# Why do mods reopen closed threads, just to get the last word? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 27, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776 "2014-06-27T14:05:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JimNightshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jimnightshade/32/3354_2.png) [@JimNightshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimNightshade)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/1 "2014-06-27T14:05:58Z")
Well? Seems kinda childish to me, our overmods should be above that kind of behavior. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/2 "2014-06-27T14:18:39Z")
[I assume you’re talking about this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=726757&page=2) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/3 "2014-06-27T14:24:18Z")
Clarifying why a thread is closed doesn’t seem very childish to me. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/4 "2014-06-27T14:33:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Clarifying why a thread is closed doesn’t seem very childish to me. He didn’t clarify why it was closed. He just couldn’t let my final digs on the subject stand unanswered. Whatever, their prerogative, but let’s just be honest about why he did it and it wasn’t to clarify the reasons for closing the thread. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/5 "2014-06-27T14:35:35Z")
And I also wouldn’t call it childish, but perhaps a bit “unsportsmanlike” as far as internet discussions/arguments go. The mods know they’re defending an undefendable position and don’t like having it pointed out. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/6 "2014-06-27T14:46:09Z")
I’m going to cast another vote for “He wanted to explain the issue,” since I can’t say I really did that. I will add that **GrandWino** does not have some kind of right to get in a last dig. ATMB isn’t about digs in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/7 "2014-06-27T14:46:42Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > He didn’t clarify why it was closed. He just couldn’t let my final digs on the subject stand unanswered. Whatever, their prerogative, but let’s just be honest about why he did it and it wasn’t to clarify the reasons for closing the thread. Wow. You have an astonishing capability - you can read C. K.'s mind and understand totally that he had an ulterior motive for making a post, even though he very clearly stated that his post was for clarification. You should take that act on the road. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/8 "2014-06-27T15:00:02Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Wow. You have an astonishing capability - you can read C. K.'s mind and understand totally that he had an ulterior motive for making a post, even though he very clearly stated that his post was for clarification. > > You should take that act on the road. I just read your mind and the things I saw… ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/9 "2014-06-27T15:01:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m going to cast another vote for “He wanted to explain the issue,” since I can’t say I really did that. I will add that **GrandWino** does not have some kind of right to get in a last dig. ATMB isn’t about digs in the first place. I by no means believe I have that right either. But I also don’t think Dex was explaining the closure. IN MY OPINION, AS I AM NOT ACTUALLY A MIND READER, he didn’t like that my post had gone un-answered before you locked it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/10 "2014-06-27T15:18:22Z")
Another vote for Dex just explaining the closure. I don’t see any digs going on. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/11 "2014-06-27T15:22:51Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > He didn’t clarify why it was closed. He just couldn’t let my final digs on the subject stand unanswered. Whatever, their prerogative, but let’s just be honest about why he did it and it wasn’t to clarify the reasons for closing the thread. The fact that he started the post with “Just to be clear” is a pretty good indication that he was clarifying. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/12 "2014-06-27T16:10:51Z")
> [@JimNightshade](#): > > \*\* Why do mods reopen closed threads, just to get the last word?\*\* Minor clarification: mods don’t reopen the thread, post, and then close it. Mods and admins still have Quote buttons under each post, so they can still reply to posts even in a locked thread same as they would in an unlocked thread. It’s entirely possible to respond to a post in a thread before you realize it’s been locked. (I don’t believe that is what happened in this case, but it does happen.) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/13 "2014-06-27T16:43:04Z")
**Why do mods reopen closed threads, just to get the last word?** Because they can. ---
**Author:** ![JimNightshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jimnightshade/32/3354_2.png) [@JimNightshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimNightshade)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/14 "2014-06-27T17:35:28Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > **Why do mods reopen closed threads, just to get the last word?** > > Because they can. Sad, innit? Sic transit gloria mundi. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/15 "2014-06-27T18:08:28Z")
History: I had been instructed by Ed to close the thread. I intended to provide an explanation, but when I got there, I found that **Marley** had punched me to the beets. I can see that you might think I was “trying to get a dig in”, **GrandWino** , but I assure you that my purpose was not that, it was merely to be sure that there was (a) clarification on why the thread was closed, and (b) clarification of prior policy, which seemed to have been overlooked in many of the posts. My apologies if my wording was clumsy enough to allow for an interpretation that I certainly didn’t intend. ---
**Author:** ![JimNightshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jimnightshade/32/3354_2.png) [@JimNightshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimNightshade)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/16 "2014-06-27T18:11:51Z")
That’s cool CK - thanks for the explanation. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/17 "2014-06-27T18:23:49Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > History: I had been instructed by Ed to close the thread. I intended to provide an explanation, but when I got there, I found that **Marley** had punched me to the beets. > > I can see that you might think I was “trying to get a dig in”, **GrandWino** , but I assure you that my purpose was not that, it was merely to be sure that there was (a) clarification on why the thread was closed, and (b) clarification of prior policy, which seemed to have been overlooked in many of the posts. > > My apologies if my wording was clumsy enough to allow for an interpretation that I certainly didn’t intend. Thanks, I get it. No worries. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/18 "2014-06-27T20:03:46Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > History: I had been instructed by Ed to close the thread. I intended to provide an explanation, but when I got there, I found that **Marley** had punched me to the beets. > > I can see that you might think I was “trying to get a dig in”, **GrandWino** , but I assure you that my purpose was not that, it was merely to be sure that there was (a) clarification on why the thread was closed, and (b) clarification of prior policy, which seemed to have been overlooked in many of the posts. > > My apologies if my wording was clumsy enough to allow for an interpretation that I certainly didn’t intend. Stop being reasonable dammit! My pitchfork and torch concession is losing money. Got to move the inventory. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/19 "2014-06-27T20:08:33Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > I just read your mind and the things I saw… Could fill a book? Wait, that’s not it… ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776/20 "2014-06-27T22:26:56Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > I just read your mind and the things I saw… > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Could fill a book? Wait, that’s not it… …can’t be unseen? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mods-reopen-closed-threads-just-to-get-the-last-word/691776.md?page=2)