Ability To Close Own Topics

[PaladinPker]

So, the April's Fool joke made me realize:

 

The "Respected Members" could close their own topics in their own forum.

 

 

Why don't we delegate that power to all forum members as well?

 

My logic is this: As of now, when a forum member wishes to close his/her thread, he/she reports his/her own post, and the mod will normally close it (there isn't really reason not to). Allowing members to close their own topics will reduce the need for mods to do this.

 

In addition, this way, in say, the questions forum, when a member's question has been answered, he/she can close the topic saying so, and thus that question will never be bumped in the future.

 

Thoughts?

[Ambo100]

The problem being is that members who can close their topics can also open them. Making them able to re-open their own topics that moderator have locked.

[Joyful Lemon]

The problem being is that members who can close their topics can also open them. Making them able to re-open their own topics that moderator have locked.

There must be a way to make it a one way process

[_Ej]

I don't think it's a massive deal, how often do you really feel that it is needed for your topic to be closed?

[heb0]

The problem being is that members who can close their topics can also open them. Making them able to re-open their own topics that moderator have locked.

There must be a way to make it a one way process

I'm not sure if there is or not (from the way the mod-powers work, I would surmise that there isn't a built-in way to do it). Even if there was, however, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Although the OP in many situations determines when a discussion is over (i.e. Tech Help, RS questions, The Marketplace), there are other situations where I wouldn't consider the ownership of the topic to be completely theirs.

 

After a topic has progressed so far, some people have contributed to it so much that they have had greater influence over it than the OP. In that case, I think the final say shouldn't be up to the person who created the topic. The Debate Room, Breaking News, General Chat, The Scape Lounge (particularly the "how famous are you thread"), are all examples of this. A great discussion is going on, and I don't think a poster should be able to end it just because they brought the topic up.

 

And really the only reason to have it in the first place is convenience. If you want a topic closed, report it with the message "please close" and a moderator will, in most cases, honor your request. The staff isn't normally inundated in a flood of reports, so we'll be able to handle these requests with no problems (and if we can't, we'll promote more mods :D).

Edited April 9, 2011 by heb0

[PaladinPker]

I don't think it's a massive deal, how often do you really feel that it is needed for your topic to be closed?

 

The main point was that this would prevent old, answered questions from being bumped.

 

In that case, would it work to implement it in only the questions/tech help/marketplace forum anyways?

 

In addition, we could then set up a guideline along the lines of "Close your questions when they are answered"; mods used to close some questions once answered, but rarely do so anymore (if they don't get reported), and it just seems that if all the questions that had been answered were closed, it could prevent a lot of bumping.

[Fatalysm]

If you did have the ability to close/open just give serious infractions to those who open it after a moderator has closed it. I do believe staff can see the actions that Mod's have done anyway so it would simple enough to back up evidence. Of course, for the amount people abusing it maybe it's easier to stick with reports.

 

You could do it so that perhaps only members with 'x' amount of posts have that ability. Doesn't have to be a large number but enough to prove you've been here long enough to understand the rules and if you still can't follow the rules then you get the appropriate warns.

[Mr FANG]

The mods don't do that much as it is, why take even more away from them? :D

[Naota]

This could be very annoying and very helpful.

If a person has a question and it's solved, they can close it themselves. This is the only scenario that isn't annoying.

[Azarath]

The problem being is that members who can close their topics can also open them. Making them able to re-open their own topics that moderator have locked.

There must be a way to make it a one way process

I'm not sure if there is or not (from the way the mod-powers work, I would surmise that there isn't a built-in way to do it).

Im pretty sure in user group options you can choose to let that group close their own topics (I might be thinking of vB here), but there really isnt a need for us to close our own topics if you want it closed that badly why dont you just pm a mod and ask them to close it for you?

[PaladinPker]

I don't think it's a massive deal, how often do you really feel that it is needed for your topic to be closed?

 

The main point was that this would prevent old, answered questions from being bumped.

 

In that case, would it work to implement it in only the questions/tech help/marketplace forum anyways?

 

In addition, we could then set up a guideline along the lines of "Close your questions when they are answered"; mods used to close some questions once answered, but rarely do so anymore (if they don't get reported), and it just seems that if all the questions that had been answered were closed, it could prevent a lot of bumping.

 

I'm pretty sure nobody will bother to report if their question is answered, but if you let them close it themselves and ask them to, they may.

 

EDIT:

 

http://runescape.salmoneus.net/forums/inde...howtopic=344812

 

Just a case in point I saw without even looking.

Edited April 10, 2011 by PaladinPker

[heb0]

The problem being is that members who can close their topics can also open them. Making them able to re-open their own topics that moderator have locked.

There must be a way to make it a one way process

I'm not sure if there is or not (from the way the mod-powers work, I would surmise that there isn't a built-in way to do it).

Im pretty sure in user group options you can choose to let that group close their own topics (I might be thinking of vB here), but there really isnt a need for us to close our own topics if you want it closed that badly why dont you just pm a mod and ask them to close it for you?

Yes, that option is available. We were talking about restricting the ability to open one's own topics. To be honest, I can't remember from when I was a DM, but I think the mod power goes both ways (i.e. users can both open and close their own topics).

