Thread Moving - without notifying the OP?

I’ve been scouring the site trying to find the thread I originally posted back on April 9, 2009, at 1:53 PM 😁

I honestly thought the moderators had deleted it, so please accept my apologies if I’ve jumped to the wrong conclusion. 😍

However, what actually caught me off guard wasn't just the disappearance, but rather this specific question:

Why was my thread moved—1) without any notification to me, and 2) merged into a discussion where the very last reply was dated April 19, 2007, at 10:51 PM (link), which is nearly two full years before my original thread was even created? 😕

To be clear, while my topic might be "old" by today's standards, I really needed to access some information I know I left there, and I wanted to review my own notes. I was quite surprised to find it missing entirely, and I only stumbled upon it by pure chance while searching my browser for the word "collection."

Does it truly make sense to relocate a thread like that without notifying the author, especially AFTER all activity on the original discussion had ceased? 😕

If my memory serves me correctly, I remember starting that conversation myself, along with a few other forum members.

Is it even worth asking such a thing? It feels a bit unusual to me, which is why I'm reaching out. 🙂

Just head over to your profile—you can click your name right next to your post above the avatar—and you'll find everything you need under Statistics. You can search through all your posts and any threads you've started there. 😉

Jacob Foster11 said:If you navigate to your own profile—you just click on your username next to your post, right above your avatar—you will find a section labeled Statistics where you can locate every single post and thread you have ever started. 😉

And do you truly believe I haven't experienced the exact same thing? 🙂 I included links in my post so you can see for yourself; the thread I initiated was simply merged without anyone ever reaching out to inform me or providing any sort of notification.

No one is under any obligation to keep you in the loop. It’s entirely up to the moderators whether they decide to maintain a redirect for merged threads or not, and in your specific case, I suspect they aren't 🙂

silentsailor5 said:No one is actually obligated to give you a heads-up. It’s entirely up to the moderators whether they decide to leave a redirect on a merged thread or not; in your situation, I assume they aren't exactly 🙂

Really? 🙂 And why wouldn't they notify me? How am I supposed to track down the thread afterward? 😕 I certainly wouldn't want someone moving my own posts around without letting me know. 🙂

Steven Clark2 said:...but how am I supposed to find the thread again later?

Well, you just use the Find all threads started by Nick button... It’s there for a reason, isn't it?

Steven Clark2 said:Seriously? 🙂 Like, why wouldn't they give me a heads-up? How am I supposed to track the thread down later? 😕 I doubt you'd be thrilled if someone just moved your stuff around without saying a word. 🙂

Do you have any idea how many threads get dumped here every single day? It’s endless. Someone finds some random PDF online and starts a whole new discussion, and what—are the mods supposed to send a personal memo to every single person on the site? Just wait for the dust to settle after a move and you'll find it. If you missed it getting relocated, don't go blaming the mods.

They're just doing their jobs.
If this was such a massive deal to you, you could've paid for a premium sub to pin it, or just grabbed a link and saved it somewhere else... there are ways to keep track of things if you actually try...

.

jadetrucker43 said:Well, there is a reason why you should just click on the Find all threads started by no Nick button... It exists for a purpose...

Perhaps if you had read the introductory post, you would understand. I searched for the thread four separate times, but simply could not find it. I eventually realized it had been merged only after I used the search function to look for the word "collection."

I chose that specific term because I have the first two introductory posts saved in my Word document. I don't recall using the singular noun "collection" very frequently, yet there it was—my thread had been merged into an old one that hadn't seen activity in two years.

I was completely unaware that threads could be merged without any prior announcement or notification.

Lindy:

Are you aware of how many different threads are posted here every single day? Someone just starts a topic based on the first PDF they stumble upon, and it is impossible for the moderators to reply to every single person individually. You just have to wait for the right time when a thread is being moved and then you'll see it. If you didn't catch the move happening, that isn't the fault of the mods.

Yes, I am reasonably aware of the volume, though the distinction here is that my original thread had about three pages of posts before it was moved without my knowledge. I am not suggesting the moderators are specifically to blame. While they were the ones who moved it, the thread certainly didn't migrate on its own. 🙂If merging a thread without notice is the standard procedure, then fine, I accept that.

Honestly, it’s like you just refuse to listen to what people are telling you. Finding your own posts and threads is incredibly easy. Just look at this image:


You can even subscribe to specific threads:


Check out these screenshots (click them).

Besides, it is standard practice for moderators to move, merge, or delete threads whenever necessary.

His thread has been merged with another one. Once that happens, it’s no longer technically his own topic, so he won't be able to find it listed under his personal threads. I guess that’s what he was trying to get at. 😉

Jacob Foster11 said:Goodness, it’s as if you simply refuse to listen to what people are telling you. Finding your own posts and threads is actually quite straightforward. Just take a look at this screenshot:


You can even subscribe to specific threads:


Check out these images (just click on them).

Alright, since I am apparently being thick-headed here, perhaps you could try—using your moderator privileges, if you have them—to visit my profile and locate a thread I started. It is titled (or was titled) "The Ten Commandments." It is entirely possible that I failed to notice it four separate times in the list of threads I've posted on my profile—but the truth is, it simply isn't there.

By the way, it is standard practice for moderators to move, merge, or delete threads whenever necessary.

Based on my past experiences, I understood that moderators typically post notifications regarding such actions, especially when a new topic is opened. If they choose not to do so because they don't feel it's necessary to announce a thread merger, then that is a different matter entirely. I suppose I should have been clearer in my reasoning. 🙂

mistywolf17 said:He merged his thread with another one. Once that happens, it isn't technically his thread anymore, so he can't find it under his own posts. That's my take on what he meant. 😉

What if someone actually subscribed to the thread? Does the subscription vanish, or does it carry over to the new one?

By the way, you can always just use the "Find all posts by..." feature. 😉