Pinned threads that have outdated information, what's the best way forward?

[JeromeTash]

There are some threads that are pinned, but some information has been outdated for a while, as we know how quickly things change in crypto industry. Unfortunately, some OPs have left the forum for good. What can be done to make sure the information members consume is updated and not misleading

Take an example of this post by Lauda - [General] Bitcoin Wallets - Which, what, why?

1. Unpin the posts and encourage members to create a new similar updated post that can be pinned?
2. Let Mods edit out the outdated information?

[Richbased]

Pinned threads that the information contained becomes outdated should be updated by the OP but if the OP becomes inactive then moderators can either lock and Unpin such threads instead of editing the contents of the OP however, there are still pinned threads that regardless of whether the contents of the OP are outdated, some are still useful and users making recent replies on such threads do give current information that are helpful to anyone following up that is why in some threads we shouldn't focus more on the contents of the OP but also try and read the replies of others then you may come across a current update that could be helpful to you because some replies comes with suggestions of which it can be more helpful than the contents of the OP.

The only threads I feel could be edited by moderators are threads that are pinned and locked since new replies are not possible.

[Charles-Tim]

This has been discussed before on the thread. I like this reply:

You clearly just want to get rid of this thread.  Bury it.  Slide it away.

My suggestion is to create a better replacement thread and then ask moderators to unpin this one. Calling it "burying" is disingenuous to say the least.

Anyone can create a new one or edit it and tell moderator to pin it. If it should be pinned, it would be pinned.

[Davidvictorson]

There are some threads that are pinned, but some information has been outdated for a while, as we know how quickly things change in crypto industry. Unfortunately, some OPs have left the forum for good. What can be done to make sure the information members consume is updated and not misleading

Take an example of this post by Lauda - [General] Bitcoin Wallets - Which, what, why?

1. Unpin the posts and encourage members to create a new similar updated post that can be pinned?
2. Let Mods edit out the outdated information?

I like you observations.

And I think what you should is take it a step further by making updating it in new thread. And then the decisions will be left to the mods to correct. One of the users _act_ did something a little similar.

In this quote you can see how he started:

That list has not been updated since 2020, and I do not have time to update it. If there is someone who has time and can continue to update it, I will support him. I will lock this topic within 48 hours.

I have interest to know more about the lightning network wallets recently and it will be my pleasure to begin new thread about it and be updating it.

And on April 28, he created/updated the thread  - Lists of open-source bitcoin lightning wallets

I therefore encourage you do it.

[Churchillvv]

I have been once concerned about this some time ago when I came across threads with images for clear understand get messed up because the images aren't displaying and outdated informationa too but Iost interest because most OPs are not active anymore.

1. Unpin the posts and encourage members to create a new similar updated post that can be pinned?
2. Let Mods edit out the outdated information?

I think rewriting those threads might be better only giving credit to the original post.

If that be the case then we all will only be charged to suggest threads which we feel should be rewritten and maybe anyone who wishes to do the work can find it easier hence stress of finding outdated threads will be eased.

[theymos]

Create a better one, and then ask a moderator with jurisdiction over that board to switch the pinned thread. There's no need for any big debate about it: if there's a thread which hasn't been updated in several years, and somebody is asking me to pin a different thread which seems better after a few minutes of skimming, I'm probably just going to do it. (But please try asking other mods first, rather than me.) If somebody ends up having a problem with something-or-other regarding the new thread, then they can make a better thread, and we can at that time have a public debate in Meta about which up-to-date thread is better.

2. Let Mods edit out the outdated information?

Mods are not supposed to edit the content of a post, even if it's a sticky. Mod edits should be limited to non-content things like fixing broken bbcode, merging posts, etc., so that nobody ever has reason to complain that a mod "put words in their mouth". Even if a post is violating the rules, and editing out a word/sentence/paragraph would make it no longer in violation of the rules, this kind of content-edit should not be done; the post should just be deleted.

[un_rank]

...if there's a thread which hasn't been updated in several years, and somebody is asking me to pin a different thread which seems better after a few minutes of skimming, I'm probably just going to do it.

Will this result in unpinning the previous outdated thread for the new one or both be allowed to stay up there?
And should an outdated thread be unpinned pending when there is a more current version available to avoid spreading wrong information?

- Jay -

[Mia Chloe]

Create a better one, and then ask a moderator with jurisdiction over that board to switch the pinned thread. There's no need for any big debate about it: if there's a thread which hasn't been updated in several years, and somebody is asking me to pin a different thread which seems better after a few minutes of skimming, I'm probably just going to do it. (But please try asking other mods first, rather than me.) If somebody ends up having a problem with something-or-other regarding the new thread, then they can make a better thread, and we can at that time have a public debate in Meta about which up-to-date thread is better.

I agree with this The op of this post is right we have so many  outdated post on the forum and many  of them are as a result of the fact that majority of the creators of these posts are no longer active. Personally I have done an update on one of 1miau's Electrum guide to subside fees. Infact the guide was quite vague because that version of Electrum was way too old.

Anyways saying a thread should be unpinned by a moderator is something I hardly see here to be frank. I have seen new threads pinned but replacement I haven't seen. Personally I think before a thread should be replaced , it should be self moderated to clear spam obviously, and also the creator should be ready to update it from time to time if not it's same as leaving the old thread pinned.

In addition the old thread should also be linked for reference purposes.

