purpose of locking threads

[raitpngman]

I was in the lending section and saw some posts locked. Why would someone lock threads? What purpose does it serve? When should I lock threads?

[CryptoDatabase]

When a thread is done or no longer necessary to post in then it's good to lock it to keep spam out.

[Lutpin]

I was in the lending section and saw some posts locked. Why would someone lock threads? What purpose does it serve? When should I lock threads?

Since you mention the lending section, let's make a common scenario:
Someone needs a loan, posts a thread, a lender comes up, filles the loan, the time passes by, at the repayment date, the loan gets repaid and the lender confirms the repayment.
If there are no complications, both parties are now done with the "trade", hence nothing more has to be said/written.
It's time to lock the thread.


Also, that guy just made a good point for locking the thread. Not what he wrote, but the very existence of his post.

People lock threads because they don't need the thread anymore or just no one has replied in a very long time. No other reasons really.

[raitpngman]

How does one lock a thread? I can't seem to find how that is done.

[Exurban]

They lock threads into end the discussion which is their right. If you want, recreate the thread but I think that's spam.

[bitbaby]

How does one lock a thread? I can't seem to find how that is done.

You can only lock threads started by yourself, only moderators and administrators have the power to lock others threads. If you want to lock your own thread, then simply scroll down to the end of the page, on the left of your screen you'll see two options, "move topic", "lock topic". Select the latter.

They lock threads into end the discussion which is their right. If you want, recreate the thread but I think that's spam.

If the matter in a locked thread needs further discussion, you can either ask the OP to unlock it again or just open a new one.

[Snorek]

I was in the lending section and saw some posts locked. Why would someone lock threads? What purpose does it serve? When should I lock threads?

Isn't is common sense? If you are asking about something and you got your answer isn't it good to just close the topic to avoid additional spam?
Also if you are selling/buying something and you are done with the deal or try to lend/borrow money and you completed deal successfully, there is no need to keep that thread open anymore.

[raitpngman]

Thanks guys. Found my answers and now I'm practising!

[shorena]

Thanks guys. Found my answers and now I'm practising!

Thanks for reopening the thread.

Id just like to share a different view. It is probably not applicable for a lending or marketplace thread, but for other sections. If you lock a thread you remove the chance that someone can add a point to a discussion or ask a follow up question. As often xkcd[1] comes to mind:



[1] https://xkcd.com/979/