Recently I've noticed threads getting locked or deleted rather than moved to the appropriate area, or merged with existing dupe threads. On the subject of depression threads, the whole 'Community Support' area is there for a reason; don't lock depression threads, move them there. Unless you intend on locking about 3/4ths of the threads in that section for being depression threads. I may also advise that the rules be readjusted to better suit the current profile of the site (Really all that needs to be done is remove/adjust some outdated stuff like the Depression Thread rule or the Necropost rule; simply adjusting those to the site's current standards would help tremendously) so that further confusion can be avoided. If dupe threads exist, please merge them with the original post so that potential discussion isn't lost or old subjects can be brought back up without backlash. Don't lock necro topics because they were necro'd; if it's on topic and relevant to the previous discussion, it's fine, as per stated by the administrative staff themselves when I was on there. Thanks a bunch. (Keep in mind that suicidal threads should be locked immediately. Refer them to someplace where they can get professional help so as to prevent EP from getting in legal trouble. I'm sure Mike remembers that whole shibang)
I agree with this. There have been a few older thread that I've hesitated to post in, because of the necrobumping rule. The rule made sense when the site was (I'm assuming, based on what older members have said) more active, but it seems kind of outdated now. Also, for the depression threads, try to remember that everybody asks for help differently. For some, merely admitting that they are depressed is the equivalent of waving a giant sign that says "HELP ME!" Just because they don't directly ask for help, doesn't mean they're not looking for it.
Some threads will always have to be locked or deleted instead of just moved or merged. What the staff should do is set up a proper reference guide of sorts for which kind of thread requires which kind of moderation.
Proper reference guide is already established, if I recall. The guideline was: If a thread of a specific topic already exists and is still relevant (As in that thread is being continually active in posts) then that thread will be merged with the other one for the sake of getting rid of clutter. If a thread is necro-posted, and the post is on-topic and relevant to the discussion, providing new information/updating information, it's fine to keep. However, if the thread is necro'd with a useless/trivial post, typically the thread should be locked and/or the user warned. Depression/'I Need Help' threads were always redirected to the Community Help/Support center (Known as Pinkie's Friends in Need at the time) so as to prevent that from leaking into General Discussion. Suicide threads have happened, and we learned that those should be locked as soon as possible, with referral to counseling. That's just how it's always worked, and how it should continue to work, no guidelines required. Of course, discretion is there for a reason; if a mod feels there is nothing to gain from bringing a subject back up, perhaps a lock is warranted IF it's discussed with staff first. (Example: 'I like ponies' thread is necro'd 7 months later with a post saying 'Hey I like pone too!', then really there's no point to the thread even existing considering countless threads of that have been made already. Just an example.)
Merging helps to keep the threadlist clean, I don't know why it hasn't been being used much. Mods can also set a redirect from the old thread to the new thread after merging as well. Even better, the redirect can be set to expire, so that people have ample time to know it was merged as well as keep the threadlist clean. Redirects can be set with moving too. I always tried to merge whenever I could, even if it was just an intro post and no replies. There's rarely a reason to not use it. This never used to be an official rule from what I remember, and I don't know why or where it has come from. It was always like what Henry said that if it was on topic then necro is fine because it can allow new members to be introduced to an old topic that can gain new insight.
We had a rule about necro-bumping a long time ago that disallowed people from bumping threads older than a few months or so. It was changed to allow people to bump any thread no matter how old it was, as long as the topic wasn't outdated and the reason for the bump wasn't pointless. Afaik that's still how it works now. (Or how it should.)
