Why are so many threads just getting locked down?

[ROWUK]

I really do not spend much time here (there are various reasons), but when I do, I sometimes find very annoying things.

Today: Multiple threads were locked down "for obvious reasons" - but no obvious reasons were anywhere to be found. Could it be that the threads are cleansed and then locked down? If they are censured, what does the lock accomplish? If there is no indication as to why, how does the casual user even make sense of what goes and what does not. What is the motivation on locking threads down? Is there a policy governing this?

As I had an administrative function at TrumpetMaster, there was regularly an "urge" to lock down a thread not going anywhere. We (I) only did when the posting got really ugly. The ugly words were replaced with a clear note as to why. Sometimes the member got a vacation. Keeping threads open kept them alive. A bump after a year or two brought forgotten subjects back to life - even if the original poster was long gone.

I would appreciate a real reason when threads are locked down. I never appreciate completely deleting anyones posts - or intentions. Unsuitable language is easy enough to smooth out and publicly document.

I am not expecting or demanding an answer. I would consider a detailed why in the respective threads to be "courteous".

[barliman2001]

@rowuk Dear Robin, if you look closely, you will find that in all cases of locked threads, these were inactive for more than three years - no replies or comments during that period, thus cluttering up the site. But I don't like deleting threads - you never know when the content might come in handy. Thus, the contents are still available; and if someone has something to say about the topic, they are welcome to tell the admin or one of the mods to please open the thread again, or open a new one.
Why the "for obvious reasons"? Well, there are so many of these dormant threads that it gets extremely tedious writing an individual explanation. Only yesterday, I locked down a whopping 39 threads. The "locked" sign is just meant as a polite warning "old content, nothing new here."

[Kehaulani]

@barliman2001 said in Why are so many threads just getting locked down?:

@rowuk Dear Robin, if you look closely, you will find that in all cases of locked threads, these were inactive for more than three years -

Barlian, that's all you had to say . . but you didn't. Might clarify 0things in the future.

Robin, there are only a handful of people who are regular here. Who cares.

[barliman2001]

@kehaulani I did clarify in some threads; but since the bad hand injury which prompted my change from piano to trumpet (cut a nerve when putting my hand through a glass door), typing tires me, and I try to take the short route.

[Kehaulani]

Just sayin'.

[administrator]

It's fine, I understand.

Generally, the policy is to just let threads sit and fade into distant memory. But this works, too, so long as everybody knows what the reason is. I like newer threads to be created on older topics.

[Dr GO]

@administrator said in Why are so many threads just getting locked down?:

I like newer threads to be created on older topics.

And I like wearing newer threads on my older top parts!

[Jolter]

One unfortunate side-effect of locking threads is that the "closing post" will bump the thread to the top of each forum. I got a whole bunch of notifications of replies and unread posts, only to be disappointed when I went into the thread and saw the same post in each. No new content after all.

If I may opine, I think this forum, rather than cluttered, feels a bit big and empty. Like any thread I post will make an echo, as if in a great hall...

What I would advise would be to keep threads open, to avoid bumping them. Letting them quietly die in a corner instead of publicly putting them down, so to speak. (Sorry for the morbid imagery.)

Another opinion, if I may: The forum has too many sub-forums for the small volume of posts. We don't need genre-specific Music Discussion forums, or seven different subforums for instruments, when each of them is devoid of posts for months at a time. Better to merge all the sub-forums into the 13 top-level forums. It will make them feel more alive. If traffic on the site picks up, it's easy enough to start new sub-forums where we see it's needed.

[J. Jericho]

There are threads for which no new posts appear for sometimes many months at a time, but for which there is no more appropriate thread when someone adds a new post. It wouldn't make sense in these instances to start a new, identical thread when one already exists, especially when starting a new one would duplicate the title, cluttering things up, so to speak, and leave no previous context to which the new post is related. "YouTube Suggestion" https://trumpetboards.com/topic/588/youtube-suggestion is one example.

[Kehaulani]

Looks like you got some more spam.

