Did this thread really need to be padlocked?

[CairoCarol]

For me the issue, if I am interpreting IT’s actions correctly, is that he made a new rule for HBK and applied it retroactively:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19731022&postcount=25

[QUOTE=Idle Thoughts in the pen pal thread]
Okay, HBK, this is an important note.

You are being given new rules you must listen to:

1. You are only allowed to make ONE (1) thread a week from here on. Do not start another thread unless it’s been a full week since your last one was made.

2. You must start to participate in threads you have already started. This means replying back to them and not just starting them and never replying again.

If you do not start doing these two things, all of your topics will start being closed from now on.

I don’t mod this forum, but I’m going to close this topic anyway because it has not been a week since your last topic. If you ignore these two rules more than once, then not only will your topics be closed, but you will be warned.
[/QUOTE]

In other words, IT decided HBK can only post one thread a week, saw that the pen pal thread was less than a week after his previous thread, and so closed it. To me, that is like driving down a street at 50 mph on Monday, having the speed limit changed to 40 mph on Tuesday, and getting arrested on Wednesday for “breaking” the speed limit 2 days previously.

But maybe I’m missing something.

[Idle_Thoughts]

@Giraffe

It won’t work. Merging sorts all the posts of both threads by date, the OP of the new thread will end up at the bottom. There’s an extension that lets you change the date of a given post to get around this issue, but…well, you know.

What was going to do is merge all of the posts into a new topic save for the OP, but if it still wouldn’t work, then again,…the most simple thing to do is just remake another thread.

[raventhief]

Reporting the skin post above this one

[Left_Hand_of_Dorkness]

@raventhief

Reporting the skin post above this one

Skin post? I’ve read a lot of post-apocalyptic novels, but I still don’t know this term.

[Fenris]

@Idle_Thoughts

I can do that.

This is a remarkably good solution for a 16 year old problem. It deprives the troll of attention but it keeps a live thread going.

[Fenris]

@Idle_Thoughts

What was going to do is merge all of the posts into a new topic save for the OP, but if it still wouldn’t work, then again,…the most simple thing to do is just remake another thread.

Hypothetically, I’ve found in my modding elsewhere, all you need to do is find one of your own posts that’s earlier than the OP of the problematic thread and use the “Copy Posts to Existing Thread” feature*. That makes you the new owner of the thread and you can delete the original op.

*Or you need to start your own thread with your post and merge. I don’t remember which.

[TruCelt]

Another vote for the [Start New Thread] -> [Request Merge] process. Given Giraffe’s technical advice, we just need to resolve how to get a new OP at the top of the thread.

Can a Mod create a post and tag it to the top of the thread? Or maybe define the new OP’s post as a “sticky” so it stays up there? (I know nothing about the software, just trying to brainstorm solutions.)

ETA: Solved by Fenris before I hit the button. LOL!

[kopek]

If someone does/did start a new thread, could/would someone post a link to it here?