# OPs can request a thread be closed?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ops-can-request-a-thread-be-closed/288566>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [February 5, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ops-can-request-a-thread-be-closed/288566 "2005-02-05T20:36:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ops-can-request-a-thread-be-closed/288566/1 "2005-02-05T20:36:35Z")

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A IMHO thread was just closed by a mod, apparently at the request of an OP.

Why is this permitted, particularly when the forum was IMHO? I sincerely don’t get it. I might understand this on another message board, but it seems to fly against the alleged purpose of this board.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ops-can-request-a-thread-be-closed/288566/2 "2005-02-05T20:56:30Z")

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Well, to start with the obvious, a poster is certainly allowed to ask a Moderator to close a thread, whether one that he/she started or another. The question is whether the Moderator will comply with the request.

There are lots of reasons for agreeing to close a thread, and lots of reasons for not agreeing. So, it all depends on circumstances. For example: A request to “Please close this thread, because I don’t like what people are saying” will almost never be honoured. A request that says, “Sorry, I opened this thread in IMHO before I realized there was a similar thread,” might be honoured. “This has become a free-for-all trainwreck” might be honoured, as well.

If you want to know specific circumstances for closing a specific thread, ask the Moderator by email.

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**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ops-can-request-a-thread-be-closed/288566/3 "2005-02-05T21:28:37Z")

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> [@C K Dexter Haven](#):
>
> Well, to start with the obvious, a poster is certainly allowed to ask a Moderator to close a thread, whether one that he/she started or another. The question is whether the Moderator will comply with the request.
> 
> There are lots of reasons for agreeing to close a thread, and lots of reasons for not agreeing. So, it all depends on circumstances. For example: A request to “Please close this thread, because I don’t like what people are saying” will almost never be honoured. A request that says, “Sorry, I opened this thread in IMHO before I realized there was a similar thread,” might be honoured. “This has become a free-for-all trainwreck” might be honoured, as well.
> 
> If you want to know specific circumstances for closing a specific thread, ask the Moderator by email.

Fast response; that’s good service. 🙂 Thanks.