Merged threads

[JasonLa]

Upon reading a thread started by a new user about thinking a thread they started was deleted but wasn't and was merged it brought to mind something I asked a while back but I don't recall getting a response to. The forum has an email notification system that lets us know a thread we subscribed to has gotten a new reply. What if that same system was used to notify the users that the thread merged and provide a link to the merged thread. This would help people new to forums. Most are not aware that they can locate their own post through the tools on the forum even if they start poking around. When I was new to using forums it was a while before I understood how things worked.

A similar thing could be done for deleted threads. An automated notice to those who are subscibed would be sent out to let them know the thread was deleted. Although not as important as the merged thing it would definately save the users a bunch of time looking for the thread when it isn't there any more or moved in the case of being merged.

[Ashberry]

It's a nice idea, and there is a few hacks that can do that for VB. But really its upto the user to make sure they don't make a duplicate thread, besides they can always check their own posts and track down where it went that way. Though really it doesn't take much to look and realise where a thread has gone.

[michaeldt]

Personally, I would disagree with having something like that. the moment you start telling people that, they will expect to be told all sorts.

I feel it's up to the poster to get it right in the first place and either post in an appropriate thread or look for a sticky or search feature. Far too many people just post without thinking and I don't really think it's up to the site to be teaching people how to use forums properly.

[JasonLa]

While I agree people have to diligent in not starting a new thread but I'm coming from being one of those people who researches before posting a new thread. My point for the request is because I find myself having to spend way too much time to locate a thread I was following because it was merged. I am already subscribed to it with instant notification so I can track the thread so it should notify with that system the merge. It may very well be in the forum code already and the feature simply turned on. I know I was on a forum that looks like it uses the same forum code that has it.