Ask Lemmy

I don't care, I post when I have something to say.

I don’t understand why people would find it rude/incorrect

I hope we have threads stay alive for years

If the thread is still relevant - post away!

I love notifications about replies to the old stuff as it means that the internet has slowed down and new and shining isn't as appealing as old stuff.

It is a holdover from the old forum days when adding a comment would pop a thread to the top of the front page, so someone going through and commenting on multiple old posts would flood the front page with outdated discussions. Generally those people would also post worthless comments, like 'Thanks', that didn't add anything.

Now that we have more ways to sort the underlying problem is no longer relevant, but some people still hold on to that mindset. Some people who weren't around for the older forums may have caught the disdain from others, or could even just have it in their minds that discussions always have limited time frames for whatever reason.

I don't care unless someone relies to my comment to continue some stupid argument they started four months ago.

Depends on the type of community, forums it's potentially disruptive since it bumps it to the top. Redsit/Lemmy style it matters less.

I certainly would advocate against archiving Lemmy posts in a way that "locks" them, I can't tell you how many times an old reddit post shows up in a search result and helpful newer replies with the most recent information is still getting added sporadically.

I get comments on months old posts, I'm fine with it since it will help future users

If the person is looking for a discussion (ex. They need help with the software I posted about), then it's usually better they make a new post

do whatever you want, who's going to stop you the thread police?

If it's a question that has no answer (or no useful answer) it's totally fine to comment with an answer.

I figure that someone will eventually stumble across the same thread that I did if they have a similar question. Might as well contribute and share some knowledge.

Relevant xkcd:

If it provides me information I need... I'll thank the poster.

I've commented a thank you a literal decade after the helpful comment was made.

When I was on reddit... If the thread was archived, I'd copy the link and send the person a message saying thanks. If it was very helpful.

I don't have a problem with it obviously. Back in the day being a thread necromancer was frowned upon. Now, it doesn't bump the thread to the top of the forum, so who cares

I never understood the taboo.

If it's relevant for future people who found the thread the same way I did, sure. It's like of you were looking for a treasure in a network of caves, and you see writing in the wall from previous treasure seekers saying "beware of bats." If I add "left cave has dragon" it might help someone else.

Also, if the OP or other accounts are still active, they might get still a notification.

Depends on what the thread was about. If it's a technical thread, and if you have something to contribute that might help someone in the future with that issure, go ahead. Most of the rest of the time, it's just bad form.

Even on reddit I'd get replies to years old comments. I remember one user watching Breaking Bad and reading the old response threads and engaging with me from there.

I don't mind at all, especially as I'm trying to be uplifting with my comments.

Me posting in a thread that was last active in 2005:

I'll let you know in a year.

We had the opportunity to do something really funny, here

RemindMe! 1000 years

That which is dead can never die.

I mean... Sometimes it's weird, but sometimes it's not. Depends on what the thread is about and how long it's been, I guess.

Generally speaking, if the thread isn't "time-sensitive," if you want to reply, just reply. That's my take.

If I come across a post and I have something significant enough to comment, I leave it regardless of age. But I don’t think I’m ever going to see anything more than a few days old with how I browse.

Perfectly fine. Bumps don't do what they used to do in messageboard/BBS contexts, so if you have something useful/clever/funny to say in a dead thread I say go for it.

Heck, sometimes it can prompt a follow-up when someone says "You know, I should do [x related to topic]" after some time has passed, which is fun.

If you're replying to a conversation that's not hot-hot-hot, it's because there's new info.

Of course update a thread with new info. Threads aren't lettuce.

This dainty notion of FOMO-based gatekeeping - you missed out, and the thread is just too stale for you - is quaint but valueless.

The older the thread the funnier necroing is. If the forums I was on in middle school were still around you can bet I'd be bumping some of those threads just for teh lulz.