Please remove the option to close own threads.

[Raxiaz]

No, I will not stand by and watch as one of the human race's downfalls is clearly abused. The inability to actually understand what another person is meaning is the exact reason for many conflicts. It's also why society can't advance as fast as it should. People don't take time to understand ****, they just read/hear what is stated and interpret it for themselves. They don't know what the **** the other person really means. They just THINK they do. If they're right, awesome, if wrong, what happens then? Nothing? Nothing is hardly ever what happens in a misunderstanding.

Misunderstandings lead to stupid bull**** like this. They also lead to fights, wars, and death. Saying they don't is ignorant. Yes, I'm standing by that statement.

This game alone even has it stated that the inability to communicate freely without misunderstanding is one of many civilizations' downfalls...

[Rhianu]

To close your own thread because you don't get the feedback/support you expected from other forum members, is a cowardly thing to do. I can't think of any other FFXI forum that I frequent, that give forum members access to this. Deleting posts, yes - but not closing threads.

GameFAQs allows users to close their own topics if no one has posted in them for a certain amount of time.

[Karbuncle]

GameFAQs allows users to close their own topics if no one has posted in them for a certain amount of time.

That wouldn't be a bad way to change it if you ask me.

It would leave people to talk if they were so doing, and if it got too bad GMs would lock it, But it gives the OP the power to close a thread that for all intents and purposes is dead.

Its a sensible way to handle it. I like it.

[Raksha]

GameFAQs allows users to close their own topics if no one has posted in them for a certain amount of time.

Yeah that sounds like a good idea.

[Kensagaku]

No, I will not stand by and watch as one of the human race's downfalls is clearly abused. The inability to actually understand what another person is meaning is the exact reason for many conflicts. It's also why society can't advance as fast as it should. People don't take time to understand ****, they just read/hear what is stated and interpret it for themselves. They don't know what the **** the other person really means. They just THINK they do. If they're right, awesome, if wrong, what happens then? Nothing? Nothing is hardly ever what happens in a misunderstanding.

Misunderstandings lead to stupid bull**** like this. They also lead to fights, wars, and death. Saying they don't is ignorant. Yes, I'm standing by that statement.

This game alone even has it stated that the inability to communicate freely without misunderstanding is one of many civilizations' downfalls...

You're really taking an extremist view on this. We're not going to start wars or kill each other over a misunderstanding on a game. The worst that's going to happen here is someone is going to get butthurt and block another user or close their thread because they don't like people disagreeing. If someone's so thin-skinned that they're going to hurt themselves or something more over this or a little internet reputation, they're not going to survive in general society. People aren't always sugarcoating their words and more often than not will speak their minds in the most blunt manner, i.e. either using sarcasm to denote that they disagree/disapprove or simply flat out saying "no, you're wrong."

You're no saint yourself, few are and I know I'm sure as hell not, yet you're talking about the crusade to "not watch as one of the human race's downfalls is clearly abused". What downfall? The fact that we misunderstand? It's not necessarily that someone is purposely misinterpreting, but that we make assumptions based on the information we're given and go from there. If we do not know the whole story, it is because we were not present to learn of it. We can only use the information we have, and from the information provided, Katz did seem to be blocking him for a silly reason. I know a good deal of the backstory after watching them argue and I still think it's a dumb reason.

Still, you're looking far too deeply into what's simply a game forum. If this was a political event then yes, it could have extreme consequences. But here? No, not really. It feels like you're just preaching and honestly, it makes you come off with an unlikeable (to me, maybe not to others.) "Holier than thou" attitude. You're just as guilty of making misinterpretations, and just leaping down throats because someone else misunderstands due to a lack of information is hypocrisy, just as you said.

And ugh. Last word, can't back down from an argument, etc. Yay being a hypocrite myself about ending the argument bit. :s

GameFAQs allows users to close their own topics if no one has posted in them for a certain amount of time.

I like this idea. Mods still have the main control over threads but if something's dying people can close it so we don't have huge necrobumps out of the blue.

[Tamoa]

GameFAQs allows users to close their own topics if no one has posted in them for a certain amount of time.

That is not a forum I frequent - in fact, I have never been to that forum.

