# Closing threads
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [December 14, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063 "2020-12-14T23:55:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/1 "2020-12-14T23:55:13Z")
I finally get chance to get back to the Dope and reply to comments in a thread I was following… and it’s closed. Again. Is this the new style of modding? Because I don’t like it. Telling disruptive posters to knock it off and warning them if they continue helps threads get back on track. Closing threads instead may be less effort, but it’s unfair on other people who wanted to participate.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/2 "2020-12-15T00:04:25Z")
We close threads that are problems. More than that, it’s difficult to say, without knowing what specific thread you’re referring to.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/3 "2020-12-15T00:12:32Z")
It’s always been this way. I’ve also often recommended that, rather than closing threads, they just mod the people causing disruptions. I think closing threads actually encourages those people who post to disrupt threads, rather than discouraging them. Closing the thread got them what they wanted.
That said, there are threads where closing is the only option that really makes sense. I just don’t think you should close without also punishing those who disrupt.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/4 "2020-12-15T00:14:06Z")
What thread? We had one go off the rails today. It was temporarily shut until a Mod for the forum showed up to sort it out. That was an example of a very good closing. It’s been reopened for several hours though.
* * *
The other was thread was down to two posters, did you mean that one?
> [@Selective Magnet School in Virginia moving towards a lottery system](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selective-magnet-school-in-virginia-moving-towards-a-lottery-system/922347/559):
>
> Sure. And there are plenty of attempt to demonize words and phrases from the left. You have not proven that this has affected me in any way. I have reached the position that the overly woke crowd is worthy of scorn and ridicule based on their actions and not based on what others are saying. I generally don’t scour the internet looking for the opinions of others on matters where I can reach a determination myself. I think that’s a “you” problem and not a “me” problem I think the overly wo…
I guess I could reopen it and kick that pair from the thread. But it appeared to be done.
I mean 3 days and no one else doesn’t seem unreasonable to just shut it down.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/5 "2020-12-15T00:38:34Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> The other was thread was down to two posters[…]
> I mean 3 days and no one else doesn’t seem unreasonable to just shut it down.
@DemonTree actually posted yesterday, as well, meaning there were three people. However, her being the only one there might make for a boring thread.
I’d be tempted to respond to that post if the thread is reopened, but I would likely not want to continue the overarching topic. I just want to point out a flaw in her argument (as well as throw in a compliment, actually).
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### Author:  [@damuriajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damuriajashi)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/6 "2020-12-15T00:56:46Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> I guess I could reopen it and kick that pair from the thread. But it appeared to be done.
> I mean 3 days and no one else doesn’t seem unreasonable to just shut it down.
I assume you are talking about kicking me from the thread I created.
On what basis would you kick me from the thread?
Would’t you have to moderate the thread first?
Maybe acknowledge the bad behavior going on?
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### Author:  [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/7 "2020-12-15T03:39:22Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> @DemonTree actually posted yesterday, as well, meaning there were three people. However, her being the only one there might make for a boring thread
And I posted like two hours before the thread was closed.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/8 "2020-12-15T05:25:24Z")
> [@Ruken](#):
>
> And I posted like two hours before the thread was closed.
Oops. Sorry for not noticing. I only checked out the link from @What_Exit’s post. I was checking to see which thread @DemonTree was talking about. So when I saw a post from her from yesterday, it stood out.
One thing is that, with the dynamically loading pages, I find it easier to skip posts if I’m skimming. I wonder if @What_Exit is running into that as well, as I assume a mod will skim a bit when they moderate.
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### Author:  [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/9 "2020-12-15T08:55:53Z")
Yes, it was that one. I count 4 posters posting yesterday, plus me the day before, so perhaps you were simply mistaken?
I agree with BigT that sometimes closing a thread is the best option, but I feel like we’ve seen the trigger pulled way too quickly recently. I’m not sure if anything in that thread really needed moderating, and I certainly don’t think @damuriajashi should be barred from a thread he started, especially with no warning.
I don’t think the debate was mega productive, but if the idea is to encourage productive debate, closing threads kind of ends any chance of that. I’d prefer less drastic measures.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/10 "2020-12-15T12:59:34Z")
You know, that thread keeps getting flagged. Always the same two posters being flagged. When I looked at it yesterday, I only saw those two posters.
Not sure how I missed the others. With apologies, I will reopen it after modnoting.
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### Author:  [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/11 "2020-12-15T13:51:18Z")
Thanks. Now maybe I can find out what @BigT wanted to say. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/12 "2020-12-15T16:16:07Z")
Thanks for being considerate, @What_Exit. Reevaluating a decision based on new information is a good trait.
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### Author:  [@damuriajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damuriajashi)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/13 "2020-12-15T16:24:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> You know, that thread keeps getting flagged.
I wonder if this isn’t what leads to the impression of biased moderation. The non-woke posts just generate more flags than non-woke posts because of the imbalance of posters on this site. So moderators ding the non-woke posts more frequently even though in the context of the thread there is no real difference.
I don’t think its possible for moderators to skim through a thousand threads with hundreds of posts but if we are more liberal about issuing “simmer down now” moderation, then perhaps doing that more often will keep things from escalating when someone gets a little butthurt about some other poster’s tone. Doing so before the butthurt gets too bad would also reduce the additional butthurt that comes from moderation.
Unpopular positions get dogpiled. Not simply with a ton of opposition arguments but with a mountain of veiled insults. This often leads to escalation.
I think there is a cottage industry among some elements of this board in making veiled insults and provoking emotional responses from others. Not necessarily trolling but provocation. When you moderate someone, do you look to see if they had been provoked?
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/14 "2020-12-15T21:38:25Z")
Still on about the supposed
> [@California Prop 16 (reinstating affirmative action) fails](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-prop-16-reinstating-affirmative-action-fails/926439/56):
>
> woke left echo chamber
eh?
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/15 "2020-12-15T23:23:40Z")
@damuriajashi Attacking people as getting butthurt is not a good look. It does make it seem like you are angry at them and are trying to piss them off.
It is a common tactic when debating to use tone to try and anger the other side so that they either make mistakes or fall afoul of rules. There is this whole technique of escalating in this manner.
No one was butthurt. People were arguing in the same tone you were using. And neither was appropriate.
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### Author:  [@damuriajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damuriajashi)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/16 "2020-12-16T00:18:32Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> @damuriajashi Attacking people as getting butthurt is not a good look. It does make it seem like you are angry at them and are trying to piss them off.[/quote]
>
> What the fuck are you talking about? I was talking about myself. I am the one getting provoked, then butthurt and maybe that leads to escalation. I am much more frequently the one with an unpopular potion getting dogpiled and then escalating.
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > It is a common tactic when debating to use tone to try and anger the other side so that they either make mistakes or fall afoul of rules. There is this whole technique of escalating in this manner.
>
> I agree. I think that should be moderated. Did you think I was talking about myself when i referred to people who engaged in a cottage industry of making veiled insults?
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > No one was butthurt. People were arguing in the same tone you were using. And neither was appropriate.
Pfft. You need to read the thread.
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### Author:  [@damuriajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damuriajashi)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/17 "2020-12-16T00:21:53Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#):
>
> Still on about the supposed
Uh. Are you saying that there is no woke echo chamber in existence?
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/18 "2020-12-16T00:31:58Z")
The present-day use of “woke” is a far cry from its origin in Abe Lincoln’s presidential campaign. You’re using “woke echo chamber” like **octopus** uses “hive mind”.
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### Author:  [@damuriajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damuriajashi)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/19 "2020-12-16T00:37:27Z")
Is it an actual thing or does it merely exist in my imagination?
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2020, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-threads/928063/20 "2020-12-16T03:16:22Z")
I’m no mind reader. I wouldn’t want to read yours, anyway.
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