Should the Alanland thread be unlocked?

[webny99]

If a thread goes off the rails, delete the last few pages and continue where you left off, unless the derailment is off-topic but not rule-breaking and it's a thread that can't be permanently derailed (e.g. generic state threads, de facto userspace threads), in which case leave it there and someone will post the next on topic post when the time comes.

I'm not sure this is the right place to be expressing these opinions, but...

I don't believe posts should be deleted, especially in large quantities. If there's pages of off-topic discussion, those should be moved to a new thread, not deleted. Threads that go majorly off the rails (beyond off-topic into rules violation) could be addressed with a temporary lock.

[kphoger]

I am generally against locking threads by non-troll users, other than technical locks from moving a thread from one board to another. "Threads you'll never see on aaroads.com" being one major offender, which is why the "aaroads.com in 1964/2014" threads and the "changing one letter of a thread title" exist to replace them.

If a thread goes off the rails, delete the last few pages and continue where you left off, unless the derailment is off-topic but not rule-breaking and it's a thread that can't be permanently derailed (e.g. generic state threads, de facto userspace threads), in which case leave it there and someone will post the next on topic post when the time comes.

Worst of road signs should also not have been locked; my decision would have been to rename to "Bad road signs" and for the new-at-the-time worst of the worst thread to house the truly bad ones.

The two where locking was the correct decision were Alanland and the really long DST thread in whichever year it was.

That's what happened to the Penn Turnpike thread, last few pages were deleted, but it was also locked. And I didn't even take part in the Canadian Politics Discussion that ran off the rails for 2 pages later.

My decision would have been to delete the posts that were deleted and to keep the thread open from where it left off.

I like how your edit now makes it look like you replied to a post from the future.

[hotdogPi]

If a thread goes off the rails, delete the last few pages and continue where you left off, unless the derailment is off-topic but not rule-breaking and it's a thread that can't be permanently derailed (e.g. generic state threads, de facto userspace threads), in which case leave it there and someone will post the next on topic post when the time comes.

I'm not sure this is the right place to be expressing these opinions, but...

I don't believe posts should be deleted, especially in large quantities. If there's pages of off-topic discussion, those should be moved to a new thread, not deleted. Threads that go majorly off the rails (beyond off-topic into rules violation) could be addressed with a temporary lock.

If the off-topic posts fit into an existing thread, merge them with that thread unless it would cause timestamp confusion. If it's a legitimate topic without a thread, create a new thread. If it's just silliness (and it doesn't fall under my exception above) or it's political/personal attacks/DST, delete them.

[Roadgeekteen]

I actually don't believe in locking threads or deleting posts. Especially deletions, I believe that all posts should be avalible for us to look back on in the future. Even if it's off topic silliness. This forum is small enough that I trust that people can keep it somewhat civil, and if rules are broken, warnings and bans can be handed out.

[Max Rockatansky]

I actually don't believe in locking threads or deleting posts. Especially deletions, I believe that all posts should be avalible for us to look back on in the future. Even if it's off topic silliness. This forum is small enough that I trust that people can keep it somewhat civil, and if rules are broken, warnings and bans can be handed out.

Civil?  Did you miss out entirely on the war of flat plains of Illinois?

[Roadgeekteen]

I actually don't believe in locking threads or deleting posts. Especially deletions, I believe that all posts should be avalible for us to look back on in the future. Even if it's off topic silliness. This forum is small enough that I trust that people can keep it somewhat civil, and if rules are broken, warnings and bans can be handed out.

Civil?  Did you miss out entirely on the war of flat plains of Illinois?

Civil enough. I'm fine with arguing on the internet as long as it's not serious personal attacks or something.

[MultiMillionMiler]

I actually don't believe in locking threads or deleting posts. Especially deletions, I believe that all posts should be avalible for us to look back on in the future. Even if it's off topic silliness. This forum is small enough that I trust that people can keep it somewhat civil, and if rules are broken, warnings and bans can be handed out.

Civil?  Did you miss out entirely on the war of flat plains of Illinois?

