What is the point of locking topics?

[Byrd]

I don't quite understand the point of locking certain topics. Perhaps I am missing something and some enlightened being out there would care to pass on some enlightenment in my direction

I understand locking topics where there has been arguing over a topic however it is desirable to keep the content of the topic. In this way no more arguments can arise on that particular topic, but the value of the content can be retained.

However locking topics such as classifieds doesn't quite make sense to me? Remove the classified yes, from a certain point of view, but lock it? As an example http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,6572.msg77702.html#msg77702. What is the harm in keeping the topic open for further discussion? Locking the topic doesn't make it clear that the sale has ended, the content of the topic does.

[GearSlave]

I'm with you, to be honest. I'm wondering if it's not from habit as there are many other forums where you lock the topic after a sale has completed. But like I said, personally I don't see the point and the only time a thread should be locked is if there's been some kind of argument or if the thread was put up as a notice of some sort.

[BigWoodenSpoon]

Its a control freak thing

[J.S.]

I think it is a great idea. If I look down the classified list I know immediately what is sold. If all sold items were locked it would mean that you could get an idea of what is for sale at a glance. It also keeps things tidy. (PS. I'm not too much of a control freak)

J.S.

[Willi]

Sometimes certain topics becomes out of control. I recall a thread a few months ago about "the biggest lies in hifi" (or something like that). It spanned 7 or 8 pages in a couple of days, and served no point after page 3.

[Shonver]

I think it is a great idea. If I look down the classified list I know immediately what is sold. If all sold items were locked it would mean that you could get an idea of what is for sale at a glance. It also keeps things tidy. (PS. I'm not too much of a control freak)

It would be great to be able to edit the thread topic and add a *SOLD* tag.

[Family_Dog]

That can be done - at least upon request of the original author. Just say the word...

One wonders why anyone would want to discuss the article mentioned in the opening post here anyway, it was not an item actually even advertised here. What is there further to discuss on it?


-F_D

[Shonver]

What is there further to discuss on it?

missed opportunities...?

[BigWoodenSpoon]

I think its time to lock this thread 

[naughty]

oh i dunno - in terms of missed opportunities if an item is gone then its gone - you cant have it resurrected so you can go back to buy it unless you own a Delorean with a flux capacitor 

about closing a sale topic - if the item is gone then it makes sense to lock it cos you wont have people coming back to the topic 6 months later asking "is this available still" - or PM'ing you with offers 6 months after its gone - the instant you get a response on the thread stating that an item is sold i think its perfectly valid for a thread to be locked

if a person wants to know why it wasnt specifically sold to them because of ongoing negotiation then they can keep it to PM IMHO ..... no need to air lots of extraneous matters in public

[GearSlave]

I think its time to lock this thread 

LOL

[Andrew]

I think its time to lock this thread 

Hey, your village called, they-.....Oh, sorry. Wrong thread.

[BigWoodenSpoon]

Hey, your village called, they-.....Oh, sorry. Wrong thread.

Deja Vu

[Byrd]

That can be done - at least upon request of the original author. Just say the word...

One wonders why anyone would want to discuss the article mentioned in the opening post here anyway, it was not an item actually even advertised here. What is there further to discuss on it?


-F_D

well one reason may be if the seller gave a different story to another member ... Sales do have the possibility of falling through...

Why not leave it open though? If there is no reason to discuss it further then surely the natural flow of events will mean that people don't post in the thread again?

[Family_Dog]

Regardless, I would only lock the thread if requested to do so by the original author. In the case above, this item was not even advertised here, Shaun merely brought it to our attention as he had seen it advertised elsewhere, so there would hardly have been any further discussion here.


Anyway, point taken. If requested to do so, then so be it. If not, feel free to add further comments to a particular thread.


-F_D