[NotATether]

Create a better one, and then ask a moderator with jurisdiction over that board to switch the pinned thread. There's no need for any big debate about it: if there's a thread which hasn't been updated in several years, and somebody is asking me to pin a different thread which seems better after a few minutes of skimming, I'm probably just going to do it. (But please try asking other mods first, rather than me.)

The thing is, it's really down to the global mods and you and Cyrus - that thread's on Beginners and Help which has an AWOL moderator.

[Coyster]

Anyways saying a thread should be unpinned by a moderator is something I hardly see here to be frank. I have seen new threads pinned but replacement I haven't seen.

That is basically because no user has created a better and up-to-date replacement thread, new threads can of course be pinned if they are not related with any of the existing pinned threads, but if it is, mods/admin will replace/switch the pinned thread.

and also the creator should be ready to update it from time to time if not it's same as leaving the old thread pinned.

As long as the OP is around, i am pretty sure they would not have any problem updating the thread, but people can leave the forum for a myriad of reasons, so they could still leave the forum and become inactive like some of the OP's of currently pinned topics, but that is a non-issue.

[acroman08]

Will this result in unpinning the previous outdated thread for the new one or both be allowed to stay up there?
And should an outdated thread be unpinned pending when there is a more current version available to avoid spreading wrong information?

- Jay -

not sure what theymos will answer to this but if you ask me, it's for the best to unpin the outdated version so as to not cause any confusion or as you say, spread wrong information. I also think that if there is a newly created version, a link to the outdated thread should be put at the very bottom, and a disclaimer should be provided about what that link is.

[dzungmobile]

There are some threads that are pinned, but some information has been outdated for a while

1. Unpin the posts and encourage members to create a new similar updated post that can be pinned?
2. Let Mods edit out the outdated information?

OPs can be less active in the forum recent months or abandoned their accounts, are two biggest reasons of outdated pinned threads.

Solutions can be allowing Moderators to edit these helpful but outdated threads or officially change the thread ownerships to new forum members who are possible moderators or other members.

We have examples with Wall Observer threads and one thread from 1miau changed ownership to GazzetaBitcoin.

Wall Observer new ownership
List of useful Bitcoin block explorers

Disclaimer: this topic was created by 1miau. However, at our joint request, on Dec 18th, 2023 theymos changed the ownership of the topic to me. This information was also confirmed by 1miau here

[AVE5]

There are some threads that are pinned, but some information has been outdated for a while, as we know how quickly things change in crypto industry. Unfortunately, some OPs have left the forum for good. What can be done to make sure the information members consume is updated and not misleading

Take an example of this post by Lauda - [General] Bitcoin Wallets - Which, what, why?

1. Unpin the posts and encourage members to create a new similar updated post that can be pinned?
2. Let Mods edit out the outdated information?

Pinned threads are mostly for the forum or board/sections moderations which contains guideline informations or essential information with the obligations to why we're all in this platform.
So then, it'd be unthoughtful to erase them or updating them when it's not required but my humble suggestion should be incase anyone feels or finds any of the pinned threads worth to be tempered either to erase or update based on the OPs suggestions, then such pinned threads should be recalled on a particular board where a moderator supercedes to the decision reviewing them if it should be edited, scrapped or untempered.

[nakamura12]

We can try to ask mods or the OP of the thread to update the old one or create a new one and ask to pin it if possible. If the op is no longer active then we can do what dzungmobile mentioned to update the old thread. Well, forum staffs can edit the thread so we can just ask to edit the thread and if you have the updated version then you can just send it to the forum staff to change the old one. I'd say create a new one and ask admin or mods to pin the thread with the updated version.

[Alone055]

We can try to ask mods or the OP of the thread to update the old one or create a new one and ask to pin it if possible. If the op is no longer active then we can do what dzungmobile mentioned to update the old thread. Well, forum staffs can edit the thread so we can just ask to edit the thread and if you have the updated version then you can just send it to the forum staff to change the old one. I'd say create a new one and ask admin or mods to pin the thread with the updated version.

You just repeated what theymos had said earlier in this post.  This is why it's important to read earlier responses before making a post. No offense. 

[dkbit98]

Problem with pinned threads is mostly coming from members who are not active in forum anymore, like Lauda for example.
I don't see this as a huge problem but it would be a good idea to replace this threads with something that is more up to date.
Information in this topic is not wrong, so moderators could also edit post and remove obsolete information.

[EarnOnVictor]

This is thoughtful of you, we can only encourage those who are still active on the forum to update their pinned threads while moderators update it for those who are absent for years. It's no news that some moderators can edit/delete posts, they will only refer to it as #editted. Nonetheless, we can still do our part by pointing out the faults detected in the posts and calling their attention to it to make the work easier for the moderators.

Also, I thought of it before reading what theymos wrote, any interested person may rewrite such a post with the updated content. But many may be unwilling to go through all that when it is not their raw topic, especially if it is so long and demands sorting for online resources and correctness.

[KingsDen]

Problem with pinned threads is mostly coming from members who are not active in forum anymore, like Lauda for example.
I don't see this as a huge problem but it would be a good idea to replace this threads with something that is more up to date.
Information in this topic is not wrong, so moderators could also edit post and remove obsolete information.

The nature of this forum makes it look like an archive. It looks like the mesuem or library of bitcoin and cryptocurrency. This should be a place to find old posts whether outdated or not. It will give us the understanding of where we are coming from.
Instead of unpinning such posts and burying it, creating similar threads and indicating updated version to it will be nice, while locking the former (original) thread and not unpinning them.