When is the right time to lock a topic?

[Magicalking]

I thought about this because one can ask a question and the first five comments provide the answer to the question. Even when the op problem is solved, other posters continue to comment on the thread sometimes leading to unnecessary discussion. Leaving a thread open makes for good conversations, although the discussion may change if the thread becomes bulky and long. One may not have time to read the comments and only respond to the posts on tjr last page. Often, a thread may be so interesting that it bounces back to the top after a long time. Putting all this into consideration, comes my question when is it time to lock a topic?

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[DdmrDdmr]

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It’s really your own prerogative. Theoretically, if the OP considers that he’s got the answers he was looking for, or that the debate has reached a point where it is no longer productive, he may proceed to locking the topic (that’s assuming that the OP actually monitors the thread). Mods/Admins may also lock topics as per their own criteria (possibly after a report), which tends to be when they are just becoming too spammy.

Personally, I’ve locked some of my threads, but most are I do leave open, lest one of them turns into a spam fest or is time sensitive.

I recall debates on Meta as to whether threads should auto-lock after a given period of time, or a given period of posting inactivity. The general feeling was, I believe, to let them be, since some topics make sense resurfacing after a few months or even a year (i.e. when events have taken place that make sense to continue a given thread). If they were to autolock, someone would probably create a new topic on the same matter in a squeeze. Ofcourse if they are necrobumped for no good reason, they should be reported (the necrobumber).

[Jawhead999]

I think there's no right time to lock a topic, because it depends of the author or the discussion itself.

If the thread discuss about a problem and the author already got the right answer, he can lock the thread even though the reply is one only. If the thread discuss in general, there is no right/false answer and everyone has their own opinion to express about the thread. Some topic doesn't to be locked, take an example of ANN thread. The author can only promote the service by bumping the old ANN thread, if the author always creating new thread about his services... It will be suspicious and can be tagged as shills.

If you found user post an unnecessary discussion, you could report to moderator for low value post.

[isaac_clarke22]

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Aside from what others mentioned in here, you can still unlock the topic anyway if you still have a follow-up question. Just be wary that there might be other users that wouldn't bother reading the recent replies and just go straight up reply to the OP.

There are threads like WO that shouldn't be locked for obvious reasons that price of Bitcoin is changes overtime.

[Saidasun]

The only time that it is suitable to lock a topic in my opinion would be when a question is answered although most posts here on Bitcointalk are open ended discussions and then there really is no need to lock a topic as someone can always bring something new to the discussion. If you asked where do I post about my service and someone tells you the services board then I think that would be an appropriate time to lock the topic to prevent people from repeating the same answers.

[tranthidung]

I thought about this because one can ask a question and the first five comments provide the answer to the question.

If it is a topic you created, lock it whenever you see that you satisfied with answers you get from the community. No matter it is the 1st, 10th or 100th reply in your topic.

Even when the op problem is solved, other posters continue to comment on the thread sometimes leading to unnecessary discussion. Leaving a thread open makes for good conversations, although the discussion may change if the thread becomes bulky and long.

Many topic authors do neither mind to visit their topics after receive good answers nor lock their topics. It will become place for spammers to get post quota.

Sometimes, moderator or admin lock your topic. You can not unlock your topic if it is locked by moderator/ admin.

[sheenshane]

..comes my question when is it time to lock a topic?

IMO, when you have satisfied and find the right answer to your question that is the right time to lock the topic.

For me, there are types of topics to consider.  The first is the sensitive topic that purely asks a question, this means that you need a concrete answer, not a discussion and the second one is all about other's opinions and it needs discussion.  We are here in the forum with various opinions and suggestions, not unless if someone goes off-topic and you can report to the moderator in that way if ever there is.

Locking discussion topics might result in making another one in the future when the events will happen again and I tend to agree with what @DdmrDdmr said, so let it be open and report if there are spammy posters in your OP thread not unless if you will make your own Self-moderated thread upon creation so that you have a capability to delete that you think someone spamming in your thread.

If they were to autolock, someone would probably create a new topic on the same matter in a squeeze.

[Masplanc]

comes my question when is it time to lock a topic?

No specific time for a thread to be lock. It can be lock by the moderator or  OP when the same discussion or answer comes in. And OP can choose to lock it for some personal reasons

[actmyname]

Almost all threads would be of a higher quality if they were locked after the fourth page.

Outside of extensive technical discussion, how long does a topic need to stretch before you've sufficiently exhausted the scope of questions and answers? Any deeper discussion deserves its own thread and most thread-extending replies are either redundant, generic, or unrelated to the discussion.

[Mpamaegbu]

I thought about this because one can ask a question and the first five comments provide the answer to the question.

That's exactly when to lock the thread. If the essence for opening the thread is met why still keep it open? Except the OP is intentionally encouraging posters to spam on their thread. I have noticed that sometimes discussions drift from an OP's topic to other discussions which may also be interesting depending on the level of intelligence displayed by those involved. Other times, one gets to read derailed and spammy discussions.

