Locking of threads
 

Has the time come to lock the Gun Control thread in Politics. Frankly the quality of the discussion there has reached a new low, and the participation seems to be just a few people tirelessly throwing an argument back and forth between themselves.

I think it is safe to say that the discussion there, while it might have provided some education to people, demonstrates why no solution will be found to this issue.

Any issues with the P&R section should be sent in a PM to one of the listed moderators for that area (as there is not a report button in that area).
From the sticky thread, Additional Guidelines, at the top of that forum.
"Available moderators: HarryT, dreams, pilotbob, pdurrant, poohbear_nc (on call), Jellby (on call)"

While I can completely and totally understand why you might not want to participate in that thread, I don't understand your desire to keep others from doing so if they wish to. No one is forced to be there. No one is forced to participate.

It really makes no more sense than if someone were to say 'Lock the thread "Last person to post here wins!" simply because there is virtually nothing at all being said in any coherent fashion in some 21,000 pages. Obviously, people want to participate. Why do you need to stop them?


Stitchawl

I am a little bit surprised. I thought that only the poster who opened the thread has the "right" to ask for closing this thread. Has there been some change of the "unwritten rules"?

Anyone can request that a thread be closed, but we are much more likely to respond positively to the request if it comes from the OP. We only close threads for which the OP has not requested closure when there is a compelling reason to do so; such as in cases where a particular thread seems to be bringing out the worst is some of our otherwise most valuable members.

If I recall correctly you have to go out of your way to even see the forum this thread is in. Which in my book means there should be more leeway in the conversation and locking a thread should be a higher hurdle.

I definitely agree with that :thumbsup:

Still; if people don't like the way a particular thread or forum is going, they can always ignore it. It's so much easier to walk away.

This is true, I read through some of the thread, but decided my energy was best placed elsewhere.

Wise decision :D

Tom, thanks for the clarification.

Is this enough reason to close it? If that were to become the standard for keeping threads open there wouldn't be a lot left.