I would like to make clear that it is not my intention to complain about the thread being locked - frankly I think it had run its course. But I’d like some clarification on what aroused the ire in this instance.
Debates in the Pit - my understanding was that the Pit exists for the purpose of venting. But that does not imply that a serious debate could not also be held there, should one develop. If this is against the rules or spirit of the Pit, I would turn out to have been a frequent offender - almost a hardened career criminal, in fact - as I have frequently challenged issues-oriented Pit rants. What is the proper conduct in this regard?
In general, many threads begin in one spirit and shift to another. In particular many GQ threads become GD threads, as posters disagree about the correct answer. This is frequently inevitable in such circumstances, and the moderators seem to deal with it quite well, simply moving the threads as appropriate. But it in violation of SDMB rules or spirit to participate in this? (Obviously, if a poster hijacks a thread to this end it would be inappropriate, but sometimes this is the natural development of the thread).
More specifically, I wonder if someone could clarify what would cause a thread to be locked for this type of violation as opposed to being simply moved.
RE: moving in general - I seem to recall that it takes a bit more time and effort (on the servers’ part) to move a thread vs. close it, so if the board or the mod is busy, closing is a better option.
Also, David B & Gaudere do a helluva job in keeping the tone in GD, well, proper. If a thread started in the Pit and were moved into GD, it would help tend to blur the differences between the forums, especially for newcomers.
I think the general idea is that people should be able to find what they are looking for. Thus, if they are looking for a debate, they should be able to find it in GD. I think, therefore, that a thread should not develop the general tenor of a debate, but that debating is allowed. Closing a thread when it becomes a debate is not meant to punish the posters therein, but merely a way to keep the forum delineations useful.
Personally, I think I have probably posted material along the lines of every forum in every other forum (except Pit behavior in other forums), at one point or another, without pissing off anyone. No one objects to the occasional joke in GQ, detailed factual information in GD, description of the workings of vBulletin in IMHO, expression of non-ranting opinion in the Pit, etc., as long as it’s reasonable.
There’s nothing like the Berlin Wall separating the forums, just an attempt to maintain the cultural identity of each one, with enforcement as necessary.