# Moderator's note: hanging and locked threads. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802 "2000-06-27T23:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/1 "2000-06-27T23:59:53Z")
You may notice from time to time that a thread appears on the forum list but the last post in the thread is old and does not correspond with the time on the list. Well, that’s on account of the trolls have decided to visit GQ. And they are not welcome here. So the posts of imposters, sock puppets and the like I delete entirely. No comments, no nothing. Unfortunately, the bulletin board software we use does not return the thread to it’s prior place in the queue, so it looks like it is just “hanging” there for no good reason. I apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this. I blame the economy. When I was that age, I had to get a job during the summers. Apparently that’s not necessary any more. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/2 "2000-06-28T00:34:29Z")
Now there’s an indisputable argument for _lowering_ the minimum wage. Are you listening Al? ---
**Author:** ![eggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@eggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eggo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/3 "2000-06-28T05:25:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Well, that’s on account of the trolls have decided to visit GQ. And they are not welcome here\*\* Are they welcome ANYWHERE? ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/4 "2000-06-28T07:14:16Z")
Check out the thread in the [ATMB Forum](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=28772). ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/5 "2000-06-28T08:30:12Z")
Thanks, manny, just what I would have done. Good work. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/6 "2000-06-28T12:55:55Z")
How exactly is it determined that someone is a troll? It seems to me that this is a judgement call. Is it possible that there are trolls whjo feel that they being incorrectly characterized? ---
**Author:** ![eggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@eggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eggo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/7 "2000-06-29T01:22:56Z")
Izzy, you’ll have better luck with that question if you ask it in “About This Message Board”. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/8 "2000-06-29T02:20:16Z")
No, it’s a valid General Question. I’ll take it. Izzy, a troll does not care how anyone feels about him, except joy at being hated almost universally. Trolls don’t debate, they don’t answer questions, they don’t even ask valid questions, they just stir manure and write mindless flames. I once wondered at how valid the process of assigning the epithet ‘troll’ is, but after reading the posts of some banned members, there is no debate. Trolls don’t put thought into their posts, they simply spew filth and profanity. Trolls take joy in disruptive behavior, whereas valid members enjoy adding at least something, if only a good question every now and then. If you don’t believe me, ask around about some recent trolls. Then do a search on their nicknames and read their posts. There really is no discussion when they act that juvenile. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/9 "2000-06-29T19:46:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > How exactly is it determined that someone is a troll? It seems to me that this is a judgement call. Is it possible that there are trolls whjo feel that they being incorrectly characterized? > \*\* Ve haf vays… You’ll notice (if you read this early enough) that I have closed two threads by **Alpha to Omega**. They were both legitimate threads, broke no rules and exhibited no trolling on their own. I don’t care. We have been dealing with the same one or few people for weeks and weeks and weeks. A person is either part of our community or not. **Alpha to Omega** has showed up under literally dozens of usernames and does not have the right to post to this message board, and I intend to deny it/them the psychic reward of seeing responses to their posts. I apologize to those who gave well thought out answers to the questions, and I invite legitimate members to re-open the questions if they choose. In the meantime, perhaps you’ll have an opportunity to help us track the child down. In the future, on those posts which I don’t delete, I will edit in the IP log and the ISP contact. When I do so, feel free to drop them a line telling them what you think of their customers. ---
**Author:** ![Nodule\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nodule\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nodule_B)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/10 "2000-06-29T20:11:19Z")
Since I was one of those who answered such a thread, I will take you up on your offer to reopen. I hope the offer was ligit. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/11 "2000-06-29T20:47:43Z")
manhattan sez: > [@](#): > > \*\* > In the meantime, perhaps you’ll have an opportunity to help us track the child down. In the future, on those posts which I don’t delete, I will edit in the IP log and the ISP contact. When I do so, feel free to drop them a line telling them what you think of their customers. > \*\* Manny, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have form e-mails drafted just for this purpose. Much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-note-hanging-and-locked-threads/23802/12 "2000-06-30T02:40:50Z")
Well, you can see that our troll re-spawned and re-asked. I want to thank those who noticed it and either posted in the thread or emailed me about it. I probably ought to delete them or lock them or something. But you know what? I don’t have the heart. A lot of members worked pretty hard on some terrific answers. So I’ve decided that I think in this case that the amount of ignorance fighting exceeds the psychic reward to the child. I’ll try to be more diligent about killing threads like that in the future, so this conundrum does not re-arise.