How much input does/should the OP have in controlling a thread?

[Atamasama]

@Heffalump_and_Roo

Allowing the OP of a thread to have input into what’s off topic once the thread has started is a “new rule” in my eyes. Taken to an extreme, it would allow any OP to win every debate by making the topic narrow enough when the thread was in progress.

I’ve seen this attempted and failed. I’ve seen a GD thread where the OP basically disallows disagreements and therefore the thread was locked.

Ah… Here we go. Searching GD shows this recent thread:

Is now a good time to talk about gun safety laws?

“but one cannot eviscerate a right simply because it is now disfavored under the guise of regulating it” is an entirely disingenuous response which checks off more than one logical fallacy. And so it goes.

This led to a modnote that stated that the OP essentially wasn’t interested in a debate:

Is now a good time to talk about gun safety laws?

Modnote: This thread is close to being closed. Pro-gun posters are of course welcome to state their views on this subject that will never get anything close to agreement. But an Op that doesn’t want a debate having a thread in Great Debates will mean no reason to leave it open. @Oredigger77, not really appropriate. No warning though.

And it was eventually closed, because as stated before, the OP basically didn’t allow there to be any real debate.

Is now a good time to talk about gun safety laws?

Modnote: As the Op isn’t interesting in debating other posters and as per my earlier note. I’m going to close this thread now.

So while your concern is valid, that tactic isn’t allowed on the board and ultimately won’t work.