Recently, several threads are being locked with alarming regularity. I am not trying to apportion blame or attempting to criticise posters or the mods, but I am becoming concerned that joining in a discussion (and attempting to remain polite) I am quite likely to find what could have turned out to be an interesting discussion being truncated prematurely. It's like walking on eggshells here!
Most recently:
4 February: "UKIP - a 'one trick pony'?" – reason given for locking: ‘inappropriate pictures’ (I'm afraid I didn't see them, so cannot comment) and presumably because of name-calling. (Last poster - RNR)
5 February: "Learning a Foreign Language" – No apparent reason for locking. (Last poster - JohnD)
9 February: "Child protection" – Presumably, locked due to name-calling. (Last poster - RNR)
9 February: "Muslim Tolerance - Not Even in Death" – Presumably, locked due to name-calling. (Last poster - RNR)
9 February: "Muslim Tolerance - Not Even in Death" (2) – No apparent reason for locking. (Last poster - Whitespirit)
I'd like to repeat that I am not trying to denigrate anybody; the details given above are entirely factual and, in most cases, the reason for the thread being locked is only presumptive.
I can understand why some threads are locked or deleted when discussion deteriorates into name-calling, but in some cases this doesn't appear to be the case, at least to me. Personally, I'm happy to see friendly banter in a discussion, and I can understand why tempers sometimes become heated, but I'd like to appeal:
1. to posters - not to rise to temptation and resort to personal attacks; and
2. to mods - to please state the reason for locking a thread. This would, at least, inform us of what rules are being broken if these are not readily apparent. The more responsible forum members would then, hopefully, take note. If someone has made a formal objection, perhaps that could be mentioned although, of course, without identifying the person involved.
It occurs to me that another option would be to remove individual posts considered offensive or otherwise unacceptable, giving reasons if possible, but to leave the thread active, giving a final warning of locking/deletion.
I hope that this request can be taken in the spirit that it was intended.
(Edit: Oops, I hope none of the mods are Lankies!)
Most recently:
4 February: "UKIP - a 'one trick pony'?" – reason given for locking: ‘inappropriate pictures’ (I'm afraid I didn't see them, so cannot comment) and presumably because of name-calling. (Last poster - RNR)
5 February: "Learning a Foreign Language" – No apparent reason for locking. (Last poster - JohnD)
9 February: "Child protection" – Presumably, locked due to name-calling. (Last poster - RNR)
9 February: "Muslim Tolerance - Not Even in Death" – Presumably, locked due to name-calling. (Last poster - RNR)
9 February: "Muslim Tolerance - Not Even in Death" (2) – No apparent reason for locking. (Last poster - Whitespirit)
I'd like to repeat that I am not trying to denigrate anybody; the details given above are entirely factual and, in most cases, the reason for the thread being locked is only presumptive.
I can understand why some threads are locked or deleted when discussion deteriorates into name-calling, but in some cases this doesn't appear to be the case, at least to me. Personally, I'm happy to see friendly banter in a discussion, and I can understand why tempers sometimes become heated, but I'd like to appeal:
1. to posters - not to rise to temptation and resort to personal attacks; and
2. to mods - to please state the reason for locking a thread. This would, at least, inform us of what rules are being broken if these are not readily apparent. The more responsible forum members would then, hopefully, take note. If someone has made a formal objection, perhaps that could be mentioned although, of course, without identifying the person involved.
It occurs to me that another option would be to remove individual posts considered offensive or otherwise unacceptable, giving reasons if possible, but to leave the thread active, giving a final warning of locking/deletion.
I hope that this request can be taken in the spirit that it was intended.
(Edit: Oops, I hope none of the mods are Lankies!)