People have been civil enough toward me, even with my most "outlandish plans" and I appreciate that respect, oh wait that wasn't me being quoted, I may as well say this anyway.

As for thread locking, the thread in question should be deleted otherwise it just leads to posting about it in other threads and sometimes refiring up the debate/issue. I agree with simply deleting the off topic posts without locking, but whatever the criteria for locks are, any locked ones should be permanently deleted.

[Roadgeekteen]

I actually don't believe in locking threads or deleting posts. Especially deletions, I believe that all posts should be avalible for us to look back on in the future. Even if it's off topic silliness. This forum is small enough that I trust that people can keep it somewhat civil, and if rules are broken, warnings and bans can be handed out.

Civil?  Did you miss out entirely on the war of flat plains of Illinois?

People have been civil enough toward me, even with my most "outlandish plans" and I appreciate that respect, oh wait that wasn't me being quoted, I may as well say this anyway.

As for thread locking, the thread in question should be deleted otherwise it just leads to posting about it in other threads and sometimes refiring up the debate/issue. I agree with simply deleting the off topic posts without locking, but whatever the criteria for locks are, any locked ones should be permanently deleted.

Deleting posts is:

[Max Rockatansky]

I actually don't believe in locking threads or deleting posts. Especially deletions, I believe that all posts should be avalible for us to look back on in the future. Even if it's off topic silliness. This forum is small enough that I trust that people can keep it somewhat civil, and if rules are broken, warnings and bans can be handed out.

Civil?  Did you miss out entirely on the war of flat plains of Illinois?

People have been civil enough toward me, even with my most "outlandish plans" and I appreciate that respect, oh wait that wasn't me being quoted, I may as well say this anyway.

Try attempting to convince the world Illinois isn't flat while laying on a car horn for every minor infraction they make.

[Scott5114]

Locking threads rather than deleting them has the benefit of transparency, so anyone can see what the conditions were that caused a thread to be locked. We usually only delete posts if leaving them in place would negatively impact the comity of the forum, or it's a distraction from the main subject of a thread that would clearly not justify being carried on in its own thread (e.g. a petty argument). (And even then, what is deleted is not truly deleted, just set to be non-visible, so we can restore it if there is a need to.)

Generally people have the good sense to not bring up subjects from locked or deleted threads afterward. Those that don't are compelled to stop doing so, in one way or another, pretty quickly.

[Roadgeekteen]

Yes is now winning by a 56-43 margin. In the election world (I am also an election/politics geek), that is a likely margin. For comparison, this is a similar margin to Trump's win in South Carolina (not going further into politics here).

[hotdogPi]

Yes is now winning by a 56-43 margin. In the election world (I am also an election/politics geek), that is a likely margin. For comparison, this is a similar margin to Trump's win in South Carolina (not going further into politics here).

And still not enough for cloture or an executive veto.

[kphoger]

Locking threads rather than deleting them has the benefit of transparency, so anyone can see what the conditions were that caused a thread to be locked.

That's why I'm in favor of temp-locks to let everyone cool down, rather than perma-locks (as long as the whole topic isn't taboo, like DST or a certain right-wing radio host).

[JoePCool14]

Locking threads rather than deleting them has the benefit of transparency, so anyone can see what the conditions were that caused a thread to be locked.

That's why I'm in favor of temp-locks to let everyone cool down, rather than perma-locks (as long as the whole topic isn't taboo, like DST or a certain right-wing radio host).

Case-by-case basis. I can see a thread being reopened the same chaos that was there when it was closed, but I definitely agree that it should be tried.

Yes is now winning by a 56-43 margin. In the election world (I am also an election/politics geek), that is a likely margin. For comparison, this is a similar margin to Trump's win in South Carolina (not going further into politics here).

Mate, if you really wanna talk Alanland and come up with lore, make a YouTube video or something. No one's stopping you from discussing it on other platforms.

[Scott5114]

Locking threads rather than deleting them has the benefit of transparency, so anyone can see what the conditions were that caused a thread to be locked.

That's why I'm in favor of temp-locks to let everyone cool down, rather than perma-locks (as long as the whole topic isn't taboo, like DST or a certain right-wing radio host).

