Like Cosmic Charlie said, I think you do just fine.

Actually have not done it in a long time... But I use to once in a while go back as far as I could in a Forum to see what Topic really took off with a lot of responses... But has not come up in a long time...

I would re-word them a bit and re-post them.. then at times I have actually looked at other forums and take a Topic that was really going good that I had not seen here.. and post it.

Thanks TxsGal, that's a really good idea. I hesitate to revive really old threads because half the time, the OP isn't there anymore and it was specific to them. And there's occasionally a little bickering when ancient threads are revived, haha.

Browsing some of the older ones might help get my mind working to come up with something different or I can simply reword it to fit what's going on now. Make it more pertinent, like what Tom said.

You never met me in person, I can be really awkward. And I know it. But written communication is not too bad, I guess

Yea I just re-word them and re-post them as a new thread due to most of those members are gone and people tend not to look at them if they are old threads.... just brought back up..

Well hopefully someday I will meet you and I'm okay with awkward, so it's cool.

If it is okay, and I understood TxsGal saying it is, I feel it's better to take the topic title and open it again, a new one I mean.
Old threads sometimes pick up, but typically something has run its course after page 3. After page 3 you usually get the off-topic stuff, the "Hi" and "I'm looking for a date" and other stuff not related to the topic at all anymore.
That's why I dislike people digging up old threads. Also like you say often the OP has long long gone, and people who replied to it as well. It's just my view of course, but it always feels like reading a newspaper from 4 years ago or something, hahaha.

Yes, I know what you mean.

If the mods are okay with it, I think it's a great idea. We could always post a link to the original thread and whoever wanted to go back and read it could?

Or change the title and then give reference to the thread we're drawing from?

Please do not put any links to old threads it is not needed.. Just do the wording in your own or use theirs it does not matter. For if you put the link then others will post on the old and bring them backup.. which is not needed... and we would have to end up locking many of them due to some of the post may not comply with the Rules in place now..

Okay, thanks for letting us know.

Yup, that makes a lot of sense.

i'd just like to add this about the number of views a topic receives....

it's a skewed number that really doesn't indicate anything in particular

it is quite possible for 3 or 4 people to rack up a large number of views
just by having a back and forth conversation because all 4 of them
are viewing the thread again again and again to see what the other 3
are saying....the more replies (by the 4 posters) the views increase
exponentially.....so, if you get my drift here, by the time the thread gets
to page2 (20 replies) the views could easily reach a very high number
even though only 4 people are involved with participating in it...

this thread is a good example----7 people have racked up over 200 views

Delighted to hear that. Well, I am easy going, just a wee bit awkward

That's a good point and makes sense. If I use an older thread for a topic, I'll be sure to read through it first to see how others have commented, and how many actually commented. Thanks Argo!

^^^
mark me up for another view river...that makes 5 now just from me

Riverspirit,
There are many threads that go in-depth off-topic as well.
Sometimes a thread is started on the off-topic subject but sometimes not.
I've read some pretty interesting off-topic comments that would make great threads on their own.
If you come across an off-topic comment that might make a great discussion on its own, you could post that as new.

You could even give the person who posted the comment credit for inspiring you to post a topic on it.

Ex:
"I was reading some of the old threads last evening and 'such and such' commented on >insert your new topic< and it inspired me to create this thread so we could discuss it in depth."

...or take the credit yourself because you are the one inspired to make it a discussion topic.

I agree, especially here with this volume of members.
It works on my forum because of the low traffic and the obscurity of the forum host.
It also works because most threads there are single posts.
Its no longer a discussion forum but more of a resource forum.
While thread views do not necessarily mean people are interested in the content of the thread it does indicate over-all how many people are looking at which threads.
Have a look, you'll see what I mean...
http://ghostown.freeforums.net/
(no I am not trying to drive up my member base)

Oooo... I feel lucky

Great idea!

Thanks so much everyone for your suggestions... you guys/gals are awesome!

It's not only a help to me, but I'm sure the suggestions will be useful to others as well, who'd like to begin a new thread.