locking threads

[byee]

Maybe it would be better to prune old threads sooner rather than scold posters and then lock old topics. If something is too old to respond to, maybe it shouldn't still be there.

Likewise, maybe it would be better to delete those posts deemed inappropriate rather than lock them. Locking still allows the inappropriate material to be viewed, if something isn't alright then maybe it shouldn't be there.

Also, I've noticed that when discipline is meted out in a thread, it tends to have a chilling effect on subsequent responses (actually, when Staff responds it tends to either stop the dialogue immediately or within a post or 2). Inappropriate conduct needs to be addressed, but perhaps in a way that doesn't result in the rest of the class not raising it's collective hand.

Just some friendly observations.

~Sam

[Aηdy]

Old threads are kept so that users can read through them for advice, if they were al deleted then people would hae to make new threads and possiblesy not get as many answers,.

[Maverick]

Keeping old threads is a good thing to have because a lot of guests and members like to search and read them for reference. Every now and then someone will bump them and it is either locked, the bumped post is deleted (if the post is useless spam), or kept open if it's a good idea to be bumped. I don't think members posting in old threads every now and then is a big problem. Just because they are old doesn't mean they are useless and should be gone. Having content on a website is important. On a lot of forums (including this one) I like to read old threads but I know better than to bump them.

When a thread is deemed inappropriate it is either locked or deleted. Posts that are deleted are obvious ones like spam, porn, pretty much anything that doesn't need to be public. The point of locking isn't to stop people from seeing it, the point is for it to be seen but the discussion is stopped. If all locked topics were deleted instead people will become confused as to where the thread went and if I was a regular member I would be annoyed if threads disappeared without any reason why. Locking has the thread there but there's a reason left behind on why the discussion has stopped.

A lot of content does get deleted though. There's a lot behind the scenes that a lot of members don't see.

Discipline is given out in a thread to get it back on track. It's a good way for people who have posted and who may post in the future to read so they can follow the staff's instructions. I don't think it has a chilling effect on replies. Person(s) that needed the discipline either follow the instructions or ignore it and if it's ignored the staff will take the appropriate action. Anyone else who reads what the staff member said usually just reads it and moves on, as the discipline didn't apply to them.

[Underground_Network]

Everything Anthony said is correct, but don't forget that mods/counselors/admins all have the ability to edit other people's posts. So they can always remove an inappropriate link from someone's post rather than delete the entire post.

[Maverick]

Yes, indeed we do. One thing that I want to point out is that the forums aren't going to be perfect as hard as we may try. The staff's priority is to make sure the forums are running smoothly as much as we can, but while we are open to suggestions, there are reasons behind the methods of our moderation. It may be hard to understand because you are a regular member and don't have the full scope of the operation of VT.

We try to limit our interference in threads as staff members as much as possible and I think for a site that gets many posts a day, it is not very often a moderator needs to step in a thread and if it happens it's for a reason. If a thread is bad enough to require moderator attention it shouldn't be a surprise that discussion may slow down or stop completely seeing that it was already going down a bad path.

[redcar]

(actually, when Staff responds it tends to either stop the dialogue immediately or within a post or 2).
On that note, I just would like to say remember staff members are primarily regular members. All staff members begin and end their life on VT as a regular member.

[Aηdy]

Another thing, it would look bas if the puberty forums had 20-or-so threads in them, it would make the site look dead.

[Attax]

i like cheking back and reading so plz dont delete