Customer Service & Community Manager
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Hello paizo.com friends!
I've been considering for a while changing our moderation behavior so that when we lock a thread, we add a [locked] to the thread title. Ideally this would make it more visible to folks reading the forums that a thread is already locked, rather than having someone read through a whole bunch of posts expecting to get in on the conversation and then find out that it has already been closed.
If I recall correctly, the main reason something like this was never done in the past was a concern for drawing attention to threads that might be contentious, spurring dissension or encouraging the forum equivalent of rubbernecking where a problematic thread might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
I am leaning towards adding a [Locked] tag to thread titles. I am considering if it would be a good idea to also do [Locked: In Review] or [Temporarily Locked].
Thoughts?
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I'll tackle the easiest one first: if you are going to do a locked tag, you should definitely note in the tag if it is only temporary. So, the variations, in my opinion, would be a good thing if the tag is implemented.
As for whether the pros outweigh the cons, that's a bit harder for me to process. I immediately thought about drawing attention to "problem" threads, but honestly, I'm not sure if that is a bad thing. I've stumbled across some older locked threads from time to time. While not necessarily "pretty", they are part of the community's history. And the fact their are locked is itself educational about what topics can potentially be problematic and therefore approached with caution. Since the comment about locking the thread explains why it was locked, even with the offending posts removed, they still provide good examples of the practical outworking of the community guidelines. And since the offending posts are removed, there isn't a whole lot to see.
All that to say, I think it would be a good thing.
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I don't think it's a good idea
By putting a searchable word in the title of every problematic thread, you make it possible to search for every problematic thread.
I don't think the benefit of avoiding disappointing some people who want to get in on the conversation is balanced by the benefit to trolls who would prefer to find every single hot top in one nice list.
Are people really so upset by not knowing that they can't post in a thread until after they get to the end that we need to solve that problem?
An unsearchable icon (like a closed lock) might be ok. Otherwise if you're all fired up, all you have to do is ctrl F through every page looking for "censored" posts to be outraged about.
ETA:
I think it would work to have 'locked' in the title for the "temporarily locked" or "in review", but not once the thread is permanently closed.
^ I prefer the closed lock option as well.
I think the three/four flags is a good idea.
My default position is to allow people to be good - so I don’t like the idea of formulating policy based on “what if someone abuses this?” I’d prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt and then ban or temporarily suspend those who go on to abuse it.
Having said that, I think CrystalSeas has some good points. The little padlock icon is a good tweaking of the idea, I think.
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Locked threads currently also lose the "(X new)" tag, so you can't even easily follow them to their end, pr maybe you don't even remember that you were reading them. It would be great if that tag would remain in place even if a thread is locked.
Maybe a padlock icon could replace the "Reply" label? Then the fact that the thread is locked won't show up until you actually start reading messages in the thread, at which point the fact that the thread is locked will immediately become obvious (as you are far likely to notice a padlock than a missing "Reply" option).
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instead of locked, how about closed instead. A thread can be closed for any number of reasons. A locked thread is usually one which will cause posters to go, "Oooooh! Someone done f'd up!" and read.
Then again, closed may do the same.
Is there a way to add a post at the beginning of the thread alerting readers to the locked nature of the thread? If not pre OP, then maybe post OP?
Can we have a [Gorbacz wuz 'ere] tag as well?
Perhaps a viewer discretion advised warning would be more appropriate?
Maybe a padlock icon could replace the "Reply" label? Then the fact that the thread is locked won't show up until you actually start reading messages in the thread, at which point the fact that the thread is locked will immediately become obvious (as you are far likely to notice a padlock than a missing "Reply" option).
I didn't catch this until the Edit window was closed.
That last parenthetical should have begun "as you are far more likely".
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Customer Service & Community Manager
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I do want a icon or tag rather than injecting in the thread title, however the benefit of adding a word in means no extra code is required. Seeing the projects in the queue for the tech team, for now I want to stay clear of interfering with their work load. I think if we go this way, [closed] is less inflammatory than [locked]. Thanks!
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Customer Service & Community Manager
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Can we have a [Gorbacz wuz 'ere] tag as well?Perhaps a viewer discretion advised warning would be more appropriate?
This is something I've been considering as well. A tagging system for threads. One thing I've been seeing is overlap between rules questions and rules questions that need to be PFS specific, instead of relegating those questions to separate forums and splitting traffic, you could instead tag the thread with something like PFSLegal. But right now this is something that's just an idea, not anything I am very seriously looking at.