TazG
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jul 20, 2005, 11:08 PM
Post #1 of 56
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We have hit a milestone
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On July 18th, we witnessed a very notable event which should go down as FGF history, or at least General Forum history. We saw a thread being wrongfully locked, for the 50th time.
This wondrous occasion would not have been possible without our friend, our Ruler, owner of Katiuscaa's clothing, Xbot.
Let's have a round of applause.
If you are thinking that there have been more than 50 threads locked, you would be right, but there were some that I wasn't sure who locked them, and I am only counting the ones that I am convinced should not have been locked - there were many others that were questionable.
I have told Xbot quite a few times that I didn't like how he locks things, and tried to explain my logic, but it continued. Most of the time, I didn't bother, but I kept bringing it up every once and a while, and was unsuccessful in my reasoning for the most part.
This is a perfect time for me to deploy my secret weapon.
Little does Xbot know, nor anyone else, for that matter, that I have actually been recording my thoughts on every one of these threads. Now that we have reached this glorious milestone, I will post the entire list here permanently, for all to see. Perhaps this will begin to move Xbot in the right direction, seeing it this way.
*Pomp and Circumstance begins to play*
1. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=227542
Someone found a board and decided to share it with the forum. That was all. Xbot locked it, so no one was able to comment.
2. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=225963
There is no problem with members giving their opinions on who should be veterans.
3. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=225609
Xbot locked this thread because he felt that there was nothing more to be said. Anyone should be allowed to make additional comments if they have any, though.
4. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=200810
This may be considered spam by some, but those involved were enjoying it. Also, if someone brings a thread off-topic, those posts should be deleted and then the thread can continue on its intended course. Xbot fails to see this on many occasions.
5. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=230813
Here is another example of Xbot simply wanting finality and therefore blocking out any other people's thoughts.
6. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=231245
Here is a short observation post that Xbot declared spam. It should not have been locked, because, if anyone cared, they should have been FREE to say something. On the other hand, if nobody cared, it would have slipped away by itself.
7. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=232632
This was an interesting one. The definition of spam was posted. It argued that topics that seem "meaningless" are not spam. Xbot said, basically, that he decides what is spam when he sees it, and proceeded to lock the thread. The problem is that he frequently locks things because they are uninteresting to him, but it is up to the community to be interested or not. Threads which people are not interested in will naturally die on their own because nobody will bump them.
8. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=235700
This was related to Runescape. All that needed to be done with this was to move it to a Runescape forum.
9. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=235830
This goes with the previous one - this post asks why the the thread was locked. Xbot simply repeated his answer from that thread and locked this one. It was his opinion that no further discussion was needed, and it wasn't, but there was no reason to disallow it completely by forcefully locking.
10. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=234823
This was an overreaction, if you ask me. Xbot doesn't know what a flamewar really is. This discussion should have been able to continue. Nobody's feelings would have been hurt.
11. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=244298
FREEWebs page with so many extras loaded in that it makes your computer slow. Poor Xbot thought it was a virus and locked it. There was no virus here.
12. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=236082
A thread about the superbowl that went bad - the bad posts should have been deleted, and the thread allowed to continue.
13. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=184489
This was locked for bumping. Xbot follows this rule without ever thinking it over. Bumping is only bad if it adds nothing to the thread. If someone wants an old thread back, it makes sense to bump it rather than start from scratch.
14. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=247740
This thread went bad, and Nightshiver made a good point himself. Letting it sit around is stupid - it should be deleted. Although, I would have only deleted the posts that made it go wrong. There was nothing wrong with the topic itself, and it should have remained open.
15. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=248735
Another overreaction. This thread could have turned out fine.
16. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=197958
Again, locked for bumping. Not right or necessary.
17. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=251310
Dub-C was posting here from someone else's account, and was banned. The thread was locked simply because he posted in it. I don't even have to say any more about this. It just doesn't make sense.
18. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=251516
This thread was about religion, and Xbot locked it because he was afraid it would be a "death trap". I read the whole thread, and didn't see this, but if it did look bad, Xbot should have just warned against it.
19. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=P83477
This was the thread for posting photos. Reason for lock: "getting old". That's no good reason. What if new users came and wanted to post their photo?
20. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=279152
Spam threads shouldn't be locked - they should be deleted.
21. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=292135
This wasn't a bad topic. He really wanted to know what people thought spam was so he could stop doing it. There were a few "bad" posts, but that ended by itself - but even if that hadn't looked like it was clearing up, there should only have been a warning to get back on topic.
21. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=293659
Xbot locks threads whenever M.G. is mentioned. This is exactly like a corrupt government censoring newspapers. It's wrong.
22. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=293166
This was a pretty good, active thread. But after one single flame ("You're such a loser"), it got locked. Suddenly, the whole thread is dead, because of one flame. I would have just removed the flame and told him not to flame anymore.
23. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=295627
I assume this was locked because of pictures that represented a fight between two members... I'm surprised Xbot couldn't see that it was a joke.
24. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=301374
Xbot says: "Dissing of MODs is bound to cause conflict." TazG says: The existence of mods that the majority have valid problems with is bound to cause problems, and has. It's clear there's a big problem. Xbot knows that himself. And it has to be out in the open if we are ever going to do anything about it. Locking the topic doesn't help.
25. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=304829
This one is just stupid. I see absolutely no reason anyone would think this should be locked. It was just about people's favorite bands.
26. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=299958
Before DeMerit and Blackworm spammed this thread, there was nothing wrong with it. So, the spam should just have been deleted.
27. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=309637
I think Xbot just locked this because he thought there was nothing else to say (again - see #3).
28. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=304595
The "fake lunar landing" debate. About 50 posts in, an argument about spamming started, which went on for about 10 posts. Obviously, that was a very small part of the thread, and there weren't any flames - it was pretty calm. It could have easily settled down, and it wasn't necessary for the whole thread to be killed because of it.
29. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=313025
Total spam. It should have been deleted instead of locked. Locked spam is still spam.
30. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=313399
I'm guessing Xbot thought this was spam because he was uninterested, like in #7.
31. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=320225
Some people started arguing with Xbot about being able to advertise websites in their signatures. They weren't agreeing with him so he gave up the argument. I think he forgot the real purpose of the thread. He didn't like that people weren't seeing his side so he stopped arguing... but he brought the whole thread down with it.
32. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=323530
I think this got locked because someone suggested how to deceive your parents. Just delete that post; don't lock the whole thread.
33. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=298999
The three-word story. Considered spam to others, but not the people posting in it, so it should have been let go. If you aren't interested in a thread, don't read it. Like I said before, if a thread loses interest completely, it will sink off the page all by itself. Just let it take its natural course.
34. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=265614
See #21 / #24.
35. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=329847
Just more spam - it doesn't need to be there. It should be deleted.
36. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=330965
This was asking why the three-word story thread was locked. Xbot said it was spam, but I have already adressed why it isn't spam. He also said that it was a "no-rules" thread. I'm not sure what he meant, but if someone did something against the rules, it could have been brought under control, just like any other thread can. Anyways, Xbot said what he had to say, then locked this thread. He didn't let anyone else bring up their opinions.
37. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=332091
Probably locked at the simple mention of "civil wars" in the past. That is quite an overreaction.
38. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=332983
Someone referenced M.G.'s shame. First, it was off-topic so it could have just been moved or deleted. Second, things like that about moderators should not be ignored, like I said before.
39. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=338848
Someone asked a question, and it was answered. I can't think of anything else that would need to be added, but so what? It's almost like he locked it just for something to do. It's very possible that someone would have another comment to add. I'm getting sick of seeing lock icons all over the place.
40. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=114960
This BUMP was not a problem.
41. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=347482
It was just a spam link, so it should have been deleted.
42. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=349783
Another one that should be deleted.
43. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=344444
It went off-topic in a bad way, so the bad posts should have been deleted to get it back on topic.
44. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=352564
Here is another thread about corruption in the system (M.G.) that suddenly slipped away, thanks to being locked.
45. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=356815
This is a rule that Xbot follows too strictly: threads about leaving. If there were a thread for every single person who isn't coming back here, it would be spam. But when people who actually mean something to the forum, and have been around for a long time, are planning on leaving, they should be allowed to say goodbye. Also, he wasn't necessarily leaving at the time - he was asking people if he should.
46. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=350194
This one brought a tear to my eye. It was the best thread ever. I'm guessing this was locked because it went on so long and Xbot was sick of it. None of the posts were bad; it didn't have to die. Xbot needs to think about the community more than himself sometimes.
47. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=373636
All that needed to be done here was to delete the Iron Chef spam.
48. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=373982
Daveboy and Van Jens were flaming each other, but, instead of dealing with them separately, Xbot let the whole thread go down with them.
49. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=378401
Another thread killed because of Daveboy's flames.
50. http://forum.free-games.com.au/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=384451
I have already explained why story threads like this should not be locked.
And there you have it. Xbot has acheived burnination.
Oh, and Xbot... if you lock this topic, you are ruining yourself. You really are.
a brilliant Japanese cryptographer/physicist
developed binary code travelling the speed of intellectual property
in Ireland.
(This post was edited by TazG on Jul 21, 2005, 1:46 AM)
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