# WTF, over **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 26, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176 "2013-08-26T03:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TARL\_FURY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@TARL\_FURY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TARL_FURY)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/1 "2013-08-26T03:48:16Z")
Why LOCK a thread against replies, but leave it on the board anyway ? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/2 "2013-08-26T03:49:37Z")
Looks like this should be in About This Message Board. Reported. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/3 "2013-08-26T03:50:39Z")
Replying before lock for irony. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/4 "2013-08-26T03:53:52Z")
Moved. Now- what are we talking about? [If you’re asking why I closed this thread, I explained why here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16605780#post16605780) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/5 "2013-08-26T03:59:10Z")
Got to say—that’s about the least controversial locking that has generated an ATMB thread in recent memory. Not even Ed Hochuli could find a way to mangle that explanation. ---
**Author:** ![TARL\_FURY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@TARL\_FURY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TARL_FURY)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/6 "2013-08-26T04:05:37Z")
JIMO- I personally would delete any rule-breaking thread, and PM the guilty offenders. Otherwise, I believe that wrongdoing is being encouraged. Upholding the quality of Great Debates would be one of my top priorities - one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. ---
**Author:** ![TARL\_FURY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@TARL\_FURY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TARL_FURY)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/7 "2013-08-26T04:09:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Moved. Now- what are we talking about? [If you’re asking why I closed this thread, I explained why here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16605780#post16605780) I was asking what the strategy of leaving a locked thread on the board was intended to fix. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/8 "2013-08-26T04:12:24Z")
> [@TARL\_FURY](#): > > I was asking what the strategy of leaving a locked thread on the board was intended to fix. You know how certain cultures would leave the heads of their enemies on spikes as a warning to others? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/9 "2013-08-26T04:20:55Z")
> [@TARL\_FURY](#): > > JIMO- I personally would delete any rule-breaking thread, and PM the guilty offenders. Otherwise, I believe that wrongdoing is being encouraged. I left the thread open to explain why it wasn’t allowed. I don’t think that encourages rulebreaking. We very rarely remove or delete threads unless they are spam. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/10 "2013-08-26T15:10:46Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > You know how certain cultures would leave the heads of their enemies on spikes as a warning to others? Yes. The concept gains a new charm when [described in French](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pour%20encourager%20les%20autres). ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/11 "2013-08-26T16:16:22Z")
The SDMB has had a long history of locking threads and leaving them in place. The mods will usually take the spammers and socks and wish them away to the cornfield, but otherwise the locked threads just stay in place. Sure, this is different than the way that some other message boards operate, but it’s worked here just fine. I don’t recall anyone ever complaining about it before. One advantage to it is that the users get to see exactly what moderator actions have been taken, which gives everyone a clearer idea of exactly where the limits are and at what point the rules are enforced. Many message boards don’t allow anyone to argue with moderators. Here, you get to see what actions the mods take and you can even argue with them (a bit) if you disagree with their decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/12 "2013-08-27T00:39:31Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > You know how certain cultures would leave the heads of their enemies on spikes as a warning to others? So you’re saying that I was misinterpreting their gift? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/13 "2013-08-27T00:59:04Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > You know how certain cultures would leave the heads of their enemies on spikes as a warning to others? Got it in one. ---
**Author:** ![TARL\_FURY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@TARL\_FURY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TARL_FURY)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/14 "2013-08-27T01:30:08Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > One advantage to it is that the users get to see exactly what moderator actions have been taken, which gives everyone a clearer idea of exactly where the limits are and at what point the rules are enforced. > > Many message boards don’t allow anyone to argue with moderators. Here, you get to see what actions the mods take and you can even argue with them (a bit) if you disagree with their decisions. I agree with the first comment quoted above but as a former admin/moderator myself, HOMEY DON’T PLAY DAT. 😉 I came to SDMB to tune my mental engines, not to pull anybody’s chains… although I’m not above pulling a few ‘covers’, if I feel the occasion warrants it & I sense that a mutual agreement is possible. No worries… I am having too killer of a day here in Maui to stop enjoying myself over any post-operatic snafu. Thanks everyone for cluing me in on the local sit-rep. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/15 "2013-08-27T02:25:30Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > … The mods will usually take the spammers and socks and wish them away to the cornfield, … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/16 "2013-08-27T02:26:17Z")
Maybe Homey should go play somewhere else. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/17 "2013-08-27T02:28:53Z")
I think **engineer\_comp\_geek** summed it up pretty well, and **Giraffe** has a good point as well (all snark aside). There’s another important factor, too: We may close a thread because the question has been answered, because the OP is no longer around to defend him/herself, or because the thread has evolved in a direction inconsistent with the forum it’s in. None of these make the information contained in the thread useless. Although new discussions on the topic will have to go in a different thread, those original threads may still contain information that’s worth preserving. And, as **Marley23** pointed out, we generally avoid deleting threads at all unless they’re spam or there are extenuating circumstances (e.g. information that shouldn’t have been disclosed due to pending lawsuits or criminal trials). Have you ever heard someone say, “nothing is ever truly deleted on the Internet?” Not only is there some truth to that, but it fits well with our board culture here as well. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/18 "2013-08-27T02:44:31Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:17, topic:667176”] Have you ever heard someone say, “nothing is ever truly deleted on the Internet?” Not only is there some truth to that, but it fits well with our board culture here as well. [/QUOTE] I’ve been looking for years, but I still can’t find a clip of Craig Kilborn interviewing Jason Bateman from the 2nd season of the Daily Show. So at least 1 thing has been deleted. I guess it’s possible it nver got here, but I find that hard to believe. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/19 "2013-08-27T03:06:30Z")
I heartily support the practice of displaying the heads. In particular, I get a kick out of following up the cites in the announcements of suspensions and bannings, the crimes great and small with the changing tact and tone of the mods. Is that wrong? Something similar is present in the locked threads. The bigger the padlock icon, the better. They exert the same unseen torquing force to my neck as do emergency road beacons and luminescent police tape. I enjoy watching train wreck threads, the orts and mangled weirs of the feast of reason and flow of soul. Is that wrong? Should this post be in IMHO? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176/20 "2013-08-27T03:25:23Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I’ve been looking for years, but I still can’t find a clip of Craig Kilborn interviewing Jason Bateman from the 2nd season of the Daily Show. > > So at least 1 thing has been deleted. I guess it’s possible it nver got here, but I find that hard to believe. Well, for one, he was never interviewed in the second season. Bateman didn’t show up til the fourth episode of the third season. One minute to Wapner! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-over/667176.md?page=2)