"Locked"...what's that mean?

voivod · 07-06-2009, 12:10 AM

saw a thread that was locked tonight. what does that mean? i mean, it's apparent what it means...how does one acheive such status? reminds me of a "heat in the kitchen" story i heard.

Blanca · 07-06-2009, 12:32 AM

doesnt it just mean the contents of the posts were getting bad?

voivod · 07-06-2009, 03:12 AM

i believe i read ever post up tp the point where this particular thread was "locked." i question what the word "bad" referred to. i think "brutally true" would apply.

i heard john lydon (johnny rotten) say one time the following: "if i've offended you, maybe you needed to be offended."

i thought that was mighty profound.

Sensitive · 07-06-2009, 06:32 AM

Which thread? I like staying away from the drama, but am too curious.

Amplexor · 07-06-2009, 08:34 AM

Moderators will “lock” a thread if it becomes too out of control. Name calling, unacceptable comments…. Sometimes there can be running gun battles between posters that have many posts that need to be deleted and the activity is so hyper we can’t delete fast enough. Locking the threads allows us to sort through the thread without any more posts being made. We will frequently ask other moderators to look and help us make judgment calls. Once we’ve cleaned it up and warned or banned offenders we reopen the thread. It doesn’t happen often but on occasion it does.

Chris H. · 07-06-2009, 08:42 AM

When threads start deteriorating into people saying hurtful things, and I get get complaints, I usually just delete anything that violates our forum guidelines, and send a warning to the person who posted it. Depending on how bad it was and the person's history, sometimes we ban them.

But when the thread is quickly deteriorating into people posting angrily back and forth and it's clear that it will continue, I lock the thread. There are a few reasons for this.

Neither myself, nor the other mods, have the desire or time to monitor heated arguments that go back and forth all day.
These types of arguments usually don't get any better; they deteriorate into more name calling, and promote the type of activity we don't want here. Also, like Amp said, sometimes we just can't keep up with the rate of new posts and be able to evaluate things when that is going on.

To avoid getting your posts deleted or threads locked, think twice before you post, especially if you are angry at the person you're responding to. Try to get your point across without violating forum guideline #1 "Treat Others on the Forum with Dignity and Respect."

voivod · 07-07-2009, 11:31 AM

so let's see...hurt feelings lead to complaint, lead to discovered rules violation, leads to locked (or, i'd guess "banned")

two questions mods: kinda like football or driving, there's a violation in almost every thread. so what really is the deciding factor. the mistake in the most recently "locked" thread (i believe) is letting the op drone on and on about the evil, spiteful, disrespectful things she was doing to her spouse. then some subsequent responses seemed to offend the op, and down came the mods to lock the thread. maybe this place needs a thread opportunity where you're welcome to post, but respondents do not have to follow protocol. and the op would know that straifght up. you know, like if you want to post representing yourself as a promiscuous, bisexual, adulterer, then you have to take your medicine from the members here. that would be fun, and i think you'd see some brutally honest and helpful responses. plus weak, pandering responses would be treated with the contempt they dserve...ooops deserve.

Chris H. · 07-08-2009, 07:38 AM

Sorry Void, we're trying to foster a supportive environment here. If you want to engage in name calling, do it somewhere else. There are plenty of nice ways you can be honest with people without being "brutal."

:locked: