locking threads

[TheBigUnit]

Hey I don't know about you but when I visit the VT General Hospital half the posts I find are people replying to topics which were posted weeks before, I just find it annoying visiting the page where a person complains about an ailment and have 5 replys mostly stating the same thing, afterwards it goes dormant for a couple of weeks and then some einstein decides to restate what the 5 other people and bumps the topic all the way back to the top of the thread,

if anyone else agrees with me maybe there could be a way the OP can hit a button after she solves her problem stating "solved" near the topic name in the thread, kindof like yahoo answers minus the top answerer.........or the mods could lock older topics

Maybe this could be implemented to other threads

[Jess]

I agree with a solved button. There needs to be one for VT HQ too. I see too many repeated answers (yes, I confess I've repeated some answers too)

[IAMWILL]

You could always request a mod to lock it, it takes just a second and a post to do so. Although I admit its really frustrating seeing a mountain of reported posts but not being able to do anything about them because you Mod a different section.

I believe we considered this a few years ago, but I cannot remember why it was not implemented. I think it was because members could then kill debates or end actually useful threads if they had Mod tools for their thread. That or it wasnt possible to isolate the Mod tool of just closing the thread from the rest of the tools such as the ability to merge/edit/delete posts.

[Ryhanna]

I think a more likely alternative to this is allowing the OP the lock function for threads they have created themselves. It allows them to close the thread once they have their answer, without waiting for a mod to come along and close it.

[Origami]

I think a more likely alternative to this is allowing the OP the lock function for threads they have created themselves. It allows them to close the thread once they have their answer, without waiting for a mod to come along and close it.

No. No. No. No.

Ramblings of the Wise would be completely and utterly ruined if users were allowed to lock their own threads. Numerous members would lock a thread simply because they didn't like someone else's opinions or they felt like they were losing a debate. Locking one's own thread is something I believe we, as members, should never be allowed to have.

We abused the shoutbox, it was taken away. We abused the reputation system, it was taken away. Surely we'd abuse the power to lock our own threads and it too would be taken away.

A solved option, however pointless it may be, would be a welcomed addition as far as I'm concerned. Often I'll read the OP and simply skim the replies only to reread the thread later and discover I replied to an issue that the user had felt was already adequately resolved. This would serve as a flag for mods to lock a thread since several are never requested to be locked and simply replied to for a while as the OP never returns to it.

Again, I think the 'Solved' option is pointless, but not necessarily a bad thing to see.

[Ryhanna]

No. No. No. No.

Ramblings of the Wise would be completely and utterly ruined if users were allowed to lock their own threads. Numerous members would lock a thread simply because they didn't like someone else's opinions or they felt like they were losing a debate. Locking one's own thread is something I believe we, as members, should never be allowed to have.

We abused the shoutbox, it was taken away. We abused the reputation system, it was taken away. Surely we'd abuse the power to lock our own threads and it too would be taken away.

A solved option, however pointless it may be, would be a welcomed addition as far as I'm concerned. Often I'll read the OP and simply skim the replies only to reread the thread later and discover I replied to an issue that the user had felt was already adequately resolved. This would serve as a flag for mods to lock a thread since several are never requested to be locked and simply replied to for a while as the OP never returns to it.

Again, I think the 'Solved' option is pointless, but not necessarily a bad thing to see.

Fair enough. I forgot that we can't trust users here not to abuse any sort of power or privilege we have. :whistle:

[TheMatrix]

I think Josh hit the nail right on the head.
However, if I'm not mistaken, editing the title of the first post edits the title of the thread(or was that a different forum?). Stick "[solved]" in front of it or something.

[Origami]

I think Josh hit the nail right on the head.
However, if I'm not mistaken, editing the title of the first post edits the title of the thread(or was that a different forum?). Stick "[solved]" in front of it or something.

It doesn't for regular members. It will permanently rename it in the edit menu; however, it never actually changes it on the forum. For example, I attempted renaming my signature shop to "Origami's Signature Shop [Four Years Running!]" from it's current title of "Origami's Signature Request Form."

If we could do so, it would work sufficiently, I believe.