There are threads like WO that shouldn't be locked for obvious reasons that price of Bitcoin is changes overtime.

WO isn't a thread asking questions. So, it's totally different and should continue. I get lots of laughs reading there myself.

[QueenVera]

Even when the op problem is solved, other posters continue to comment on the thread sometimes leading to unnecessary discussion.

I'm glad you added sometimes because I have seen thread that still had productive discussion after the OP questions was answered. This is a forum and one of the identity of a forum is discussion. Discussion on a thread doesn't always have to be about the OP, some times the replies can bring about other discussion as members tends to debate/argue. A mistake or not so correct answer has to be addressed and closing the thread would means that can't be achieved and most likely mislead others reading the post in the future.

If you opened a thread, the only time I'll considered you close it, is when you noticed it's becoming spammy. Don't deprive others of contributing to discuss ongoing even though your concern towards creating the thread has been attended to.

[isaac_clarke22]

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I'm aware of that.
There are just those threads also that does not ask questions like any threads that derived from news articles and people just keep sharing their thoughts about the situation even at times that the news becomes outdated or irrelevant.
I'd like to give that thread a long read from the beginning of it. I know that there are many fun stuffs happening in that thread aside from the meme threads here.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

It’s really your own prerogative.

That's pretty much the "correct" answer to OP's question.  I think a lot of threads in sections like Bitcoin Discussion ought to be locked after they grow to be 5 pages or more, because after that nobody's reading anything anymore and the thread just becomes a target for bounty hunter/sig campaigning shitposters.  Personally, I'm pretty bad about locking the few threads that I start, and I should probably go through my history and lock some of them--but they're generally not the kinds of threads that would tend to get necrobumped anyway.

OP, glad you're asking a question like this.  It's not exactly something most lower-ranked members think about, and they're usually the ones who let threads (usually with garbage topics) get out of control and to the point where other members have to start reporting low-value posts in them.  Please don't be like those members, for the sake of the forum. 

[The Cryptovator]

Almost all answers here are similar. So hope OP got your answer. The right time is locking the thread is "when someone makes a duplicate post" . Once some other users point that it's a duplicate post that has been made many times, then it's the right time to lock the thread. For example, someone questions what is merit? It's an obvious duplicate post and once other users point it then the thread should lock by OP or should report to the moderator. For the rest posts, it totally depends on the author.

[BITCOIN4X]

I've seen discussion thread can be left open longer while thread containing only information or guidance and general question can be locked more quickly by the OP or moderator if someone has reported the thread as a thread where spammers posted. It's basically the OP's right to lock or leave it unlocked, but if it has turned into a hotbed of spammers then mods can act to lock it.

I don't create many thread, but I have a habit of locking thread once I get some answers that I can consider when I have something to ask. As for the discussion thread, I can leave it open a little longer until it reach a few page with controls. I mean I can report a post for deletion if it's a non-constructive post and is categorized as a spam post in a thread that I didn't self-moderate.

[notblox1]

You can lock your topic when your question has been answered or when you want to prevent other members to continue writing or spamming more posts.
Locking some topics may be a good solution for old topics that are not relevant anymore.

[CryptocurencyKing]

Lucking a thread because  your actually satisfied with the replies you've gotten is a good thing, it prevents spamming for sure as at times, you get same replies just a rephrase with no definitive difference to it, just language but then, it also poses a problem to luck a thread.

It might interest you to note that, a thread isn't solely meant to solve  just your problems. It's actually meant for all, especially those in your shoes or are within your ranks and might have a need to come across that thread as well. Lucking that thread simply means, it's going to be pushed down as there won't be any post on it which might have bumped the thread and as such, those whom are yet to see it might just miss the whole thing. As a result, we are most likely to have another user facing same complications creating another thread and the trend continues.

In essence, I'm saying, not all thread should be lucked simply because, the OP is satisfied with the replies he or she has gotten. Let the thread continue to trend as such and the spam on it would be detected and handled accordingly.

[Zilon]

Most times a thread might have gotten the desired answer but some users might still wish to get clearity on a comment  related the post and end up pushing the conversation on so for me there is possibly no specific time for locking a thread except on the ground of spamming or maybe a dispute between users seems to arise from the thread to avoid complicating issues it could be locked.

[Igebotz]

comes my question when is it time to lock a topic?

And the right time to lock this topic is now!!!!, practically you've gotten all the desired answer to your question. All I see now is word spinning.

[Charles-Tim]

And the right time to lock this topic is now!!!!, practically you've gotten all the desired answer to your question. All I see now is word spinning.

If you meant this as an example, then you are correct, but no right time to lock a thread, it depends on the topic author's choice. Although, admin or any moderator can decide to lock any topic at any time if it will only result to repetition and spamming.