[Super Milk Chan]

The ability to lock a thread is a useful tool I am glad we have, it shits down out of control shit shows with a lot less effort. However it is getting a little over used as of recent. For example, someone leaving feed back another party does not want to hear and the other party asked for one to elaborate on a less then comfortable subject thus starting a conversation on the matter that remains rather civilised and with a bit of thought put into it, just isn't a good reason to lock a thread. This is just one recent example of what I am talking about, but there are many others. I always saw the forums as a good crowd control tool. We can to have the talk we don't want to have on, let's say the discord and in the game server without ruining the other users experience. All that's going to happen by doing this so often is move the problem onto discord and the gmod server's more then it already is and will lower the experience for literally everyone. Now I know, you all know I respect you guys, but you can't let recent events influence unrelated nonsense, so respectfully. Chill, chill the fuck out, pull that lever back a bit.

[Foxka]

I don't see any issues with locking threads that have become irrelevant or inflammatory because there's nothing to be discussed at that point, imo.

[Super Milk Chan]

I don't see any issues with locking threads that have become irrelevant or inflammatory because there's nothing to be discussed at that point, imo.

Sorry I think you missed the point, I specified a civilised conversation for this exact reason.

[Foxka]

I don't see any issues with locking threads that have become irrelevant or inflammatory because there's nothing to be discussed at that point, imo.

Sorry I think you missed the point, I specified a civilised conversation for this exact reason.

I think it's important to realize that if you were in the shoes of the 'other side' you wouldn't see a lot of the points being made as civilized. This is not to say that it doesn't go both ways either, mind you. At what point do you recommend something be shut down and moved away from if people are being argumentative rather than holding discussion? I'm not trying to be disrespectful here by any means, just curious to what you think that line is.

[Super Milk Chan]

I don't see any issues with locking threads that have become irrelevant or inflammatory because there's nothing to be discussed at that point, imo.

Sorry I think you missed the point, I specified a civilised conversation for this exact reason.

I think it's important to realize that if you were in the shoes of the 'other side' you wouldn't see a lot of the points being made as civilized. This is not to say that it doesn't go both ways either, mind you. At what point do you recommend something be shut down and moved away from if people are being argumentative rather than holding discussion? I'm not trying to be disrespectful here by any means, just curious to what you think that line is.

My recommendation is basicly the level of care I personally always put into every situation.if it's not sensitive data, not something that's going to harm another users reputation that will alter ones life, and not one of the subject matters that we don't allow being handled publicly such as pornographic imagery, minor manipulation, gore and so on. Then it doesn't fall under the Admins only category of handling what is happening. As for the completely irrelative subjects, that ones a bit gray and really depends on the situation when it comes to how one handles that. The only other time really should be at the request of a party involved.

[Ryan722]

Definitely generally agree with what you're saying. The forums is more or less the dedicated space for community discussions, and closing threads willy nilly can certainly stifle that, which is not what we want. That said, it can be a fine line to to walk between facilitating an open, constructive (even if uncomfortable) discussion and sponsoring a thread for people to flame each other back and forth.

The truth is that it sometimes makes more sense to temporarily close a thread that's getting out of hand, rather than let it fester with people getting progressively more and more up in arms. Ideally if someone says something shitty, off-topic, or bait-y, people would not engage and continue with the discussion at hand. What seems to often happen instead is a multi-page derailment, which inhibits actual constructive conversation and imo mostly serves to further raise tensions.

It's (very clearly) not a solved problem, but I think threads like this are great for people to leave thoughts and feedback on how to better handle these sorts of tricky situations.

[RyanHighman]

Definitely generally agree with what you're saying. The forums is more or less the dedicated space for community discussions, and closing threads willy nilly can certainly stifle that, which is not what we want. That said, it can be a fine line to to walk between facilitating an open, constructive (even if uncomfortable) discussion and sponsoring a thread for people to flame each other back and forth.

The truth is that it sometimes makes more sense to temporarily close a thread that's getting out of hand, rather than let it fester with people getting progressively more and more up in arms. Ideally if someone says something shitty, off-topic, or bait-y, people would not engage and continue with the discussion at hand. What seems to often happen instead is a multi-page derailment, which inhibits actual constructive conversation and imo mostly serves to further raise tensions.

