# The Etiquette of the Padlock **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 24, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993 "2009-10-24T19:18:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993/41 "2009-10-26T21:43:57Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I find the term [zugzwang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zugzwang) to be particularly appropriate > > The difference being, when moderating not making a move at all can also make one’s position worse.😉 Well, come Judgement Day you’ll get lots of bonuses for the job done here. Be sure to keep all your receipts an hand them to St. Peter (he’ll be the guy with the keys) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993/42 "2009-10-26T23:28:31Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Well, come Judgement Day you’ll get lots of bonuses for the job done here. Be sure to keep all your receipts an hand them to St. Peter (he’ll be the guy with the keys) Sumbeech! I wondered about that note that came with my free coffee cup for signing up to mod here. I thought it said “you’ll get your reward in Heaven.” Now, I’m sure it did. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993/43 "2009-10-27T03:15:17Z")
But **Sam** , they _couldn’t_ really pay you enough to be a moderator, could they? Thanks for your reconsideration, BTW. And I appreciate your rethinking your locking of the thread also, **Twickster**. Although I have not said anything critical of you before, I have found you to be very open to criticism in general when it is offered. You defend your positions well, but you also listen to the other sides and to accomodate. One Administrator said the following: > [@](#): > > One of the burdens of moderating is that you have people questioning everything you do and suggesting you have ulterior motives. That’s what you were doing. Better let us know when Dopers can’t do that in ATMB anymore. Besides, one of the burdens of posting as Dopers is that we have people questioning everything we do and suggesting that we have ulterior motives. _Go figure._ \ ---
**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:** [October 27, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993/44 "2009-10-27T15:27:15Z")
The question of whether/when to lock a thread is always difficult and somewhat problematic. Sometimes, when a simple and straight-forward question is asked and answered, the OP asks us to close the thread. Usually we do, but sometimes the situation is not so simple and straight-forward, and the OP’s wishes don’t have priority. The most common reason for locking a thread is when it’s a total train-wreck, for whatever reason, and no good can possibly come of further discussion. That’s obviously partly a judgement call: the people who are happily throwing kerosene on the fires from the train-wreck probably think it’s good fun. There is a tendency for mods to think that a topic is finished, and so want to close the thread. I’m guilty of that myself, so I’m not blaming any other mods. It’s a difficult call, and I think we’re coming round to the feeling that “dead” threads can just drop off the front page over time, rather than being closed. However, often the feeling that a skeletized horse is still being whipped is sort of _je ne sais quoi_, and there’s a natural human reaction to want to yell, “stop it already” by closing the thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993.md?page=2)