 

@PaladinPker- I do think the idea of giving user limited mod powers in certain areas only (i.e. just closing/opening) is a bit more workable. There isn't much reason to keep a tech or Runescape question open if the user wants it closed. Of course, there are always exceptions, which might mean leaving it up to the moderators' discretion might be preferable, but I think what you suggested is more realistic than closing powers everywhere.

 

Does anyone know of any other forums where members can close their own topics? How does it work there?

[Ambo100]

Does anyone know of any other forums where members can close their own topics? How does it work there?

 

Stack Overflow is a programmers help forum (which also has some blog, wiki and digg like elements to it) Anyone that asks a question can choose the post that answers the question the best. Something like that would be cool.

[O hai im KAMIL]

If this was to be implemented, DMs would become pretty useless :L

[Fatalysm]

If this was to be implemented, DMs would become pretty be even more useless :L

 

Stack Overflow is a programmers help forum (which also has some blog, wiki and digg like elements to it) Anyone that asks a question can choose the post that answers the question the best. Something like that would be cool.

That's just Yahoo Answers with a forum, how is that helpful for this?

[Lonelywolf]

My threads are quality! They never need to be closed!

 

 

How bout add a timer so when the bumping "time" ends (2 weeks without a comment I think?) the thread automatically gets closed so you can't bump it

 

That would be .. Ok..

[O hai im KAMIL]

That's just Yahoo Answers with a forum, how is that helpful for this?

 

That's what I was thinking...

[Ambo100]

If this was to be implemented, DMs would become pretty be even more useless :L

 

Stack Overflow is a programmers help forum (which also has some blog, wiki and digg like elements to it) Anyone that asks a question can choose the post that answers the question the best. Something like that would be cool.

That's just Yahoo Answers with a forum, how is that helpful for this?

 

It's not just Yahoo Answers. I'm suggesting a system that allows you to mark a specific post as answering the 'question. Obviously it would be limited to certain forums such as Runescape Questions, Tech Support, etcetera. How is it helpful? The idea can be implemented on Q&A and Forum systems alike.

 

Does that answer the question?

Edited April 13, 2011 by Ambo100

[O hai im KAMIL]

It's not just Yahoo Answers. I'm suggesting a system that allows you to mark a specific post as answering the 'question. Obviously it would be limited to certain forums such as Runescape Questions, Tech Support, etcetera. How is it helpful? The idea can be implemented on Q&A and Forum systems alike.

 

Does that answer the question?

 

What if people muck around and choose the incorrect answer? For example: Someone asks 'What is 2+2' and 1 person would say '4' whilst another person would say 'window' and the people choose the 'window'?

[Ambo100]

It's not just Yahoo Answers. I'm suggesting a system that allows you to mark a specific post as answering the 'question. Obviously it would be limited to certain forums such as Runescape Questions, Tech Support, etcetera. How is it helpful? The idea can be implemented on Q&A and Forum systems alike.

 

Does that answer the question?

 

What if people muck around and choose the incorrect answer? For example: Someone asks 'What is 2+2' and 1 person would say '4' whilst another person would say 'window' and the people choose the 'window'?

 

Only the topic starter will get to choose the answer. :D

[O hai im KAMIL]

Only the topic starter will get to choose the answer. :D

 

Fair enough, although like you said it should only be implemented in Runescape Questions and Tech Support forum.

 

I still think that we have now is fine as is though.

[Moog]

The problem being is that members who can close their topics can also open them. Making them able to re-open their own topics that moderator have locked.

There must be a way to make it a one way process

 

There is.

 

I'm programmed some forums before, you can make a user group with the power to close but not open.

 

However, I've only done that on phpbb3.

[Synapsi]

If this was to be implemented, DMs would become pretty be even more useless :L

 

Stack Overflow is a programmers help forum (which also has some blog, wiki and digg like elements to it) Anyone that asks a question can choose the post that answers the question the best. Something like that would be cool.

That's just Yahoo Answers with a forum, how is that helpful for this?

 

It's not just Yahoo Answers. I'm suggesting a system that allows you to mark a specific post as answering the 'question. Obviously it would be limited to certain forums such as Runescape Questions, Tech Support, etcetera. How is it helpful? The idea can be implemented on Q&A and Forum systems alike.

 

Does that answer the question?

Thing is, most of the time (at least in the tech forums), the answer is actually a string of posts. That being said, and to stay on topic, I think the "topic expiration" thing would be better if anything were to change. As it is now, reporting to close your topic isn't hard nor all that common.

[thepope1322]

The problem being is that members who can close their topics can also open them. Making them able to re-open their own topics that moderator have locked.

There must be a way to make it a one way process

 

There is.

 

I'm programmed some forums before, you can make a user group with the power to close but not open.

 

However, I've only done that on phpbb3.

Hate to burst your bubble, but hitting buttons in the admin panel does not constitute "programming".

 

I don't think people should be able to close their own threads, I could see this getting abused pretty easily.

Edited April 14, 2011 by theking1322

[Twist of Fate]

Meh. Probably just another power people will be happy to have at first, then not care. Mods can do it. We're a moderately active forum.