Forum Management Suggestion

[wanting4#1]

Hi! I am a member of the Fertility Forum and it has happened frequently that someone will post or reply to an original post from years ago.  Is it possible to keep the threads but close them for discussion so people won't make this mistake?  I have seen it used very well on other discussion forums that I visit.

Thank you!

[wanting4#1]

Also, if you're curious about what the actual members of the forum think about this...I posted a poll in the Fertility Forum and 72% of those that replied agree that the posts should be kept, but closed to not allow further discussion. Maybe from posts that are dated pre-2008 to keep the information that is on the forum current and timely??

[wanting4#1]

I would agree except that in most situations, they are offering advice to a question/problem that was posed too long ago to be relevant. (I saw one post where the person replied to a question posed by a woman who already had her baby). I think that can be disheartening and misleading to people, too.

If you keep them in an archive, they can read all of the information, but by closing the discussion, doesn't allow them to make 'silly mistakes' that invariably someone else will point out to them.

[Med Help]

Thanks for the suggestion. We've considered this several times in the past. Right now, we're holding off on making any changes given that a lot of new members find MedHelp from these old posts and we want to give them a chance to discover the community. Allowing them to comment on that post is the best way of engaging them in the community.

Thanks,
MedHelp