My parents have a ton of dried seasonings and spices that they have had ever since I can remember. Do these things eventually go bad or do they last forever?
I'm glad to know that spices last longer, since there are a couple I use only once a year at Thanksgiving when I'm baking...but I'd say I'm on year six of the cloves, nutmeg and coriander and I haven't noticed any flavor degradation.
Sounds like your parents don't do a lot of home cooking. I am always running out of dried thyme, basil, red pepper flakes, and a couple of others. I now buy the big containers of parsley and peppercorns at Costco.