[BigDub]

@barliman2001 said in Why are so many threads just getting locked down?:

@rowuk Dear Robin, if you look closely, you will find that in all cases of locked threads, these were inactive for more than three years - no replies or comments during that period, thus cluttering up the site. But I don't like deleting threads - you never know when the content might come in handy. Thus, the contents are still available; and if someone has something to say about the topic, they are welcome to tell the admin or one of the mods to please open the thread again, or open a new one.
Why the "for obvious reasons"? Well, there are so many of these dormant threads that it gets extremely tedious writing an individual explanation. Only yesterday, I locked down a whopping 39 threads. The "locked" sign is just meant as a polite warning "old content, nothing new here."
Why the need to lock something that nobody goes into? Seems unnecessary doesn’t it?
If you drive a 1974 Yugo you don’t need to lock it when you park it. Guess you can even leave the keys in the ignition too, for that matter.

[ROWUK]

@barliman2001 I guess, I just disagree in principle with locking down non-abusive threads - regardless of age. I see no logic or necessity (your argumentation of cluttering simply does not apply in my view), but I guess I have never really felt "at home" here - at least not enough to start actively posting. I find this behavior of locking down unique to you and not standard at any other forums that I am a member of.

This issue is not enough to make me stop visiting, but it certainly was enough reason to address the issue. As I said, it is just one of the things here that I find unnecessarily "annoying".

Kehaulani, perhaps it does not matter but I felt a need to address what I feel is an admin looking for work instead of a valuable forum feature. I do understand that this was never policy. I know that Elmar is not doing this with malicious intent, but I have the impression that this is not something that anyone ever asked for.

[barliman2001]

@rowuk I haven't done it since the comments began.

[ROWUK]

@barliman2001 Thank you, but I want to be sure that everyone understands that I did not demand anything. I am more interested in the "root cause" of things. Maybe there is a good reason that I have not seen.
My thoughts are that on a site like this with limited active members, anything that reduces accessibility changes the way that we treat threads - further reducing eagerness to post.
I have seen other forums that occasionally bump threads to the top to get more "action". This is exactly the opposite.
I would be happy to know what the community thinks. Maybe I am just too old and grumpy.

[Shifty]

@rowuk said in Why are so many threads just getting locked down?:

I would be happy to know what the community thinks. Maybe I am just too old and grumpy.

I think J. Jericho was on point with his comment:
"There are threads for which no new posts appear for sometimes many months at a time, but for which there is no more appropriate thread when someone adds a new post. It wouldn't make sense in these instances to start a new, identical thread when one already exists, especially when starting a new one would duplicate the title, cluttering things up, so to speak, and leave no previous context to which the new post is related."

As well, a locked thread takes up just as much space as an unlocked one, so I don't see the clutter issue.

Whether or not ROWUK is too old and grumpy is another issue; one which I will not attempt to resolve.

[Kehaulani]

Ref. the forum getting cluttered. So - how many people actually frequent TrumpetBoards?

[Trumpetb]

I do agree with the sentiments and the arguments opposing the locking of threads but I would like to say a word or two in support of Barliman2001

It is clear to me that Mr Barliman wants to act in the best interests of the site but it is difficult to see what that might be.

The site is filled with ancient threads dated 2019 that see little or no action since 2019 as though the site suddenly took a nosedive in that year and is stuck now in a time warp.

The temptation to clean things up so that the site appears to be fresh dynamic and appealing to new members and inviting of new posts must be a strong one so I would agree that some kind of action might be helpful but I have no idea what the most appropriate action might be,

Mr Barliman has taken action and I support that decision to act although I have no idea what the best way forward might be.

The members have spoken now and Mr Barliman has shown he is receptive to members opinions and I cannot ask for more than this.

I am sure that together we will find a good solution to this thorny question that will be acceptable to all the members and presents the site well.

Speaking personally I really like the site the members and the organisation so I live in hope and have a measure of confidence that a good way forward will emerge from these discussions.

[Dr GO]

@kehaulani said in Why are so many threads just getting locked down?:

Ref. the forum getting cluttered. So - how many people actually frequent TrumpetBoards?

I saw an internet survey that TrumpetBoards is rated the number 1 in quality over all other trumpet forums today (post TM era), with TH listed as number 2. It does not rate frequency, but quality. In my mind, quality wins.

[Kehaulani]

Well, no offense to anyone, but I would like to know the source and participation of that survey,

[administrator]

@kehaulani said in Why are so many threads just getting locked down?:

Well, no offense to anyone, but I would like to know the source and participation of that survey,

I don't think there is a source. It's just a random website.