Also, that's a different thing altogether. If members of this forum were allowed to close their own thread if noone's posted in it for say, 2 weeks, or however long, I wouldn't mind. As it is now though, we can start a topic, close it at will, reopen at will, and even override forum mod locks. Which is utterly ridiculous.

That being said... Rax, Karb's got a point. People are so thin-skinned here that the slightest sarcasm and/or joking is treated as "OMG, YOU'RE BULLYING ME AND YOU'RE A TROLL." It's a social nuance, knowing that people aren't always 100% serious when they say things. More often than not, these jokes aren't meant to be derogatory or hurtful, but are sometimes the best way to point out a problem or absurdity like Karby did. It's no different than when we say "I'm sorry, but you're being absurd by blocking <insert person> for <insert silly offense here>." People will still be just as thin-skinned and still call down flames and trolls. Threads will derail, and the "victim" is just as guilty because they can't learn to take a damn joke. Plus jokes are the best way for us to express our feelings on a matter, but in a less aggressive way. At least in my case it is. ^^;

This, very much this. I do believe I have said it before, if you can't handle people disagreeing with you, or pointing out a flaw in your argument, even saying outright they think whatever idea/opinion you posted is dumb, you really shouldn't be posting on this or any other discussion forum at all.

As for those whose 1st language isn't English - well, I'm one of those people. I try to make a point of using correct English, and wording myself as carefully as I can. I can't say I have seen anyone being ridiculed here for bad English if it's obvious they are from a non-English speaking country.

[Raxiaz]

It's not a "holier than thou" attitude it's a blunt statement. Misunderstandings start crap all the time. I'm not saying we're going to start wars on an internet gaming forum, but if we're not stopping to think about what someone says on a freakin' message board, how the hell do you expect us to stop and think about what someone says or does in the real world?

Completely missed the point, I see...

[Kensagaku]

It's not a "holier than thou" attitude it's a blunt statement. Misunderstandings start crap all the time. I'm not saying we're going to start wars on an internet gaming forum, but if we're not stopping to think about what someone says on a freakin' message board, how the hell do you expect us to stop and think about what someone says or does in the real world?

Completely missed the point, I see...

And there's another snide remark that's really not helping and only adding fuel to the fire. You shouldn't cry troll if you're going to perform the same behaviors you don't agree with

That aside, I didn't miss the point. Karby pointed it out in an earlier post, with the bit about internet anonymity. People act different IRL when they can't hide behind a screenname and a wall of text. Me, I tend to be very quiet IRL, and usually I'm not very argumentative unless I'm passionate about a subject. I'm not always the most outgoing, either. Online, I'm a lot more free to just be myself without the restrictions of IRL's social structure. I'm talkative, outgoing, I have no problem voicing my arguments when I feel that something's wrong, and I more often than not can joke around because people will understand I'm joking.

It's a message board, and you take it far too seriously. IRL there are many more social restrictions, and as a result there's a large portion of the internet population that tends to be more laid-back and polite. That doesn't mean misunderstandings don't happen and people won't cause fights over stupid things, but that's because no one's perfect. You can "think about peoples' words" all you want, but unless you know all of the information because you are directly involved or you've been stalking one or both parties to the situation, misunderstandings are going to happen. You can stop and think all you want, but there's no guarantee that you'll be right on the situation 100% of the time. It's how logic works; you use information given, and draw a conclusion.

[Tamoa]

It's not a "holier than thou" attitude it's a blunt statement. Misunderstandings start crap all the time. I'm not saying we're going to start wars on an internet gaming forum, but if we're not stopping to think about what someone says on a freakin' message board, how the hell do you expect us to stop and think about what someone says or does in the real world?

Completely missed the point, I see...

I'm not going to get into an argument with you. I will just point out this:

You are most certainly adding your share to any arguing/flaming/trolling going on in this tread, moreso than many others.

[Azagthoth]

It's not a "holier than thou" attitude it's a blunt statement. Misunderstandings start crap all the time. I'm not saying we're going to start wars on an internet gaming forum, but if we're not stopping to think about what someone says on a freakin' message board, how the hell do you expect us to stop and think about what someone says or does in the real world?

Completely missed the point, I see...

An internet forum shouldn't have any impact on a person regardless of what is said; there isn't any logical or rational reason to get upset about anything I've seen posted on this forum thus far. As long as nobody is posting personal and/or explicit information about another persoan there shouldn't be any issues.