Closing threads with VIP

[GommeInc]

You are only aloud to close your threads atm, you are not aloud to re-open threads.

Oh, is that recent? The thread in the tech forums that kept closing for cooling off periods kept re-opening... Did whoever owned the thread have to PM a moderator?

If they're only doing it in spam, they're just fulfilling their spamming allowance It's only annoying in the proper forums

[Richie]

Does it follow the same scenario as Oli posted? Where people are closing and opening their threads to their advantage in arguments?

Hmmm, perhaps only allowing VIPs to close their threads would be a better idea? It will stop them self-moderating. The only issue then would be to tackle the whole closing for the sake of advantage issue.

Yeah that would be better than nothing been done at all, my problem is as i said above, if someone spends a long time typing something then as soon as they submit it the thread has been closed. Its irritating, I don't use the feature because I just think its stupid. With all respect I thought it was the moderating teams job to close threads when arguments occur?

[GommeInc]

Yeah that would be better than nothing been done at all, my problem is as i said above, if someone spends a long time typing something then as soon as they submit it the thread has been closed. Its irritating, I don't use the feature because I just think its stupid. With all respect I thought it was the moderating teams job to close threads when arguments occur?

That is true, it's one of those rules which probably needs tweaking. It would be difficult to enforce though :/ Have to see what Garion and Oli think, or whoever is in charge of the VIPs

[Black_Apalachi]

Fair enough but my question is why do we need it? its for the mods and its just confusing, also its annoying when you have typed something for ages then you click submit and the thread has been closed for a stupid reason.

I've been thinking about this since the recent discussion on the topic and was considering creating this Feedback thread myself. I totally agree with Richie's quote here, as well as Oli's below.

My only issues with this is when VIPs use their ability to their advantage in an argument.

As Matt says, it has been a nice extra for VIP members for some time and never caused much trouble before. But like everything else [most recent example: forum filter] there are always minorities that come and go who strive to push the boat out as far as possible. In this case we are seeing the feature abused more and more by VIPs to influence arguments or generally wind people up. Now and again I might see a thread closed by a VIP for genuinely innocent reasons but most of the time it is in fact for the reason Oli mentioned and quite frankly it's bloody irritating - in my opinion it is equal to 'posting to cause arguments'. So even though it's a very long-standing feature, the fact is that it doesn't fit in with the current environment which consists of people (albeit a minority) constantly abusing privileges to stretch things as far as possible.

My overall point is that the feature really isn't needed and I doubt it would be missed.

[Hecktix]

Dunno if you've seen but today we changed the infraction "Reputation Rule Breaking" to "Features Violation".

We thought we could incorporate this in to work with those abusing their VIP features, so if someone is closing or opening threads to work to their advantage within an argument it can be dealt with on this line (whether it be a PM or a warning/infraction).

In regards to VIPs opening their threads, we don't actually say anywhere that it is okay for VIPs to open their threads. The FAQ clearly states that the VIP feature is to be able to close your own threads.

See this part of Garion's announcement:

In addition to this, VIPs are reminded that the feature they are given is the ability to close threads. In giving you this ability, vBulletin requires that you also have the ability to open threads, however, you should not be doing this. The feature is to close threads only. If you reopen closed threads, it will be considered abuse of VIP features and could result in that feature being removed.

If people do open/close their own threads to act as a moderator they would be dealt with by a Super Moderator, again under the "Features Violation" umbrella

Edit: Just to add, we can't physically stop people opening threads as the ACP setting is "Can close/open own threads"

[Seatherny]

I dont understand why the thread Garion posted isnt in the FAQ/Forum Rules? :S
Lately I have seen rules being made and announced but not actually being updated in the FAQ?

If I am wrong, please let me know, but I cant find the closing threads rule in the FAQ/Forum Rules.

Another example of this is the posting warez links rule. Not in FAQ/Forum Rules.

This isn't good for new members as they obviously wouldn't have read the announcements.

[hah]

ill miss it and i dont see why you should get rid of it because of two users lol

[Seatherny]

ill miss it and i dont see why you should get rid of it because of two users lol

Yeah I agree. I like having the feature to close threads where the question has been answered.

[Blinger1]

Can we reopen threads if we have something genuine to add?

Like say for instance I ask "who sings this?" and then someone replies "madonna" (first name to my mind) and then you say "thanks. thread closed!" can you reopen it to say "oh, i can't find anything about madonna singing this, anyone else know?"

:S?

[Seatherny]

Can we reopen threads if we have something genuine to add?

Like say for instance I ask "who sings this?" and then someone replies "madonna" (first name to my mind) and then you say "thanks. thread closed!" can you reopen it to say "oh, i can't find anything about madonna singing this, anyone else know?"

:S?

I guess that might be allowed but it would have to go through Management.

I asked Garion a similar question via PM and this was the reply:

My question was why would you ever need to? The basic answer is no. However if you were able to present me with a valid reason as to why you would need to reopen a thread, then I might allow it.

I am not posting anything private, just a PM in relation to the forum rules.