Please remove the option to close own threads.

[Pharaun]

So what you are saying is if you start a thread that is potentially badly worded and other people twist the meaning of your words to suggest it means something other than the intended point of view, we shouldnt have the right to remove that. What is the difference between editing or deleting posts or threads if someone is going to manipulate the words to mean what they think you were saying to the point that everyone else believes that was your intention in the first place. I am for moderators to be sent messages to remove these points, I just think its an awful lot of work if some people continually change the meaning of other peoples points of view to make them look like they are saying something else.

In a situation like that the OP just needs to learn to articulate their argument better. A clearly worded, concise argument is very difficult, if not impossible for someone else to misconstrue.

Specifically on topic, in general it all comes down to who actually has ownership of a thread (this is in a general sense because we all know that SE "owns" all the threads on this forum). Does a thread belong solely to the person who started it, or does it belong to the community of people that are taking part in the discussion? I believe that it belongs to the group because often a thread can move on to cover subjects not strictly related to the original post, and still be extremely valuable and useful to the community as a whole. As a result giving the power to lock threads to a biased individual, and the OP is always a biased individual, is inherently a bad idea.

There is a reason why there is a neutral group of moderators appointed to, well, moderate the forums. Ideally they are able to look at every thread and post from an unbiased perspective and make judgements on what needs to be moderated or left alone. I've never seen a successful form that gives this kind of authority to all the posters. I'm not saying that kind of forum can't exist, but it requires that the overwhelming majority of the posters actually behave like adults, and unfortunately that just won't happen here.

[katz]

So if English isnt your 1st language, we shouldnt post, very diplomatically put of saying dont post if your not english. Hell why not just say if you dont have your english qualifications you shouldnt post. Lets discriminate against that category of people too.
See how easy words can be twisted to mean something else.

Free speech and respect of others should apply.

[katz]

If we do decide on not allowing others to delete or close threads,Id also like the ability of quoting other people to be changed so that the whole message is copied and not changed ie the whole quote is put in and not manipulated by others. If this is too much traffic on the board then just the ability to refer people back to the original post number and no quotes allowed.

[Cream_Soda]

If we do decide on not allowing others to delete or close threads,Id also like the ability of quoting other people to be changed so that the whole message is copied and not changed ie the whole quote is put in and not manipulated by others. If this is too much traffic on the board then just the ability to refer people back to the original post number and no quotes allowed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS_NGF8WRG4

[Korpg]

So if English isnt your 1st language, we shouldnt post, very diplomatically put of saying dont post if your not english. Hell why not just say if you dont have your english qualifications you shouldnt post. Lets discriminate against that category of people too.
See how easy words can be twisted to mean something else.

Nobody said that you can't post if English isn't your first language, but it will be harder to be understood if English is not your first language and you post in an English forum. Think about it. Would you post in English on a Japanese language only forum? Think you would be understood by everyone there?

Free speech and respect of others should apply.

There is no such thing as free speech online. There are also no such thing as respect online.

And I'm 100% serious about this.

[katz]

I have respectfully asked you not to make comments about my comments. You have forced me to take further action.

"This message is hidden because Korpg is on your ignore list. "

[Karbuncle]

I have respectfully asked you not to make comments about my comments. You have forced me to take further action.

"This message is hidden because Korpg is on your ignore list. "

Oh snap, I can't miss this opportunity. Hey, I'm quoting you and typing, Please block me too.

[katz]

Oh snap, I can't miss this opportunity. Hey, I'm quoting you and typing, Please block me too.

Why should I block you, you have valid discussion points, havent tried to manipulate what I quote, havent broken any forum rules (to my knowledge).

[Raxiaz]

Now the topic must be closed because nothing but immaturity can come of it.

Really, when will it end?

[Karbuncle]

Now the topic must be closed because nothing but immaturity can come of it.

Really, when will it end?

You see Billy, when it comes to the internet. it will never end. If you will turn your attention to exhibit A:

Exhibit A: Anonymity.
*People, normal people, Will act like idiots/a**holes/jerks online simply because they see it more as an alter-ego where they can do what they want with little consequence.

Exhibit B: Audiences.
*People will further act like the above in an attempt to be cool, or fit in, with the "internet click" that is a forum. This further exacerbates the problems in Exhibit A.

**Please note this startling revelation is brought to you by Pennyarcade!

The problem with any forum Is that for the most part, people can/will say what they wouldn't normally say IRL, because it bares little consequence on a forum. Its not that i enjoy this prospect, in fact its rather annoying when i have to listen to Saint preachalot babble on about how the forum should be a sacred holy ground for any and all bad ideas and anyone who disagrees with an idea is burned at the stake as a troll. Or expect a forum topic to always stay on topic.

Its a problem that comes with all internet forums. However if you ask me, the FFXI Official forums are by far the most tame forum I have visited on the internet. For the most part the users you people label as "Trolls" Are the most intelligent of this group, They know what they're talking about and it makes people who don't angry. Because when someone comes in spouting math/etc/facts, it makes other people feel stupid, and when people feel stupid they feel insulted/etc, and a cycle begins where it degrades into back and forth hate spewing.

So its as much the alleged "Trolls" fault as it is the player calling them a "troll". Its like adding fuel to a fire.

So saying "Oh boy this is going to get nasty blablah" is as bad or worse than any actual conversation beginning simply because its throwing fuel on the flame. You can blame a fire for consuming wood if you lay it right next to it.