Should Members be able to lock threads?

[(poco) Sforzando]

This simple point has obviously eluded people.  Why that might be is anyone's guess.

The counterargument is that then there is no direct interaction. It becomes multiple people talking past each other. Personally, I liked contributing my thoughts as an amateur pianist about the technical demands of the sonatas, and to some degree about their structures. I don't know if I'll keep doing that.

[AnotherSpin]

I am sympathetic to Todd's reaction. 

I watched as his (what I assumed was obvious) light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek, send up of classical music rankings and reviewers who take themselves too seriously, was misunderstood by several members (all non-American and whom may have not "gotten" the humor) and the entire mood of the thread was destroyed, distracted, culminating with one member actually becoming verbally abusive.

While it is a loss to the forum for Todd's thread remain locked and not include comments from others, I understand his response completely.

I only hope that the discussion occurring via PM clears the air enough so that Todd will once again keep his thread unlocked.

Maybe you didn't catch the humour and misunderstood all the comments in Todd's thread? Were you too serious when reading the responses from non-Americans?

[ShineyMcShineShine]

the context of being a defense against personal attacks alters the picture I think. This is certainly not the first time a user has locked their own thread in self-defense

"Self-defense" is subjective and this tactic is open to abuse. What's to prevent me from opening a thread, insulting you, then locking the thread in "self-defense" when you respond to my insults and continuing to insult you while you stand by helplessly?

[(poco) Sforzando]

Maybe you didn't catch the humour and misunderstood all the comments in Todd's thread? Were you too serious when reading the responses from non-Americans?

This is all becoming more hilarious by the moment. The non-Americans didn't understand Todd's humor, the Americans didn't understand all the humor from the non-Americans. With so much humor going around, no wonder everybody's pissed off at each other.

[AnotherSpin]

This is all becoming more hilarious by the moment. The non-Americans didn't understand Todd's humor, the Americans didn't understand all the humor from the non-Americans. With so much humor going around, no wonder everybody's pissed off at each other.

I don't think it's about everybody.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I don't think it's about everybody.

Then you're missing my sense of humor.

[AnotherSpin]

Then you're missing my sense of humor.

Lock the thread.

[Mandryka]

I see that @Todd has started a Beethoven review thread where he locks the thread after each post, only unlocking briefly to make a new entry. This denies members the ability to make any comment of conduct any peripheral discussion of the topic.

Speaking only for myself, I consider this an unacceptable use of the board. I don't know if there is an explicit rule forbidding this, but I find it violates the spirit of the board. Whatever we post here implicitly becomes the property of the community and open to discussion. I don't know if the forum software allows it, but I think ordinary members should not have to ability to lock a thread, and that this privilege should be reserved to moderators.

If a new person joined and locked a thread immediately, that would be weird. But Todd isn't a new person, he's an old friend. Let him do as he sees fit.

I saw the interaction which caused this to happen. It wasn't just about missed humour - it was more serious. I actually think Todd did a good thing locking the thread, the alternatives were either more and more intense anger,  or to just abandon publishing his thoughts here.  I'm glad he's continuing to post because I value reading his ideas and impressions, and I'm glad that GMG's owner has decided to facilitate that by giving him a locked thread on the platform.

[AnotherSpin]

If a new person joined and locked a thread immediately, that would be weird. But Todd isn't a new person, he's an old friend. Let him do as he sees fit.

I saw the interaction which caused this to happen. It wasn't just about missed humour - it was more serious. I actually think Todd did a good thing locking the thread, the alternatives were either more and more intense anger,  or to just abandon publishing his thoughts here.  I'm glad he's continuing to post because I value reading his ideas and impressions, and I'm glad that GMG's owner has decided to facilitate that by giving him a locked thread on the platform.

I agree, and can only repeat what I said early on in this discussion. Todd (or anyone else) should have the right to do as he sees fit with his thread. On the other hand, everyone else should have the right to react as they see fit. If someone doesn't like the way someone is participating in a discussion in Todd's thread, I invite you to think about why Todd's writing is provoking such a reaction. While reasoning about effects, it always makes sense to figure out the causes.

[SimonNZ]

Todd has spent years being the rudest person in any conversation and has no right now to position himself as the civility police.

[AnotherSpin]

Todd has spent years being the rudest person in any conversation and has no right now to position himself as the civility police.

Yes.

[SimonNZ]

Yes.

Yes he can or yes you agree?

Because imo a thread on a chat forum no more belongs to the person who starts it than a conversation someone starts at a party "belongs" to them.

[AnotherSpin]

Yes he can or yes you agree?

Because imo a thread on a chat forum no more belongs to the person who starts it than a conversation someone starts at a party "belongs" to them.

I agree with what you said. You have clearly and accurately expressed what I was merely hinting at in my post before yours.

[Maestro267]

Sounds like you two have beef that should be sorted via PM and not dragged into the public like you have.

[Todd]

It's good to see that so many people remain passionate about Beethoven's piano sonatas.

[AnotherSpin]

Sounds like you two have beef that should be sorted via PM and not dragged into the public like you have.

I don't have any beef with Todd. I don't think he chose to behave the way he regularly does. There's no one to blame. People act automatically for reasons they don't control and can't influence. In this case, it's may be possible and necessary to have compassion, which is probably the only right thing.

[prémont]

It's good to see that so many people remain passionate about Beethoven's piano sonatas.

Well, it is Beethoven after all.

[LKB]

I don't have any beef with Todd...

You should, I'll PM you with the reason.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Todd has spent years being the rudest person in any conversation and has no right now to position himself as the civility police.

Oh, come now. Todd is not the only candidate for GOAT here. Who can forget the late Mel Merkel, aka Iago, who could never resist ridiculing every other poster but who howled like a wounded elephant if anyone made fun of him? Or the would-be composer Saul, whose nastiness and arrogance were equalled only by his egregious lack of any musical talent?

[(poco) Sforzando]

Lock the thread.

What fun is that?