Locked Topics

as I see it, there are two reasons.

first, people like me are posting deja-vu posts--posts which, with a few careful searches, are revealed to be already discussed.

second, there are posts which devolved into a kind of ad hominem attack hysterics. the "transplants" post is a good example--it did seem to be getting out of control (maybe it started out of control, too, I don't know) and had a kind of me-against-the-world feel. As I understand it, though, it may be reopened after the weekend, giving people some time to cool the hell down.

Both of these seem reasonable to me--there's no use for name-calling and ad hominem attacks in the community and, just as in real life, combattants need to be pulled off each other for a while.

Those are the two trends I've seen. Perhaps it goes further than that, though, i don't know.

Muteflute's got it.

Bet you think this one's gonna get locked now, don't you? :twisted:

Just kidding.

FLUTE wrote: No offense, but I kind thought it might be.

Hehe. I might be the mod bad cop, but I'm not trigger happy! :P

muteflute wrote: [quote=RAH][quote=muteflute]first, people like me are posting deja-vu posts--posts which, with a few careful searches, are revealed to be already discussed.

I don't really understand the point of locking deja-vu-posts...

I mean, it must get tiresome to read the same information over and over again, to get questioned by newbies (which i still am, kind of) about topics you've discussed at length before but which folks are too lazy to look up.

That's basically it. If someone asks something that has been asked before, more or less verbatim ("what's a good dry-cleaner?"), I'm going to point them to the other thread and lock it. Otherwise, the next time someone asks, I have to point them to two conversations on the same thing. Next thing you know, there are fifteen dry-cleaner threads and people are wasting their time answering the same questions over and over.

RAH wrote: [quote=EmilyM]
That's basically it. If someone asks something that has been asked before, more or less verbatim ("what's a good dry-cleaner?"), I'm going to point them to the other thread and lock it. Otherwise, the next time someone asks, I have to point them to two conversations on the same thing. Next thing you know, there are fifteen dry-cleaner threads and people are wasting their time answering the same questions over and over.

that makes sense. however without this explanation it could seem a little harsh to a new person asking a question who is told go look here and then the topic is locked. anyway, I know a while ago someone brought up board rules/guidelines which I think is a good idea and this seems like a perfect thing to go in there. also the other locked strings (i.e. not deja-vu questions) of recent also seem like they have issues going on that a guidelines section could address. e.g. what is appropriate behavior, when do moderators warn you, how do they do it (on the board or through PMs) etc. is anything happening with that? (sorry if I missed the outcome of that conversation)

why does directing a person to the information they requested seem harsh?

this board does not have much problem with inappropriate behavior. the basic rule has always just been, "be nice". is there really a need to come up with guidelines and such?

LOCK YOU TOPICS!

Sorry, it just had to be said.

BrookFetish wrote: Topics may have been discussed before, sure. But things change. Best drycleaner? COULD have been right next to Fermented Grapes a few months ago, but what if they suck now? What if the best one is now down the street?

Are things that set in stone? Can our opinions not change because we're not allowed to talk about certain topics anymore?

Plus, new people join the site regularly, while others leave. On old thread contains the OPINIONS of those that chose to chime in when the topic was started. If the topic is brought up again months later, the list will surely be different.

Just my opinion.

A locked topic isn't stopping someone from say, reviving the old thread and adding something new to it. Like this new top 5 thread isn't really different from the numerous "best" and "favorite" threads that pop up...except maybe a more centralized list, but probably not. No one's probably going to reinvent the wheel here. There's nothing wrong with cutting down on the clutter though. The search can be anyone's best friend.