When should a post be locked?

[Admiral of the Humber]

Dear Forumeers,

Just when should a topic be locked?

The terms and conditions state "members should post in a way that is respectful of other members......."

In her opening post on the election of the new Pope Lioness said "Do any of us really care who the new Pope is? I cannot believe the fuss over this person who rules over paedophile priests, no birth control etc and anti gay people".

In my opinion the original post immediately contravened the Forum's terms and conditions yet the thread was allowed to run for several pages of replies before it was "locked"

I believe that this thread should have been locked immediately, or, left to run until it died a natural death and not as was the case, locked after 12 pages of vociferous posting.

What do you think Forumeers?

Regards
Rob aka AOTH

[lioness]

Rob, it was my post and I don't see anything particularly bad about it.

However, I'm glad it was locked, because it got out of hand. I was simply asking who cared and who didn't.

Jean

[Meg 50]

it's a difficult one - if threads are locked immediately there's cries of "over reaction" and if left , there's cries of "what kept you?"

Best left to the mods methinks

[gfwgfw]

Hello Septre

Over moderation "kills" fora and makes for uninteresting debate

Moderators are best to exercise anonmity . . . .

. . . . in my opinion

Hope all is well on your patch

Graham

[Admiral of the Humber]

it's a difficult one - if threads are locked immediately there's cries of "over reaction" and if left , there's cries of "what kept you?"

Best left to the mods methinks

Dear Meg, and if left, one might cry"why me?", or, "why now"

[Admiral of the Humber]

Hello Septre

Over moderation "kills" fora and makes for uninteresting debate

Moderators are best to exercise anonmity . . . .

. . . . in my opinion

Hope all is well on your patch

Graham

Dear Graham,

All is well in the frozen north. I am currently multi tasking...doing the ironing whilst enjoying Red Nose Day on the BBC!

Hope, you, yours and the ferrets are all well.

The Sceptre.

[gfwgfw]

""doing the ironing whilst enjoying Red Nose Day on the BBC!""


Bleeding Heck Sceptre

Me and the ferrets respectably are are heads off

Lubooo

Graham

[noddy10]

AOTH I agree it should have been locked straight away because it was not just asking about who cares about the new pope or not but making offensive remarks which might offend and cause trouble. Yes the catholic church do have a problem with a small minority of clergy but to a vast majority of law abiding decent catholics it is important. To make the statement that was made was offensive and said to cause trouble and invoke a reaction. Like it says in the bible "let he who without sin cast the first stone".

[Admiral of the Humber]

""doing the ironing whilst enjoying Red Nose Day on the BBC!""


Bleeding Heck Sceptre

Me and the ferrets respectably are are heads off

Lubooo

Graham

Dear Graham,

I am gladdened to hear that as well as financially supporting the elderly (through Red Nose Day) I am also supporting you spiritually.

Admiral Sceptre

[Romig1]

AOTH I agree it should have been locked straight away because it was not just asking about who cares about the new pope or not but making offensive remarks which might offend and cause trouble. Yes the catholic church do have a problem with a small minority of clergy but to a vast majority of law abiding decent catholics it is important. To make the statement that was made was offensive and said to cause trouble and invoke a reaction. Like it says in the bible "let he who without sin cast the first stone".

If I don't believe in Biblical sin..then am I allowed to cast the first stone??

[Onelife]

Hi Robbie

I haven’t accustomed myself with the t&c’s rules (neither do I intend doing so as I prefer to say things as I see them and not how others think I should say them) so haven’t a clue what is acceptable and what isn’t. I’ll take your word that the OP on the “New Pope” thread has infringed these rules, however, putting aside the fact that the OP comments could be seen as invoking “topical debate” I can see no reason why it should have been curtailed prematurely IMO.

Regards

Squeak squeak Keefy

[Manoverboard]

Dearest AOTH

As the Moderator who ' locked ' it my thoughts are as follows ...

Had the Pope been a Member of this site (tic) then it would probably have been clubbed on #1, your Topic however was allowed to run even though it showed a lack of respect to Lioness.

Your need to ask such questions also possibly demonstrates therefore that you lack the skills to become a Moderator

A no win situation of course and a good reason, some would say, to ban ' Religious ' discussion on a Cruise Forum.