[Jess]

It doesn't for regular members. It will permanently rename it in the edit menu; however, it never actually changes it on the forum. For example, I attempted renaming my signature shop to "Origami's Signature Shop [Four Years Running!]" from it's current title of "Origami's Signature Request Form."

If we could do so, it would work sufficiently, I believe.

I think it does change if you edit it right after you submit. After some time it no longer will change if you try to change it.

[DerBear]

It doesn't for regular members. It will permanently rename it in the edit menu; however, it never actually changes it on the forum. For example, I attempted renaming my signature shop to "Origami's Signature Shop [Four Years Running!]" from it's current title of "Origami's Signature Request Form."

If we could do so, it would work sufficiently, I believe.

Jess is correct, after a certain amount of time you can't really change the title.

[Origami]

Jess is correct, after a certain amount of time you can't really change the title.

Well, that's certainly an odd feature. I stand corrected.

[TheBigUnit]

sooo...can it be added?

[Origami]

sooo...can it be added?

Give it time. There has only been two replies by staff and neither were really in favor or against it. But, I wouldn't hold your breath on it. I believe I've seen this suggested in the past.

[Jess]

Yeah, I remember it was suggested before as well but it never was added or at least the suggestion died...

[TerryBerry622]

this sounds like a cool idea. I would second this if it came into effect
I think a mod/admin should add this feature

[Harry Smith]

I think that the Solved Feature should only inform the users that the OP is satisfied with the answers given, this would be good for like said above The General Hospital where I've seen threads with about 100 posts or on P101 it gets really out of control, it's just people agreeing with each other.

Saying that I also agree that it shouldn't be binding, because in ROTW I could imagine the OP just locking it if they are on the back-foot. So I think it should be a suggestion to the other members that they are happy and no longer require help.

[Origami]

I think that the Solved Feature should only inform the users that the OP is satisfied with the answers given, this would be good for like said above The General Hospital where I've seen threads with about 100 posts or on P101 it gets really out of control, it's just people agreeing with each other.

Saying that I also agree that it shouldn't be binding, because in ROTW I could imagine the OP just locking it if they are on the back-foot. So I think it should be a suggestion to the other members that they are happy and no longer require help.

This, pretty much. Serving basically as a flag to other users as well as to any passing mod to lock it.

[workingatperfect]

I don't see what would be so different about having the ability to lock it yourself. I already see tons of topics in ROTW being locked at Op request for no real reason except maybe they just don't like the responses. All it would do is eliminate the middle man really.

[Emerald Dream]

This whole thing seems to be overthought.

If it is "solved" and it should be locked, all the OP has to do is hit the report button.

I don't think seeing a bunch of "solved flags" is any different than seeing a bunch of reports. I'd rather have it reported than have to search through the forums multiple times a day for marked threads.

[Erasmus]

This whole thing seems to be overthought.

If it is "solved" and it should be locked, all the OP has to do is hit the report button.

I don't think seeing a bunch of "solved flags" is any different than seeing a bunch of reports. I'd rather have it reported than have to search through the forums multiple times a day for marked threads.

Yeah, this is exactly what I was thinking. Why can't a member just report their thread of they want it locked?

[kryptonite]

I'd also like to see a "solved" feature. I don't know how many times I've gone through P101 threads and see a thread with 15-16 responses of "it's normal" many weeks after the question has been answered.

It's a conflict, because I typically don't agree with closing threads "just because" but at the same time, too many people read the first post and say "yeah, it's normal you don't have body hair at age 13" or whatever.

A way to edit the title to say "solved" would be good.

[ImCoolBeans]

A solved button could be useful, although I doubt most will use it like you described.

[DerBear]

A solved button could be useful, although I doubt most will use it like you described.

I was just thinking this. I feel that most people know that they can close a thread by reporting it and those who don't know that they can close a thread via reporting won't use the solve button.

I'd like to see a solved button because maybe people might use it and then a mod can come along close a thread.

I do think it would be useful and a good feature on VT I know other sites who use solved buttons for topics and its greeted with mixed success. I would like to maybe trail it and see how it goes if it was to be implemented. Would it be possible for it be used in H&A only sections?