Reason not given for locking a thread.

Caoimhín

I can give links as examples if needs be, but i have noticed a few threads in after hours have been locked without the mod even giving a reason for locking them. The mod/s didnt even post to say that they were locking them.

Now if the thread was against the charter or had just run its course then maybe the mod who locks it should state the reason why it was locked. I respect the decision to lock a thread for some reason, that isn't the problem. But locking one without giving a reason isn't very constructive, maybe by stating the reason why it was locked it might even cut down on the problem issue that led to it being locked in the first place.

As it is, it simply looks like an arbitrary decision based on nothing more than the moderator disagreeing with some posts or even just because he/she got out of bed on the wrong side.

AckwelFoley

Caoimhín wrote: »

, maybe by stating the reason why it was locked it might even cut down on the problem issue that led to it being locked in the first place.

I agree. I couldnt care less what reason a mod decides to lock a thread, its their business not mine, but it would perhaps benefit as you stated above.

Nevyn

Why didn't you just pm the mod and ask ?
If they can't give an reasonable answer then as the cat mod/smod to review the action via helpdesk.

javaboy

It's a fair point but we're not obliged to give a reason and in many cases it will be self evident. The only one today that I can see that might not be obvious is the one about God being male. It had descended into a discussion about how palatable oral sex is on men and women which has nothing to do with the thread title.... which in turn had almost nothing to do with the content of the original post.

We do usually try to leave a reason but I'm not going to make any promises. Most of the time it should be obvious. If it isn't, feel free to PM a mod.

stovelid

Why the attachment to any single scatological or faux-sexist thread in AH?

Just make a cuppa and refresh the page.

AckwelFoley

Thaedydal wrote: »

Why didn't you just pm the mod and ask ?
If they can't give an reasonable answer then as the cat mod/smod to review the action via helpdesk.

Hes asking a general question as to what he feels is a recent trend. if users were to be pm'ing mods as to why a thread was closed we could be talking about many many unnecessary messages.

I would fear for Terry, i think he would break.

Quazzie

javaboy wrote: »

Most of the time it should be obvious. If it isn't, feel free to PM a mod.

Its not obvious which mod locked the thread so therefore its impossible to know which mod to PM. In AH (since thats the example used in OP) there are 6 mods (five of which could be offline at any particular time, and not have a clue of the reason) If ten people wanted to know why it was locked this would result in sixty PM's being sent, all to save one short explanatory post.

EDIT: Just had a quick look at AH and there are 5 locked threads on the first page all locked by Javaboy and all with Javaboy as the last poster with an explanation.

RoundyMooney

This ties into the deleted thread issue that came up a day or two ago.

What's wrong with building in a bit of transparency, within reason (with the caveats that Seamus raised, that spammers etc., wouldn't get such a courtesy, and that it would need to be an in line, and opt in procedure that wouldn't be to difficult to implement.)

In terms of deleted threads of course, and notifying the original author I mean, although the same mindset applies here.

WRT locked threads, a final message on thread isn't a biggie. PMs aren't waf, as the reason isn't disseminated to everyone else.

Caoimhín

Right lads,

Here is an example; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055504788&page=4

Now, i accept that it was probably the wrong place, maybe should have been in the TV forum. But the thread was just locked without an explanation.
In all fairness, it doesnt take long for the mod to post a note saying, "should have been in TV", or "moved to TV". Unless i am missing something, i dont see what the problem is otherwise, nothing offensive or no obvious breach of the charter.
Even if there is a valid reason, a 5 or 6 word post to explain the decision may help to prevent a re-occurrence in the future..

I am not whinging here or critizing the mods decision, just trying to be constructive. I think it will help AH in the long run.

tbh

I think:

-Mods need to issue a warning or infraction based on the content of a post:

Quote the post (removing and dodgy stuff, and edit the original post), explain how it breaches the charter, explain sanction (ban or infraction)


-Mods need to remove a post:

Edit the post, remove the contents, explain why it's edited, explain what will happen if the OP does it again

-Mods need to lock a thread:
Mod posts last in the thread, explaining why it's locked

-Mods need to delete a thread:
Close thread, delete, PM the OP.

watna

tbh wrote: »

I think:

-Mods need to issue a warning or infraction based on the content of a post:

Quote the post (removing and dodgy stuff, and edit the original post), explain how it breaches the charter, explain sanction (ban or infraction)


-Mods need to remove a post:

Edit the post, remove the contents, explain why it's edited, explain what will happen if the OP does it again

-Mods need to lock a thread:
Mod posts last in the thread, explaining why it's locked

-Mods need to delete a thread:
Close thread, delete, PM the OP.

