Why are threads locked down so soon?

I found this place through a search engine, looking for answers to some problems. I see threads without any answers locked down!? Why not just delete them? They serve absolutely no purpose in the future. If someone sees the thread in the future and wants to post the answers for others with that question, they can't. Even better, the original poster can't even post the solution they eventually found.

The worth in a forum like this is the knowledge that gets built up by the answers that are given... I don't see the value in locking down a thread just because it's a hard question that takes time for someone with the experience to answer!

This concept really leaves me with no desire to *contribute*.

A few reasons why threads are closed rather than deleted:

• The discussion degenerated into an ugly and mostly off-topic argument.
• The thread starter requested for help but repeatedly made no attempt to follow the homework policy.
• The thread was "resurrected" after a long period of time without good reason.

Of course, it is also possible for a thread to have been incorrectly closed when it should have been deleted or merged with some other thread (e.g., spam, duplicate thread). This could have been the case for those threads without reply since double posts sometimes do happen.

Oh, and another thing: if you're talking about threads in "A Brief History of Cprogramming.com", then you're looking at an archive.

While the reasons is what laserlight said, they have a side effect.
They stand as examples, of not to follow for the new users. When I started joining the forum, I used to -and still do- to check the closed/moved thread to figure out why they had this kind of treatment. That way, I didn't ever made any thread that should be closed/moved. Moreover, I now have the ability tell if a thread should be moved/closed and thus informing the admins. Admins are here to help, but why not the members help them too? ;)

That's a brazen critique for your first post here. Just because something doesn't make sense to you at a quick glance, doesn't mean it wasn't brought about for good reasons.

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If someone sees the thread in the future and wants to post the answers for others with that question, they can't. Even better, the original poster can't even post the solution they eventually found.

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This can be accomplished by starting a new thread, linking the original thread, with an answer/solution. Not the most elegant way of handling it, for sure, but the best method based on the way these forums are run, which (as I mentioned) were most likely brought about by good reasons unknown to you.

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The worth in a forum like this is the knowledge that gets built up by the answers that are given

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There is a wealth of knowledge and information here. Many contributors on these forums have amazing skills and expertise.

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This concept really leaves me with no desire to *contribute*.

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Based on your "contribution" so far, this is likely a good thing for those of us here.

> I see threads without any answers locked down!? Why not just delete them?
References please!

It would have been funnier if the mods had closed this thread without giving any answers :p

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I see threads without any answers locked down!?

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O_o

Just so as you know, most of the moderators here are kind of slow to respond with any sort of moderation.

If you really saw, meaning your not exaggerating based on a single example, it was likely because the original poster was either extraordinarily rude or brazenly stupid.

It happens sometimes you see; newbies will post thinking they are entitled which doesn't go well for them, and though they are little lazy, the moderators will almost always cleanup a thread where someone crossed a line.

You will see the dead shells of such discussions.

Soma

I think he's referring to the auto-close feature that was added to prevent "resurrections". If you go back ~4 weeks, threads no longer have a reply button.

gg

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Originally Posted by Codeplug

I think he's referring to the auto-close feature that was added to prevent "resurrections". If you go back ~4 weeks, threads no longer have a reply button.

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Never noticed. But I find that draconian. 4 weeks, really? Is that really necessary? Besides, there's plenty of good reasons to resurrect a thread and asking a moderator to reopen one isn't something you can expect people to want to do even if they are aware they can do it. Is planet earth really being that damaged every time a thread is necroed?

When will forums moderators and admins *everywhere* actually start discussing these things with users before implementing them, instead of of acting like little despots? Mum & Dad rulership always ends up to seem to be the norm in these places. Bless you Usenet!

The decision to do this originated here: https://cboard.cprogramming.com/showthread.php?t=139579 Basically, Alex said it was a good idea.

I actually remember that thread now. No lunch for me, for having spoken too soon.