I would like to know if moderators would consider allowing the starter of a thread to have the ability to lock them. This would allow the starter to be able to close the thread after he feels it has been properly answered or is some sort of repeat thread. If you are any way interested, how about a one month trial period. After that evaluation, a final descision could be made. Just a suggestion.

I think this is a really terrible idea and hope it isn't seriously considered. This is an open discussion board and I think it would be very detrimental to that purpose to create an environment where a thread starter is given some sort of "ownership" of the thread.

Unless forum rules are being violated such that a moderator has to step in, discussions should be allowed to continue until nobody wants to add anything more. If it doesn't go the way that the original thread starter had hoped or if the conclusions reached aren't the ones that were wanted, then that is just the way these discussions go.

-Jeff

Actually, they do allow this (or at least used to). In the past, if the Original Poster requested a thread be closed that request was granted.

Unless anything has changed, this is still the case.

Originally posted by NMoreles
Actually, they do allow this (or at least used to). In the past, if the Original Poster requested a thread be closed that request was granted.

Unless anything has changed, this is still the case.

But recently, I recall a case where the thread starter asked for a thread to be closed, and the request was denied. Perhaps it depends on the nature of the thread?

In any case, even in that situation, an admin person has to physically lock the thread. The thread starter does not have that ability, which is what mousketeer is asking for.

Sorry, but I belive once you submit a post it becomes part of MousePad, and is actually the property of MousePad. So it is at their discretion, and if there is no good reason to close it (like it is not breaking any rules, not hurting anyone, and is still a valid disscution) then they most likely won't close it.

But I have seen the OP ask, and for valid reasons, the Mod. closed it. I have seen them be very fair.

But what you seem to be asking is for us to be able to lock them ourselves, and that would require getting into the system, needing passwords and all, and knowing code. I don't see it happening.

But again, if you have a good reason, you can ask. They are fair about such things.

Originally posted by NMoreles
Unless anything has changed, this is still the case. Not always. It's up to the discretion of the mods.

Having not yet spoken to the other mods about this yet, and not meaning to brush off the idea, I just don't think we're going to do it. This is a discussion board. Someone who starts a thread starts a discussion but doesn't own the discussion.

We have certain people appointed to act as moderators. We do our best to keep things civil and in some cases, on topic. If you don't like where a thread is going then feel free to contact one of us using the "Report this post" link and we'll do our best to correct the situation.

Originally posted by RStar
Sorry, but I belive once you submit a post it becomes part of MousePad, and is actually the property of MousePad. So it is at their discretion, and if there is no good reason to close it (like it is not breaking any rules, not hurting anyone, and is still a valid disscution) then they most likely won't close it.

It's not really an issue of property, it's an issue of personal responsibility.

Most requests to close a thread are because the Original Poster is embarrased by having started the thread, or they didn't mean to say what they said, or the discussion has gone a direction they didn't like.

We rarely close threads for those reasons, especially if a discussion has begun. We will close threads at the request of an OP, on a very limited basis, if we feel there is a valid reason to do so. But these are exceptions, as some people have learned.

We want posters to take responsibility for their words. You have 20 minutes to edit your post, after that, it's part of the community "quilt." Editing, closing or deleting threads leaves holes in the fabric.

I've read boards that let posters edit or delete their posts and close threads forever, and I don't like it. People change their text, and then arguments look completely out of context.

I've also read boards that don't care about keeping the quilt intact. You'll read someone's reply to a post that has been deleted, and you don't know what they are responding to. Threads and people disappear in the night, with no record they ever existed.

Our quilt may have some ugly threads running through it, but it's whole and it's clean. Other than making edits for inappropriate content, we all feel really strongly about keeping the history intact - even the "pruned" threads are stored for posterity.

If someone gets booted, you know why - their record speaks for itself. I think this encourages people to really *think* before they post - because it's going to stay on the record for a long, long while.

If we start letting OPs close their threads, there's less reason to think about what you're going to say when you start a thread - and I don't see that as being a good thing for the community.

Just my 2c, and not speaking for the other Mods.

AVP

Sometimes, I know, I like to discuss on a thread, even if the topic, or question has been answered.

Closing topics, in my opinion, doesn't allow for open conversation on a subject. :)

If someone gets booted, you know why - their record speaks for itself.
And sometimes, this record is hilarious. ;)