Completely agree with this. I always post (to the best of my recollection) if I've infracted or banned someone, deleted posts or why I've locked the thread etc on thread. I know some mods don't like this and say this takes threads off topic but I agree that there needs to be a bit of transparency. It's not hard to make one post and it creates less problems in the long run.

AckwelFoley

watna wrote: »

Completely agree with this. I always post (to the best of my recollection) if I've infracted or banned someone, deleted posts or why I've locked the thread etc on thread. I know some mods don't like this and say this takes threads off topic but I agree that there needs to be a bit of transparency. It's not hard to make one post and it creates less problems in the long run.

While i agree with you, to be fair AH has alot more traffic, and does not have enough mods in my opinion,and while i always gave a reason for locking or deleting posts when i staffed on a MS vista forum, AH is so busy and there is so many asshat posters and comments im sure they are just tired repeating themselves.

Caoimhín

There hasn't been any response from any AH mods on this thread, i thought that's what feedback was for. Jaysus, all im trying to do is give some constructive feedback, not cause any bother...

Quazzie

Javaboy is an AH mod and he posted #4

Caoimhín

javaboy wrote: »

If it isn't, feel free to PM a mod.

Missed the point, sometimes it isnt even clear which mod locked the thread.

Quazzie

Can you link to any particular AH forum that was locked without explanation in the last few days. I had a quick look at most were locked by Javaboy with reasons given

Cookie_Monster

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

Can you link to any particular AH forum that was locked without explanation in the last few days. I had a quick look at most were locked by Javaboy with reasons given

On front page at time of posting

AH Thread

Quazzie

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

On front page at time of posting

AH Thread

Does it really need explaining?

Reason 1. It should be in feedback!

Reason 2. There is a sticky in AH looking for suggestions for improvements that it could've been posted in.

Reason 3. The OP should've PM'ed the mod in question asking for a specific reason.

Any of these ok? I'm not a mod so can only assume it was one of these three.

Cookie_Monster

Another two

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055510937

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055510841

Cookie_Monster

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

Any of these ok? I'm not a mod so can only assume it was one of these three.

Probably are but I'm just providing examples of thread to back up the OP cause I'm bored in work and have nothing better to do:) Doesn't really bother me unless its a big-ish thread already anyway

Saibh

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Another two

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055510937

TV forum

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055510841

Soccer forum

Think it is self-explanatory as to why they were locked.

Quazzie

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Another two

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055510937

AH is not a blog, or to discuss what someone is watching. Sex&Sexuality, TV Forum both would've a more suitable home for that thread.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055510841

Posting to get around a ban or to gain access to a private forum is a heavily frowned on thing. The case could be made that the OP was lucky to escape without an infraction

Cookie_Monster

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

AH is not a blog, or to discuss what someone is watching. Sex&Sexuality, TV Forum both would've a more suitable home for that thread.



Posting to get around a ban or to gain access to a private forum is a heavily frowned on thing. The case could be made that the OP was lucky to escape without an infraction

All a mod would have had to have done was that^^
Quazzie for AH mod:pac:

Caoimhín

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

Can you link to any particular AH forum that was locked without explanation in the last few days. I had a quick look at most were locked by Javaboy with reasons given

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...5504788&page=4

Javaboy is always bang on, gives an explanation.

Again, i have no problem with pointless/stupid/offencive/out of place/against the charter threads being locked. Its when it is simply locked without any post from a mod even saying that it is now locked..

Quazzie

Caoimhín wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...5504788&page=4

That link doesn't work for me for some reason.

Caoimhín

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

That link doesn't work for me for some reason.

Try this...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055504788&page=4

Quazzie

Caoimhín wrote: »

Try this...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055504788&page=4

Celebrities forum tbh. The only question that might be asked imo is why it was locked and not just moved. One answer might be that the mod who locked it felt that it was going down a bad road that might lead into posting of inappropriate pics which would lead to bans being handed out. Sometimes people don't realise that locking threads sometimes saves them from walking straight into trouble.

Caoimhín

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

Celebrities forum tbh. The only question that might be asked imo is why it was locked and not just moved. One answer might be that the mod who locked it felt that it was going down a bad road that might lead into posting of inappropriate pics which would lead to bans being handed out. Sometimes people don't realise that locking threads sometimes saves them from walking straight into trouble.

Fair enough, however, count the words; "Thread locked, celebrity forum tbh, also its getting smutty" - AHmod

9 words, 15 seconds to type, problem solved and may serve as a warning and prevent a recurrence.

