Bringing up old posts is a complicated matter. Since common sense is perhaps lacking more than it is present, we tend to say "don't bring up old posts" as a general rule. However, it's not that simplistic.theboywarrior wrote:Isn't bringing up old posts rather frowned on???
Basically, as a courtesy to the other users on this forum, we do not want people bringing up a whole bunch of really old posts to the top of the forum, thereby shoving all the newer posts that deserve some attention down out of sight. Beyond this simple courtesy, however, there's really nothing in the etiquette of being a forum user that says you shouldn't add to an old topic, if you have something worthwhile to say.
HOWEVER!
Take very special note of that last clause: "something worthwhile to say." Before you post on an old topic, you should always consider the following things:
1.) Is this topic about something that is still worth talking about?
For example, if you dig back to 2004, when this forum was much younger, you'll find lots of posts about the colour change (old greys and browns to new greys and browns), as well as a lot of posts bemoaning the design and aesthetic of the KK2 sets. These topics were thoroughly talked to death, and are no longer relevant in any way. It's been over 6 years now, and KK2 is no longer in stores, nor is old grey likely to ever come back and replace new grey.
In the case of Weekly Set Reviews, such as this, they are considered somewhat "timeless," and in fact Architect reposts them to the front page as the set review of the week at times. Adding to these topics is always acceptable--though we ask, again, that a user does not glut the top of the forum with every set review they can find. One or two at a time is more than enough.
2.) Are you adding something to this topic?
This is where most necroposting goes wrong--usually, even newbies know better than to bring up something like "I just found Santis sets in my TRU!" sorts of topics. However, all too often they'll bring up an old thread and add one line--or even one word!--to the effect of "yeah, that's so true!" or "I disagree, that's wrong." While it's great that someone is still reading those old conversations and thus making use of some much-neglected pages of the forum, the rest of us don't want to see that old conversation unless you're actually adding something to it that's worth reading. If you aren't sure that what you're adding is something other people might find interesting to read, don't post it. If all you're adding is simple agreement or disagreement, don't post it. Even if you're saying something longer than a word or two, or a line or two, is it something that's actually new? If someone's already said it before, don't post it.
Again, as a general rule, you can always stay on the safe side by not bringing up old posts. However, with a healthy dose of common sense, there's nothing wrong with bringing up old posts. If the topic is still worth talking about, and if you're actually adding to it, we're generally quite happy to read what you have to say.
~Michael A. Joosten - Moderator