Another snippet of info if I may ...

Goto Cog / Profile, scroll down / change ' No of Postings per page ' to 40 ... the Pope Topic is now ' locked ' after only 3 pages rather than 12

Kindest regards MobiMod

[Kendhni]

One thing that is common on many fora is that there will be those that whine, whinge and gurn when threads get locked or deleted and then the same people whine, whinge and gurn when they don't ... they complain about over moderation and, in the next breath, they complain about lack of moderation ... the reality however is more along the lines of WHO has been moderated rather than the WHY.

Maybe when everybody learns to stop throwing their toys around like babies, or looking for hidden messages that they can be offended about, then they will enjoy fora more. As usual the golden rule is to ignore those threads/posts you don't like and enjoy and partake in the threads you do like ... simples!

The one thing about moderating is that you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[david63]

Can I just add that if there is any particular members's posts that you do not wish to read, for whatever reason, then if you make them a "foe" then any post made by that member will not be visible when viewing any of the fora

[Manoverboard]

Gosh, WOW and Goody ... actually I thought that only related to PMs

[qbman1]

Gosh, WOW and Goody ... actually I thought that only related to PMs

Good to see Plod has a finger on the pulse !!

[paultheeagle]

Well for what it's worth..I thought it was a shame the Pope thread got locked....In the beginning I saw a good lively debate with strong views on both sides being expressed, then it got a bit personal....and then some, for no explicable reason, chose to be offended. I guess they lost the argument.

I can understand why the thread was locked and respect the referee's decision without question, just thought it was a shame...That's all.

Thank you.

[lioness]

Morning all - I do not consider my post on the pope to be offensive. There was nothing there but the truth. If the truth hurts, then so be it.

It was interesting to, see that some simply gave their views on their faith and others on theirs, but a very small minority decided cast stones.

No matter, it was correct to lock it when they did as it was becoming pointless. I did not open it to cause trouble, it was just what I felt at the time.

Jean

[Serendipity]

If the moderator thinks a topic should be closed then so be it, no questions asked.

[Dark Knight]

Lioness
I owe you an apology for my posts, I am sorry if you were offended, I over reacted and therefore I offer my unreserved apologies

as regards the question, it is solely down to the mods to decide how to run th forum and they have the final say

[Admiral of the Humber]

Dear Moby, Ken and David,

Not convinced guys. I'm still of the opinion that a controversial post should either be locked at birth or left to die a natural death with sensible people merely ignoring it. Jumping in somewhere in the middle will never be right.

However, as a Rugby League boy, I know the rules and will respect them and nod my head at the judiciary in all the right places.....and keep my thoughts to myself.

Good morning to you all.

Regards
Rob aka AOTH

[Manoverboard]

Gosh, WOW and Goody ... actually I thought that only related to PMs

Good to see Plod has a finger on the pulse !!

Touche Pussy Cat

Lioness
I owe you an apology for my posts, I am sorry if you were offended, I over reacted and therefore I offer my unreserved apologies.

Thank you for that Dark Nighty ...

... pity really as I was just thinking of giving you an official warning

[Mo2013]

IMO the original question was fair and people should feel strong enough to withstand a difference of opinion without resorting to name calling. Once someone has started to call other members names, then that is the time for censure of those name callers. Sadly too many people take offence at what are general observations and opinions and they turn a debate into a row. I do not think any of my posts were offensive at all. Moderation has to be fair and equal without fear or favour and no-one should feel gagged, marginalised or singled out and I am sure that it is not WHAT is posted but WHO has posted it. It has become clear that whilst others appear to be able to say what they like, it looks like I cannot express myself freely. I am the only one who has been contacted by admin? It was not my intention to offend anyone and I'm pretty sure that my posts are no worse than some I've read.

[lioness]

Lioness
I owe you an apology for my posts, I am sorry if you were offended, I over reacted and therefore I offer my unreserved apologies

as regards the question, it is solely down to the mods to decide how to run th forum and they have the final say

DK - no worries

[Dark Knight]

Lioness
thank you for that and once again apologies for over reacting