# Warn users that try to reply to an old post
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798
**Category:** UX
**Created:** [August 26, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798 "2019-08-26T00:07:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@seanblue](https://meta.discourse.org/u/seanblue)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798/1 "2019-08-26T00:07:02Z")
Similar to this message when reviving old topics:
* * *
Sometimes users reply to a months- or years-old post without realizing the post was that old. The topic itself may have recent replies, so there is no warning about reviving the topic in that case. However, I think it’s still worth warning the user that they are about to reply to a really old post.
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798/2 "2019-08-26T12:55:45Z")
Consider auto closing old topics?
EDIT: Oh. I missed that the topic was active and that they were responding to old posts in an otherwise active topic.
No. There is no way that you can make me read more carefully. 😿
---
### Author:  [@seanblue](https://meta.discourse.org/u/seanblue)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798/3 "2019-08-26T13:32:31Z")
Are you suggesting closing old topics that are still active?
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798/4 "2019-08-26T14:16:12Z")
The problem that I thought you were describing was topics that were to old to be useful. Also, Discourse does warn a user replying to an old topic.
---
### Author:  [@seanblue](https://meta.discourse.org/u/seanblue)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798/5 "2019-08-26T14:34:12Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> The problem that I thought you were describing was topics that were to old to be useful.
No. Please reread what I wrote (and let me know what was unclear so I can edit it to clarify). I’m referring to people replying to old _posts_ in an otherwise active topic.
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> Also, Discourse does warn a user replying to an old topic.
To my knowledge, this is only done when the last post is old, not the topic itself. The picture I put is of that, which I mentioned since I’m proposing a warning message similar to that.
---
### Author:  [@HAWK](https://meta.discourse.org/u/HAWK)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798/6 "2019-08-27T00:42:25Z")
Yeah, I can see how this could happen on occasion but I’m not sure we’ve reached the rule of three yet. I’d be interested to see if other people have experienced this.
---
### Author:  [@seanblue](https://meta.discourse.org/u/seanblue)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/warn-users-that-try-to-reply-to-an-old-post/126798/7 "2019-08-27T01:48:32Z")
I wouldn’t say it happens _often_, but I’ve seen it a number of times in the couple years I’ve been using Discourse forums. I’m also curious to see if others have noticed the same thing or if my experience is a fluke.