Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

There are a lot of threads out there, that could confuse users into trying some hack or installation procedure, that was based on working with certain versions on the OS that has passed. That may or may work on current firmware. Should there be a way to mark threads as deprecated, as they are not working with the latest available firmwares?

For example here http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=19639

I put deprecated on the tag, and I put a note on top of the page, but I am just wondering if we should have a mechanism?

I am thinking just a policy and moderators can do some sort of consistent methodology. Maybe just add a tag "deprecated", and maybe a warning on top of the page?

So your poll questions are, :D:D:D

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

I think it's a great idea. But it's also good, in my opinion, not to delete the threads, as there could still be something useful in them, and maybe not everyone has chosen to install the updates that make the thread, um, deprecatable.

(Actually, I did the same thing as you (you need to follow the instruction in Post #1 to go to Post #2 to see it). But not every thread-starter is going to, or is even necessarily going to be around to do it.)

(In fact, I even kinda did it in my sig :))

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Why not sterilize these threads by moving their instructions to subsections of the wiki, made specific for past versions of the firmware? This way they would remain useful for those who don't feel like updating their devices for whatever reason.

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

I would be good if people would go through threads (old and new, but generally those which have reached some sort of resolution) and pick out stuff which is still relevant and stick it in the wiki. Otherwise the post dates should warn people that the info in a given post is old and therefore may have changed, I would hope :)

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

I'm not sure this is obvious enough -- especially for new users. Also, especially if it takes an hour to read from the beginning through the end of a thread -- sometimes, new and important info is at the very end.

I was thinking about this... It'd be really cool if deprecated threads were displayed in some sort of different style, with a "key" on the top of each page.

Tim

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

How about a way to replace the first post in the thread. It would be really cool if you could make that first post a wiki, so any users who are now perhaps supporting it, can update it. Alternately, they could just work with moderators to put in the information.

Sorry just thinking out loud...

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

They could be simply closed by the moderator with a redirect note added to the original post.

This requires more work and tedium for the moderator but cleans the place up and removes redundant and often misleading threads from a new members search results making the forum a better first time experience.

We all as good forum citizens should appreciate that a moderators job is not authoritarian but at times is a custodial one that involves cleaning up other peoples messes and what seems like repeating the same instruction over and over again. And on top of all that it is a voluntary and often thankless task.

We should endeavor to minimize duplicate and redundant threads in the first place. Contributors have been given the edit feature indefinitely and they should edit posts (and note the edits) to become relevant as conditions change.

Looking back pb, can you now see why I once called for the many "change" threads to be consolidated or closed? Future new members that dig up these ancient threads may re-open issues that have since been resolved. I wouldn't wish the replies that they may receive in doing so on anybody. :D

@Tim. Another way to cull the threads is to use Vb's trash feature if available. Moderators could simply put suspected or proposed for deprecation threads there until a Super or Admin reviews them. It also allows a thread to be restored, merged, or split if membership raises valid concerns in the interim.

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Does vBulletin have a way to "remove" threads from search results? That would be really nice. That way, the threads are still around to be found if browsing (with the appropriate markings of a deprecated thread, etc.). But, in search results, only valid (i.e., useful) threads would appear.

Tim

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Bitrot happens. But how to define it, who decides what is bitrotten? The author? Or also others? And who will be allowed to fix? IMO mods should be able to fix first posts, but in a very sincere manner.

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Yes, I believe via user groups and permisions but regard it is not very secure.
If I haven''t said so allready, Reggie or this forums admiin would be the ultimate source for what features are available.

Edited to correct name

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Depreciated would seem to imply based on latest software release. There would need to be a qualifier perhaps platform or OS version. For example once the next IT comes out applications that ran on the older tablets would likely be update in ways that depend on the new hardware but the older versions would still be fully functional on an N8x0. Would posts relating to the N8x0 but not the N900 be depreciated for N8x0 users?

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Excellent idea! For a practical approach not bringing much overhead to anybody, what about:

0. If you are not a moderator, post the URL of a deprecated thread in a specific... thread to be created in the maemo.org forum.
1. Close the thread.
2. Add [DEPRECATED] in the subject. (only moderators)
3. Ideally: provide a notice and a recommended link in red font at the top of the first post: "THIS THREAD IS DEPRECATED. PLEASE VISIT <whatever>". Not always easy to do, but a deprecation implies that there is something valid and more recent.
4. Move the thread to the closest option in Old (Troubleshooting, Announcements, Newbie are good candidates to take most deprecated threads).

Next.

fragos, as I see it a thread is not deprecated because of belonging to a specific release, but because the thread itself has a more recent version somewhere else or goes around an issue that is not an issue anymore.

For instance, the OS2006 threads are not deprecated by OS2008 threads, and these are not deprecated by Maemo 5 threads.

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Well, I have gone through the [KDE] posts, along with sjgadsby and added deprecated tags to them.

Now we can use that to search for deprecated threads, how can we use them to not show up in search results, unless searched for?

Maybe I should have marked all the oher threads non-deprecated

It would be helpful if it were possible to search for tags like this

kde35 -deprecated

Anyway how can we make it easier to search and not see deprecated posts.

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Moving the deprecated threads to Old?

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Any chance we could enable title editing for thread creators?

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

As much as I agree that this was needed yesterday, this could get confusing. It will definitely need an asterisk or something.

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

I personally think moving to OLD or Archive or whatever, seems like a good idea.

It would alternately be cool if all threads with deprecated tags only showed up on in advanced search, by adding deprecated to the tag search.

Otherwise they would not come up in normal searches

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

Reggie, Quim, Council

What are thoughts on this, I would like to get some fresh searches to Qole's alternatives page, once the deprecated threads are dealt with?

Reggie can you easily make the deprecated threads not show up unless searched in advanced for "deprecated" in the tag?

If not suggestions on where the deprecated threads can be moved, or how they will be dealt with. I am not sure if I agree with closing them, though, as people may find useful information in them and need to post to clarify?

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

That would open up the possibility that someone might "deprecate" random threads just to be troublesome.

Re: Should we have a policy to mark threads as deprecated?
 

I thought I was the only one that was troublesome