I've noticed that this is a thing on a few forums I'm on and I make a lot of topics and I notice that this feature is available on some of them. Sometimes members lock these threads for a variety of reasons. Do you think members should have the ability to lock their own thread on your forum? Why or why not?
Members locking their own threads?
- Thread starter MrDawn
- Start date
No, I don't like that because it prohibits conversation and allows for people to make drive by posts or snipes at other opinions. Then to have it locked means someone else will do the exact same thing. How can people learn to communicate with one another if they're allowed to just say what they want to say and lock the thread?
I've noticed the most common issue a member locks a thread is over personal reasons. That doesn't seem to at all fair when they get mad over differing opinions and just lock everyone out. I've had to unlock one or two over at another forum I moderate after checking the log on the thread. If the log shows that a member locked it, I'll most likely undo it.
Yeah, I agree, it's a risk. It could stop conflicts, sure, but it could stifle communication and drive people away if they think communities are doing that and will shut down discussions. Best to leave that to staff.
The issue is that a lot of people don't realize that it's the member who lock their own thread. They assume a moderator did it, so the staff gets blamed for it. I personally don't think it should be allowed.
Precisely, the last thing you want is for staff to get a reputation as being lock happy. It'll drive people away
Dismal_Bliss
Reputable
No. Once you submit a post, that post is mine. Locking, hiding, editing, is all done at the discretion of the management
I'm not a fan of it because like others have said, they can just lock it at their own discretion for petty reasons. I think the power should just remain in the hands of the staff. If a thread gets out of hand for whatever reason, they can make the decision to lock it and shut down the conversation, and a new one can be made or the topic of conversation can just be abandoned altogether.
I don't mind the idea of members requesting threads be locked though. Like in the case of graphics request threads, where the person taking on the requests is simply too overwhelmed to take them on but still wants to be active on the forum, it may be easier to simply lock the thread rather than have people continue to constantly ask for requests.
I don't mind the idea of members requesting threads be locked though. Like in the case of graphics request threads, where the person taking on the requests is simply too overwhelmed to take them on but still wants to be active on the forum, it may be easier to simply lock the thread rather than have people continue to constantly ask for requests.
In paper, allowing the same members to lock their own threads sounded pretty good to me. If people are allowed to edit posts, then surely, being able to close the thread themselves would be fine. I haven't actually seen it in action but I do recall the fear of people editing their posts to troll was something discussed back in the old days.
That being said, I never had considered how that would make it easier to abuse to win petty arguments and stuff like that. While I am inclined to believe the behaviour would be in the minority and said people could be warned according to the rules if they are abusing and maybe even moderated into removing the feature for them only, I can quickly seeing it devolve into a divisive problem that simply is not there if we just... don't enable that function to begin with.
The whole people thinking is the staff and causing misunderstanding, I don't know. I feel like that can be addressed with log screenshots or having a text showing who locked the thread to be left behind automatically. Similarly to how the 'edited by' works. Or at the very least making sure the community is well aware about the self-locking possibility and guidelines.
That being said, I never had considered how that would make it easier to abuse to win petty arguments and stuff like that. While I am inclined to believe the behaviour would be in the minority and said people could be warned according to the rules if they are abusing and maybe even moderated into removing the feature for them only, I can quickly seeing it devolve into a divisive problem that simply is not there if we just... don't enable that function to begin with.
The whole people thinking is the staff and causing misunderstanding, I don't know. I feel like that can be addressed with log screenshots or having a text showing who locked the thread to be left behind automatically. Similarly to how the 'edited by' works. Or at the very least making sure the community is well aware about the self-locking possibility and guidelines.
You are right on point. There is no point locking threads as long as it is an active forum. What's the point with all of that when one should let the forum stay open and new members comment their opinions on it?
I don't mind if members can lock threads, I'm part of a few forums that allow members to lock their own threads as well. If for whatever reason someone wants the thread to be reopened I would reopen it. I can see it becoming an issue though if the person keeps locking threads that they created if the conversation doesn't go their way. If that was the case, I'd take their permission to lock their own threads away.
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