is a post on a thread that had lost it's activity and is outdated. A forum will bring the most recently posted-on thread to the top of the sub-forum and into the spotlight on the main forum. So, when an outdated thread all of a sudden has a new post, it gets put above more recent, and possibly more relevant threads that currently were still active. This is why necroposting is generally frowned upon initially. If the post that causes the thread's revival is devoid of intelligence, doesn't offer a unique opinion, or doesn't offer anything considerably substantial or new to the topic, then the frowning upon is completely justified, and a mod will swoop in and warn the last poster about etiquette.
HOWEVER.
Something that I've noticed in Reborn is that when a Moderator does their job, it's sometimes TOO well. At least, it seems as such, anyway. There are some threads that are NOT bad threads to keep running, and some threads where it's debate-worthy. I'm not going to provide any evidence threads here, because 1. The thread being a valid thread to keep alive is largely based on my opinion, as is much of this post from this point downward, and 2. Providing a thread would put the moderator that felt like action or warning needed to be taken under the bus. The Moderators are only doing their job here.
So, without providing ACTUAL threads to strengthen my argument, I'm going to detail for the greater good of ALL of us, what types of threads are Good, Debate-worthy, and Bad to revive.
BAD threads to revive. (Have to start here. Rules are rules, and etiquette is a thing. I'm not inspiring the next French Revolution.)
Threads that ask specific questions and only need ONE answer. The only time it is appropriate to offer an answer after the question in the original post has received an answer is when the above "answers" are not the solution, and it's on the part of the original poster to indicate as such by replying with a post that indicates the solution didn't fix his or her problem.
Threads that talk about outdated issues, such as the news-post for Episode 10 of Reborn (when we're currently on Episode 12)
Threads that were created before the creation of a stickied, or pinned, thread that provides possible solutions. Again, outdated, and not without answers.
Threads that are copies of other threads
Threads that have already been addressed and are thus in need of a lock. (original posters out there, If you feel your topic can be closed, ASK for a lock!)
Role-Playing threads that have been abandoned for a month or longer.
Expired/Dormant Interest Checks for Role-Playing threads.
Grey Area threads. (Threads where you better have a good argument if a mod approaches you, but where it's possible.)
General conversation threads that have died out for a substantial amount of time.
Posts where the intent is to help spur better forum habits.
Threads where the solution isn't posted outright, but is implied to have been found.
GOOD threads to post in.
Opinion or personal input threads.
Threads that have yet to receive proper solution and the solution isn't implied.
"Active" threads. (do be on the look for necroposts before posting in something that may "appear" active!)
"New" topics.
"Active" Interest Checks for role-playing.
"Open" RPs, assuming your character has been approved in it's associated IC thread.
Threads created by ones self, assuming new information is to be recorded or if a problem persists.
TL:DR?
The forum moderators work very hard to ensure this forum stays lively and relevant, and hopefully the information above further helps them out in that the community knows when to revive threads and when not to. This also can be used as a frame of reference to defend a post, assuming it does have relevance.