I think an uncertain right-wing radio host would be more entertaining. "I think we should lower taxes...maybe...I dunno, what do you guys think?"

[Roadgeekteen]

Locking threads rather than deleting them has the benefit of transparency, so anyone can see what the conditions were that caused a thread to be locked.

That's why I'm in favor of temp-locks to let everyone cool down, rather than perma-locks (as long as the whole topic isn't taboo, like DST or a certain right-wing radio host).

I still don't get why we keep fighting over daylight savings time. I honestly don't think about it much.

[jp the roadgeek]

Locking threads rather than deleting them has the benefit of transparency, so anyone can see what the conditions were that caused a thread to be locked.

That's why I'm in favor of temp-locks to let everyone cool down, rather than perma-locks (as long as the whole topic isn't taboo, like DST or a certain right-wing radio host).

I still don't get why we keep fighting over daylight savings time. I honestly don't think about it much.

The only times we think about DST are early November and mid-March.  Otherwise, it's rarely discussed. Political radio hosts only seem to be discussed leading up to an election, or if one says something outlandish or is involved in a scandal.

[hotdogPi]

Political radio hosts only seem to be discussed leading up to an election, or if one says something outlandish or is involved in a scandal.

I think this comment was referring to Rush Limbaugh, where the thread was created due to his death.

Unrelated, we do have a conservative radio (or is it TV) host on this forum, but he's a very infrequent poster. I do believe he is famous enough for a Wikipedia article.

[kphoger]

Political radio hosts only seem to be discussed leading up to an election, or if one says something outlandish or is involved in a scandal.

I think this comment was referring to Rush Limbaugh, where the thread was created due to his death.

Yes, and I assumed everyone would get the reference.

[hbelkins]

Unrelated, we do have a conservative radio (or is it TV) host on this forum, but he's a very infrequent poster. I do believe he is famous enough for a Wikipedia article.

Who?

The only times we think about DST are early November and mid-March.  Otherwise, it's rarely discussed. Political radio hosts only seem to be discussed leading up to an election, or if one says something outlandish or is involved in a scandal.

Actually, I think about it all winter long, usually in the context of "it gets dark so depressingly early, I sure wish we had DST year-round so it would stay daylight later in the afternoons."

[hotdogPi]

Unrelated, we do have a conservative radio (or is it TV) host on this forum, but he's a very infrequent poster. I do believe he is famous enough for a Wikipedia article.

Who?

I don't remember his name, but he's from Georgia, his personal text says that yes, he is the same person as the famous one, and I believe but can't guarantee that his username is his real first and last name. His avatar is circular, maybe one of the old toll roads?

[webny99]

... his personal text says that yes, he is the same person as the famous one ...

That's a massive red flag that it is in fact not the same person as the famous one.

Very similar situation to when someone had us fooled into thinking they were the oldest forum member and well into their 90's, and with a little research, it turned out that wasn't the case at all.

[hotdogPi]

... his personal text says that yes, he is the same person as the famous one ...

That's a massive red flag that it is in fact not the same person as the famous one.

Very similar situation to when someone had us fooled into thinking they were the oldest forum member and well into their 90's, and with a little research, it turned out that wasn't the case at all.

Ken Jennings's posts identified himself as the one on Jeopardy, and it was real.

[webny99]

Ken Jennings's posts identified himself as the one on Jeopardy, and it was real.

Noting it in passing in a post is less suspect than putting in your profile, which draws attention to it. And we know Jennings created an account and posted here because he's also an author and was writing about the roadgeek community.

I don't like to be the guy that questions this type of stuff, but you can never be too sure on the internet.

[kphoger]

Unrelated, we do have a conservative radio (or is it TV) host on this forum, but he's a very infrequent poster. I do believe he is famous enough for a Wikipedia article.

Ken Jennings's posts identified himself as the one on Jeopardy, and it was real.

Well, obviously Ken Jennings isn't the person whose name you couldn't remember (or else you wouldn't have posted it), but allow me to mention that he's a registered Democrat and avid conservative-hater on social media.