As it is, it was just locked, no reason given or even a mod posting to say that he/she just felt liked locking it.

Glastnos.:D

Terry

Caoimhín wrote: »

Fair enough, however, count the words; "Thread locked, celebrity forum tbh, also its getting smutty" - AHmod

9 words, 15 seconds to type, problem solved and may serve as a warning and prevent a recurrence.

As it is, it was just locked, no reason given or even a mod posting to say that he/she just felt liked locking it.

Glastnos.:D

I can't type nine words in 15 seconds.

Look, it's a busy forum. It has twice as many threads (based over the average 10 days) as it did when i started modding it about two years ago. It also has twice as many users, if not more.

We do our best to keep it the way the majority want it.
We ask for user input so that these types of threads are not needed. There is currently a sticky in AH asking how you would like AH to be.
We are more likely to pay attention to a post in that thread than to one here.

Sometimes there may only be one of us on at any particular time of day. It might be busy and we may be dealing with reported posts coming in from all over the place.
We sometimes don't have the time to give a detailed explanation for every thread we close.
We may have a detailed explanation to give, but then a slew or reported posts will come in and we will deal with them first and then just forget about the thread we just closed.
Well, that's my take on it anyway.

As for the mods, we have a high turnover of mods in AH. I've seen at least seven come and go in my time modding AH and we all have a different approach as to how things are handled.

A couple of the threads linked to were closed by me.
I'll only ever close a thread if I feel it's either a troll or something that doesn't belong in AH. Where he latter is concerned, I sometimes will move a thread to the appropriate forum, but only if it's not a busy time of the day. If it's busy, then there really is no point in moving it becuase it will end up with the usual AH replies. I can delete them all before I move it, but a few slip in while I'm in the process of moving it and then I have to explain to the mods of that particualr forum that those who replied did so because it was an AH thread and shouldn't be banned for the comments they have made.

Caoimhín

Fair enough Terry. Again, im not complaining about the mods, it is a tough job and fair play to you guys for doing it in your free time, its not a job i would relish.
I am only trying to make a constructive point as to how AH may be improved. Since AH is the fourm that many new users tend to go to first and lets face it, nobody reads the charter or stickies, i just thought it would make the mods jobs easier in the long term if there is a clear reason given for locking a dumb thread.

Terry

If you're ever curious as to any modding decision made in AH, feel free to PM me.
If it wasn't done by me, I'll ask the mod who did do it.
I've no problem answering any questions. I doubt the other mods do either. Just don't PM them on my word.

If the green light is on, I'm on-line and will get back to you ASAP.

javaboy

Terry wrote: »

If you're ever curious as to any modding decision made in AH, feel free to PM me.
If it wasn't done by me, I'll ask the mod who did do it.
I've no problem answering any questions. I doubt the other mods do either. Just don't PM them on my word.

If the green light is on, I'm on-line and will get back to you ASAP.

Same here. We can see who locked a thread/deleted a post etc. and can pass on the question and/or give you an idea of why it was done.

Caoimhín

javaboy wrote: »

Same here. We can see who locked a thread/deleted a post etc. and can pass on the question and/or give you an idea of why it was done.

Jaysus lads, i am not too bothered one way or another why a particular thread is locked, the point i am trying to make is that locking a thread without even a one line post by the mod will only lead to the same silly threads/posts happening again and again.

By giving a reason why it is locked, it will eventually cut down on the messing that led to it being locked in the first place.

Sending PM's to one another wont clarify the issue for the users who create or post in the thread that causes the mods stress.

I know there is a lot of traffic in AH and its a pain to moderate but maybe my suggestion will make your jobs a bit easier.

javaboy

Caoimhín wrote: »

Jaysus lads, i am not too bothered one way or another why a particular thread is locked, the point i am trying to make is that locking a thread without even a one line post by the mod will only lead to the same silly threads/posts happening again and again.

By giving a reason why it is locked, it will eventually cut down on the messing that led to it being locked in the first place.

Considering people don't read the charter, stickies, post #4 in this thread etc. what are the chances of them taking much notice of the reason given for locking a thread?

But yeah fair point. It probably does help.

Sending PM's to one another wont clarify the issue for the users who create or post in the thread that causes the mods stress.

I know there is a lot of traffic in AH and its a pain to moderate but maybe my suggestion will make your jobs a bit easier.

You're right. Long term, it might make the job easier if there are less people making the same mistakes.

Short term, it will make the job harder as there is more work to be done.

As I said earlier, I try to leave a comment when closing but I won't make any promises and where it is blatantly obvious why the thread's being locked, I probably won't post.