when do the editors choose to close a thread?

[lord shishio]

Do they close them because of length? Or if it starts to go way off topic? Does anyone know?

[Citizen Bleys]

They are closed for stupidity and general malfeasance

[RSL]

Several reasons. I'll list a few reasons why I close a thread.

1. A very similar thread is currently active. I'll close it and link to the other topic so we don't have two split discussions going on. Or maybe I'll merge the two together if that is relevant.

2. The thread has no point. This is very subjective of course. A lot of topics barely have a point and we don't go around closing everything. But there are a few that really don't need to exist.

3. A thread is over with and is archive worthy. We ship it off to the archives and close it so people can read it for ages to come.

4. Innapropriate topics. Example: If someone posted a thread with the purpose of posting your favorite pornographic picture, it would be locked. Anyone posting a pornographic picture would also be banned of course.

5. A threadreceives many posts. An example of this would be a photo thread. Those tend to get big and we usually close them at 500 posts for database reasons (that I don't entirely understand, but eh.) We always allow someone to start another one if they wish.

6. A thread is horribly off topic with no hope of if getting back on track. These will be closed to end that sort of thing.

Maybe some other mods can add a few things to this. I don't know.

[Psychotic]

When the blood of twelve innocent children stain the lands of Idaho. Also when it's time for lunch!

[Baloki]

If me and Psy post in the same thread as we like Tea Parties supposably...

I think SHlup just think its more armigeddeon waiting to happen, but what do I know

[Samuraid]

5. A threadreceives many posts. An example of this would be a photo thread. Those tend to get big and we usually close them at 500 posts for database reasons (that I don't entirely understand, but eh.)

Honestly, it doesn't matter that much whether one topic has 500 posts or two topics have 250 posts. The database queries require about the same amount of work, especially since each page of a topic is limited to 25 posts or so.

It does get annoying, however, to have to click through tons of pages...

[Del Murder]

Yeah, I've always thought clicking through pages is the reason for number 5. Rizzle's list works for me.

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

The editors. Hah.

[Shlup]

I close threads because I'm a bitch.

[Jojee]

If I'm elected president, I'll never close threads!

[fire_of_avalon]

Bleys said malfeasance. That's heroic.

If I were an editor, I would probably be pretty bad at it.

[Dr Unne]

Several reasons. I'll list a few reasons why I close a thread.

1. A very similar thread is currently active. I'll close it and link to the other topic so we don't have two split discussions going on. Or maybe I'll merge the two together if that is relevant.

2. The thread has no point. This is very subjective of course. A lot of topics barely have a point and we don't go around closing everything. But there are a few that really don't need to exist.

3. A thread is over with and is archive worthy. We ship it off to the archives and close it so people can read it for ages to come.

4. Innapropriate topics. Example: If someone posted a thread with the purpose of posting your favorite pornographic picture, it would be locked. Anyone posting a pornographic picture would also be banned of course.

5. A threadreceives many posts. An example of this would be a photo thread. Those tend to get big and we usually close them at 500 posts for database reasons (that I don't entirely understand, but eh.) We always allow someone to start another one if they wish.

6. A thread is horribly off topic with no hope of if getting back on track. These will be closed to end that sort of thing.

Maybe some other mods can add a few things to this. I don't know.

7. People start to flame each other. The thread will be closed to stop an argument. Arguing makes us sad.

[Rainecloud]

Arguing makes us sad.

[DMKA]

Arguing makes us sad.

So much for EoEO.

[m4tt]

Arguing like mature adults is fine. But when people start taking jabs at eachother, and calling names, that's when it makes us sad.