It's (very clearly) not a solved problem, but I think threads like this are great for people to leave thoughts and feedback on how to better handle these sorts of tricky situations.

You had the opportunity to do the funniest thing to this thread...

[Ryan722]

You had the opportunity to do the funniest thing to this thread...

ngl I had the thought but didn't want to detract from my main point....  

[Super Milk Chan]

Definitely generally agree with what you're saying. The forums is more or less the dedicated space for community discussions, and closing threads willy nilly can certainly stifle that, which is not what we want. That said, it can be a fine line to to walk between facilitating an open, constructive (even if uncomfortable) discussion and sponsoring a thread for people to flame each other back and forth.

The truth is that it sometimes makes more sense to temporarily close a thread that's getting out of hand, rather than let it fester with people getting progressively more and more up in arms. Ideally if someone says something shitty, off-topic, or bait-y, people would not engage and continue with the discussion at hand. What seems to often happen instead is a multi-page derailment, which inhibits actual constructive conversation and imo mostly serves to further raise tensions.

It's (very clearly) not a solved problem, but I think threads like this are great for people to leave thoughts and feedback on how to better handle these sorts of tricky situations.

I understand the fine line view, however to me it's just not that fine and if it is fine, it never takes long to make it obvious and not such a fine line anymore. I all so think the words back and forth are getting misinterpreted, we use it to describe a argument with no valued input, but it's all so getting used to describe, you know, a conversation because you know a conversation has to go back and forth to be a conversation. Keep in mind only most of the input needs some actual meat to a comment since not everything is that complicated or needs a paragraph to be labeled as productive input to a conversation.

[TDawg4]

Definitely generally agree with what you're saying. The forums is more or less the dedicated space for community discussions, and closing threads willy nilly can certainly stifle that, which is not what we want. That said, it can be a fine line to to walk between facilitating an open, constructive (even if uncomfortable) discussion and sponsoring a thread for people to flame each other back and forth.

The truth is that it sometimes makes more sense to temporarily close a thread that's getting out of hand, rather than let it fester with people getting progressively more and more up in arms. Ideally if someone says something shitty, off-topic, or bait-y, people would not engage and continue with the discussion at hand. What seems to often happen instead is a multi-page derailment, which inhibits actual constructive conversation and imo mostly serves to further raise tensions.

It's (very clearly) not a solved problem, but I think threads like this are great for people to leave thoughts and feedback on how to better handle these sorts of tricky situations.

I understand the fine line view, however to me it's just not that fine and if it is fine, it never takes long to make it obvious and not such a fine line anymore. I all so think the words back and forth are getting misinterpreted, we use it to describe a argument with no valued input, but it's all so getting used to describe, you know, a conversation because you know a conversation has to go back and forth to be a conversation. Keep in mind only most of the input needs some actual meat to a comment since not everything is that complicated or needs a paragraph to be labeled as productive input to a conversation.

Yeah I think it gets really hard when some people are being genuine and civil among other people just trying to detonate the thread. Then the people who were trying to be understanding are responding to people who really couldn't care less.

I think the webstaff are aware of the type of things they need to do, but it probably will take time to implement it well. I also don't think there eveer has been continuous forum drama like this for over two weeks. Lots of people are just playing the brinkmanship game responding almost tit for tat raising the stakes a bit each time. I would hope that threads getting locked allow for a moment for people involved to reevaluate how to frame the conversation moving forward in a better way, and if it is worth to continue having. 

From your point thought, it does make sense that if someone feels called out explicitly or otherwise they will want to respond on the thread or on a new one until they feel they have been heard. Outside of boring admin announcements it is probably never good to preemptively lock threads, because there of course will just be a response thread. 

Yesterday I was in favor for threads being locked sooner, but from your post and the other comments I am starting to lean towards more individual punishments or even just post deletions. The only downside to that being the forums staff has to be constantly watching the thread or everyone will have seen whatever garbage post is made and will feel a need to respond to it.