While I can appreciate a mod's duty to lock inappropriate threads, I can't help but feel as though threads are locked on baseless grounds. Could be wrong on this, so it's just a question I pose to any mod who cares to answer.
In my case, the homeschooling thread. It had discussion on evolution, but this topic has nothing to do with religion. The validity of evolution may be discussed quite separately from one's personal religious beliefs.

After the events of last night. It would not be wise to confront the reasons why. It probably would be wise to not discuss evolution or homeschooling. You might get suspected of being someone else.
Topics were locked because the person involved liked to argue with moderators. Which only made himself suspect and was proven to be a banned user.

I agree to locking threads if they're about religion, but now I'm starting to wonder if the mods here are locking threads just because they can... Not that I have a problem with that, but I'm getting the feeling that even the ever so slightest mention of religion will get a thread locked...

That was more or less my thought as well.

Oh, never query the mysterious workings of the minds of the moderators. Perhaps you did not notice that the thread you mentioned not only contained the dreaded r word but had also been taken off topic (twice). And is it really possible to debate the way evolution is taught in schools (in the US) without mentioning religion? Certainly you can say I agree or disagree but that ain't debating to my way of thinking.

But if you really think I've been a miserable party pooper PM Dark0ne. He may feel differently.

Of course, I really can't blame you for doing your job - it's as if I'm saying "I'm gonna call the cops, but I want to fight my assailant(s) myself". Now that we know the culprit who started this whole fiasco yesterday was none other than >-{CENSORED}-< , it's safe to say we won't have to put up with the same garbage again

You are welcome It was my pleasure to cut the helbird down a couple of notches.

... heh ... Good thing I didn't PM the Moderator to Complain then ... I'd hate to be taken out for mistaken Identity


I was taken a back at the lock on the post about evolution ... but then, being the typical poster, I never read the FAQ, the Rules OR the BIG Sticky Post on RELIGIOUS POSTS BANNED .. until after the padlock was put on that thread


Sorry. I'm a PK (Preacher's Kid) and its REAL hard to stay away from anything related to the R word with me .... I see the "big G" in nearly everything we do ...or at least things that relate to Them ( in the old hebrew, G-d was used as a plural word in reference to its affect on verbs and pronouns, although given as a singlular word ... for example Elohim ... the -him ending is usually in reference to a group of people ... ex the Nephelim ... ... and Dang! I didn't again ...sorry ... I'll lock this post now. )

"The most effective way to end a fight, is to remove the combatants ability to continue..."
-Command Master Chief of the Navy

Of course he was talking about shoving a cruise-missile down someone's throat, but locking a thread seems just as effective. You can't argue if you can't post.

True, true ...But it's SO much more fun to bash and bloody your opposition into a bloody pulp

Here is what I saw when I was brought into the mix via a reported comment to moderators:

1. Report on DuskRider in a "Homeschooling" thread.

2. I looked at prior postings by DuskRider to get a feel for this person to see if there was a pattern or just a one-time issue. I found in prior posts that he was quite rude and seemed to enjoy attacking people. I noticed that Buddah had already added a reply/warning and I figured that I would help out by mentioning that the "evolution" example should be removed since I knew it wasn't going to end well if it did not. I made a mistake by also adding my own opinions into the mix and thus causing confusion. But the OP blatantly ignored the warnings and continued to focus on it. The obvious replies of religion started coming in which was no surprise to me and shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone else.

3. After that thread was closed, another thread was opened up and again, evolution was brought into the mix and then closed.

4. An evolution-only thread cropped up and again the obvious replies crept in and the thread needed to be closed.

Do you see a pattern? Discussions including evolution in the manner in which it was discussed will lead to counter-replies including religion. Read the rules and "understand" why they are there in the first place. If a rules says "do not spray white paint on walls," do you think it's right to use a crayon to color the wall white? (Rhetorical question, do not answer it)

Because of the mistake I mentioned above, I am keeping myself to the files area of the site and refuse to moderate anywhere else.

I don't see where any of the last four topics that were locked were "baseless." Maybe you are talking about other threads but I doubt it since you were participating in the threads mentioned. Keep in mind that Dark0ne doesn't take kindly to anyone abusing a moderator for doing their (unpaid) job.

LHammonds

LHammonds, I appreciate the (unpaid) work that you do, or any other mod for that matter, since, as I said a while ago, you guys are the cops. Without the enforcers, there can be no order in this (online) community. I have nothing more to say (and neither should anyone else).

And that, for those of you who do not understand, will be a price we all will pay for.

LLhammonds I hope you will reconsider...at some point.

You are a light to these forums and will be sorely missed.

The rest of you ijiots will hopefuly learn not to participate with people who would entice you into these situations. They always end up the same way. Which is why not just here but on almost every Forum there are RULES.

You may think that Duskrider lost but you would be wrong, he dosn't care.
We are the ones who lost, because we loose Lhammonds.

Playing games with Duskrider, and others like him will never be worth the cost.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS

<_<

Ditto as Prelude. I apologize for my part. Duskrider/Peregrine wasn't worth getting worked up about.

Some of the conversations had started as mature debates but ended up as a colossal prick-waving contest and a "mine is bigger" boasts.

Individuals who must insist on throwing their point of view in everyone's face in order to make them all agree and in turn refuse (not agree to listen and consider but blatantly reject) to see any other facet, degrade debates until the masses (the intelligent ones who were eager for debate and not cock fighting) become fed up and simple allow the children to bicker away but again reported them for throwing their poo and messing up everyone's new suits.

I believe that's what someone would call a hybrid of a Troll/Ferrous Cranus/Tireless Rebutter/Ego