Locking threads

[shmokes]

Is there a good reason for being able to lock a thread I start that I am missing?  It seems to me that once a thread is put in a public forum the thread belongs to the public, or at the very least it belongs to the board, but not to me.  The only people who should have the ability to lock any threads are the moderators, IMO.  They can lock a thread for inappropriate conduct and whatnot, instead of a person locking a thread that isn't turning out the way he or she envisioned it based solely on the fact that he or she happened to make the first post.  But other people may have been having a useful and interesting discussion.

[Bones]

Yeah I know what thread sparked this posting.

It seemed like a pretty pissy & sooky reason to lock it out to everyone especially as it was created in the EE forum and should therefore be somewhat "fair game" regarding whatever direction the thread eventually takes.

I can see the option being useful in other parts of the forum though.

[quarterback]

I'm not familiar with the thread in question (and maybe I don't want to be) but couldn't you just start another thread with the same topic?  I mean, if people want to disucss the topic, then the OP locking the OThread shouldn't stop anybody.   If there is legitimate discussion that doesn't rely on the OP, then just start talking about it in a new thread.

It sounds like the OP didn't like the way the discussion was going or thought the discussion was "over" as far as the original post was concerned.

I see all kinds of topics go running amok and away from the original topic and I can see me locking a thread if I started it to ask opinions about joysticks and it simply became overrun with avatar stealing and bacon posts.

In fact, it seems like EE is the perfect place to have the ability to lock a thread.

[SirPoonga]

People have locked their own threads if htey thought it got out of hand.

[Stingray]

I agree with Shmokes on this one. Once it's out there, it's out there. Threads get very wonky in EE, that's just the nature of that forum. The thread in question was still an ongoing and interesting discussion, even though the OP didn't like the way it was headed. There was no inappropriate content.

-S

[shmokes]

Starting a new thread isn't really an option.  There are essentially two avenues:

1- Start the topic anew and retread a bunch of stuff already discussed, which isn't going to work well for the people who were already involved in the discussion.

2- Start a new topic with a link to the old thread telling people, "Go read this thread to get up to speed and then come over here to continue the discussion," which for obvious reasons won't really work.

As for people locking threads that they felt got "out of hand", well, I can't lock any other threads that I felt got out of hand.  Why should I be able to lock my own.  When I start a thread I have no better idea how it's going to turn out than when I read the first post in someone else's thread.  I don't see how I'm any better qualified to lock a thread I started than one someone else started.  I can read through either one and decide whether I personally believe that the thread got "out of hand", but that doesn't mean I can, or should be able to lock any thread I believe got out of hand.

Seriously, if the thread had been reported to any moderator, the moderator would have read it and been like, "Eh?  People are just talking here.  Not a single uncivil thing has been said (except for when the person who locked the thread called everyone "economist freaks", but I don't think anyone took that personally, and it would be pretty strange for a person to break a forum rule just to give himself personal justification for locking a thread).

Anyway, I just don't see what use there is in letting people lock their own threads.  Moderators are in a much better, objective postition to do this.  Locking a thread affects every person who was posting in there, not just the OP.  Posting a new topic for discussion with the caveat that "You can post whatever you want here in my thread, so long as I agree with what you have to say," is pretty lame.  If we were sitting around a coffee shop having the exact same discussion I couldn't just put in my last word and then announce, "Okay everyone, you no longer have the ability to discuss this issue, even after I leave.  This is a power I weild merely because I am the one who asked the initial question that got this conversation going.  I therefore own the conversation."

[saint]

Fixed!

[missioncontrol]

He who locks their own thread wins........

[shmokes]

Thanks, Saint.....I think.

However, if by fixed you mean that I can no longer lock a thread I started I don't think it's fixed.  I just locked this thread  (but then unlocked it in case anyone had anything to say about it).

[sgfootball2006]

Sorry! Thread being discussed is now unlocked. Just didn't want to the thread to get out of control.

[shmokes]

Thanks for unlocking the thread, but I wasn't trying to force that thread unlocked.  I'm questioning whether the lock feature should even exist for non-moderators.

[saint]

Hmmm... yeah, that's what I meant by fixed and obviously I didn't get it fixed   Looking again.

Thanks, Saint.....I think.

However, if by fixed you mean that I can no longer lock a thread I started I don't think it's fixed.  I just locked this thread  (but then unlocked it in case anyone had anything to say about it).

[Shape D.]

I'm questioning whether the lock feature should even exist for non-moderators.

I think it has its uses, especially in the BST forum.

[Stingray]

I'm questioning whether the lock feature should even exist for non-moderators.

I think it has its uses, especially in the BST forum.

You can just as easily change the title to "SOLD" or whatever would be appropriate.

-S

[Shape D.]

And I fear change.

[Goz]

I locked a thread I wonder how long it will take others to find it and get pissed.

[DrewKaree]

I locked a thread I wonder how long it will take others to find it and get pissed.

I hate you for locking that thread.  You should unlock it long enough for me to tell you what I think of you locking that thread.  Tangerine daisy!

[shmokes]

Grrr.....Something must be done!

[Harry Potter]

Grrr.....Something must be done!

Why? It's the only thing in my misrable life I can control.

[missioncontrol]

please mods unlock the thread that was locked by bosss7 just to show him he is completely powerless.......


http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=44721.0

 

[Harry Potter]

And i'll just lock it again. Muahahaha. That is unless they ban m... oh look, what's that over there----------->

the mods are violating my locking rights. protest.