Topic: Locked threads

@Dan0753 You're free to mention that rumour in the Switch thread. Nothing is stopping you either from replying to those posts in the Switch thread (just mention the closed thread or quote their posts, and they know what you're talking about).

Thanks. But that was just used as an example. It hasn't been the only closed thread I've had interest in. You guys just fail to see the the point as I suppose I fail to agree on your side of it.

You guys have even closed out a thread that started back on April 11 in favor for one that started on May 1. Why would you close the original thread on the topic?

I get the point. Sometimes new threads do make sense when they do break out a particular topic that might be completely lost in the ebb and flow of a very big and long established thread.

However I'd just also like to say that I think this forum is well moderated, it's right to keep the main board free from needless clutter and it's great to have moderators who have a clear idea of what their role is and do it well. So thanks to the mods. Keep up the good work.

@Dan0753 Are you referring to this one I locked earlier: https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/nintendo-switch/which_wii_... Because I thought the reason was pretty clear.

That thread started in April 2016 and then went dormant in May 2016. Someone then revived it in May 2017, after the other thread took up what is pretty much the same discussion - people talking about Wii U games coming to Switch - hence we had duplicate conversations.

You got any more, or shall we draw this one to a close?

@Dan0753 April 2016. The thread was over a year old. A new thread was started in the meantime, so there's no use in reviving the old one.

We aren't preventing you from talking about a subject of interest in the newly appointed thread though! It's just that if everyone made a thread about a new ''topic'' the forums would get cluttered very soon. I understand when people want their question to be read and answered and don't want to post, for example, in the main Switch thread. However, cluttering the forum page itself with endless questions, polls, rumours and/or opinions creates a similar problem. We have to draw a line somewhere, it's all subjective in the end. There's no objective value we can contribute to a thread to determine whether it's ''worthy'' of keeping open or not. I hope this clears it up a bit.

i honestly wanted to know what happened to bob when he got caught licking the cake.
these are the things that catch my attention.

@ogo79 Bob was the dog. It didn't end well for him.

RIP Bob

@gcunit
oh hahaha

So a thread that's over a year old doesn't need to stick around? The generic catch all Nintendo Switch Thread is from September 2015.

There's really no consistency in how you operate. Why didn't you find the older thread after the newer one was started since it already existed?

@Dan0753 old threads, that have been inactive for over six months, are replaceable. And unless they're about a game in specific, it's better that way.

Old threads that never stopped receiving regular activity have no reason to be closed. Because that would be mean.

bob the dog: the last lick
coming to theaters 2018

There have been cases of users reviving old dead threads in the past with simple posts. It's a major pain to keep track of, so we generally frown upon reviving old threads.

Are you implying that every time a new thread is created, the mods should run a search to see if a similar thread has ever happened before?

That's not going to happen. It's the individual user's responsibility to run that check. But, as covered above, we don't expect people to revive a thread that's more than 6 months old (approx) unless it's about a specific game or has some other element of timelessness to it.

I'm not implying that at all. It's just the impression that comes across from your moderations and reasonings for it.

I can check through the forums and reply to something that apparently has been inactive for too long and get it closed out. Would I have been better off starting a new thread then?

If the thread in question is at least a year old since the last post, just start a new one.

That depends. Both on the thread and the post you want to add.

Depends on what? The current mood of the moderator at the time?

I've not been to a forum that locks things out as frequently as this one. Moderate language and personal attacks all day long. Other than that it seems meaningless to have someone post something again somewhere else just because.

@Dan0753 The two examples you've cited were both closed due to duplication issues. So there's your first 'depends' - if you've got something to say that fits within an active thread, don't start a new thread.

If you've got something to say about a particular game, run a search for that game and if you find an existing thread specific to that game, use that one, regardless of recent activity.

If you want to ask people's views on which Kirby game they like the most, search for a 'best Kirby game' type thread and use that, regardless of recent activity.

If you stumble across a 'How do I transfer my 3DS SD card files' type thread that's not been posted in for 6 months, and you just want to suggest a solution, leave it alone. But if you want to ask a question that's related to something someone has said in that thread, then it could be worth reviving to give context to your question.

If you wanna ask for suggestions about which game to play next, then use an appropriate 'recommendations' thread.

If you come across an 'E3 2012' type thread, then it depends. If you've got a story to share that's worth sharing, then revive that old thread, but if you're thinking of posting 'Yeh, those lols!' or something equally worthless, please don't.

We try and take a common sense approach - if there's a rumour about the Switch then it's common sense to put it in the thread that's been actively discussing Switch rumours for the past 18+ months.