I admit it: I mostly post during Tour de Vizzed. However, when not posting for so long there are many threads I missed and that I might find interesting. But when doing do local moderators sometimes warn me that the thread was too old.

So how old is too old to reply? Is there a general rule?

In competing I try to avoid posting in threads older than 3-4 weeks old. Sometimes the window is shorter- it usually depends on subject matter. For example, a milestone thread could be considered too old to post in after just a few days or so.

Well, as long as its open and you haven't replied then you can reply but only if whatever is being talked about can actually could use some more input because if a thread has been inactive for a long period of time, there usually I a reason for that. I would agree and say no more than a month.

janus : Normally, any opened thread would do as long it is completely on topic, but we would like it to be threads that last seen a post a month ago or less, anymore, it would be frowned upon if you bump 'n spam a thread that's been 3 months old.

For me, I normally go with a month as a normal post or 3 months for serious discussions.

TdV is normally the time we start seeing a lot of thread bumpings.

I don't post in threads where the last post was more than a month ago, unless it's something like a review or article and the writer is still active. I have bumped threads sometimes though, but not too many times luckily.

juuldude : I got frowned upon when I reply to "very" old reviews... So if the author is still active it would be deemed OK?

janus : It depends on the thread, most threads in the main forums get closed very soon, but since reviews for example stay open for a longer time it's more allowed to post in there. 

As a general rule of thumb for forum sites 'threadromancy' (the act of performing necromancy on a dead thread by posting in it) is defined as posting in a thread whose last post was a month+ ago. Although, some sorts of threads (e.g. birthday threads) have much shorter windows than this and generally shouldnt be posted in after a couple days of when they were created. System threads, such as bug report threads, are immune to 'threadromancy' because they are necassery for the site to run properly. If sites have a posting competition like Vizzed does than these rules are changed during the competition in order to curb spam and general abuse of the competitions point system. I hope this answered your question

Chindogu : Yes, the one-month rule seems to be generally agreed upon, along with the narrower window for other threads. This way, I don't "catch up" too much and get myself banned.

I love "threadromancy, by the way . 

Suggestion to Mods : if not making it a sticky note, this thread should at least inspire some dos and donts of Tour de Vizzed

janus : This thread is worth a stick, because it tells about bumping threads. Nice idea for this.


-Thread stick-


Edit: STUPID AUTO-CORRECT ON MOBILE!!!

It is worth noting that threads automatically are "retired" by the system. So if it's open, you can post in it as long as it's meaningful and not spam.

Also, sometimes some posts are old and forgotten, and so a new one that is similar is made. In that case post in the newer one.

if you want to get technical - if the thread is open then it is available to be posted in. We have an automated system that closes threads if no one posts for 6 months. I infer based on that that you are allowed to post in any open thread as long as you are contributing to the thread.

geeogree : Including video game reviews? Those never seem to close, and I sometimes surprise myself replying to a thread that's over a year old.

janus : I think it also depends on how much you are replying to those threads.. If it's obvious that all you are doing is commenting on old reviews that no one has commented on for 6 months then I suspect you might get a small warning from the locals.. Not because it's breaking the rules.. Just that it would be a little cheap and unsportsman like.. But on the other side.. The reviewer might appreciate the feedback from the review, as well as them getting more views. 

For me the biggest annoyance would be the people that do reply to lots of reviews but never give any feedback that isn't generic... The amount of reviews I've read with replies with sentences such as "I really liked this review and that you should keep it up"  is outstanding... Especially when you can see blatant problems with the review.. 

Like moderators have said however if it is open it's fair game.. For me personally it's the mindset that goes into the post...

Basically the Tour De Vizzed can bring the best and the worst out of people.. The joys of competition eh?

As geeo and Light Knight said, it's okay to post in any thread that is open so long as it isn't spam. Reviews are fine as well. Some people run with this unwritten rule that says it's bad to bump threads, but the site rules state "If we didn't want you posting in a thread, we would close it" though that isn't necessarily verbatim.