So, what gets a thread locked?

[ActRaiser1]

Just curious, and if you lock a thread is there a way to find out which mod locked it?  Just curious.  Thanks

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=ActRaiser]

Just curious, and if you lock a thread is there a way to find out which mod locked it?  Just curious.  Thanks

[/QUOTE]

Depends on the thread.  I locked the one on video games as intellectual property.  The reason I locked it was because it was beginning to become an insult fest instead of a serious debate.

 

I spent a lot of time in that thread trying to make sure that even though we were talking about whether or not taking video games were theft, that I never actually called anyone a "thief" (even the guy who said he thought it was theft and didn't care).  When you are discussing something as serious as the ethical implications of intellectual property rights, it's important not to try to insult.  When at the end of the thread, at least two posts took the context of the discussion away from the subject matter of the debate and turned it towards my character, I decided to lock it.

 

I contacted the VGC about it, and he was ok with locking it.  If you think it should be unlocked, you can contact him.

[ActRaiser1]

Ahh, so you got the last word in and then locked it - gotcha.  Just checking.  I had wanted to post a reply to your line

 

[QUOTE=m0zart]

Moving the debate away from the issues at hand and towards my character is almost as dishonest as the theft we're debating.[/QUOTE]

 

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

 

--Inigo Montoya:  The Princess Bride

 

Mostly for comedic effect; though that's certainly lost at this point.  Oh well, good discussion all the way around.  I understand your point on intellectual property, good debate.

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=ActRaiser]

Ahh, so you got the last word in and then locked it - gotcha.  Just checking.  I had wanted to post a reply to your line

[/QUOTE]

 

Was I replying to you or the guy who insulted me?  I didn't think I owed him the last word.

 

[QUOTE=ActRaiser][QUOTE=m0zart]

Moving the debate away from the issues at hand and towards my character is almost as dishonest as the theft we're debating.[/QUOTE]

 

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

[/QUOTE]

 

Here's what I think it means:

 

dis-on-est [dis-on-ist]

–adjective

1.	not honest; disposed to lie, cheat, or steal; not worthy of trust or belief: a dishonest person.

2.	proceeding from or exhibiting lack of honesty; fraudulent: a dishonest advertisement. [From dictionary.com, emboldened emphasis mine]

[ActRaiser1]

You're reply was to someone else.  Just seems somewhat dishonest is all to moderate your own posts and then lock the thread when you consider having the final say, as you stated "I didn't think I owed him the last word."  Doesn't matter to me one bit, just pointing out that again, not everything is black and white.  To me what was done heavily shades into the grey area but to each their own.  I guess being a moderator entails the right to have the last word.  Just an observation.

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=ActRaiser]

You're reply was to someone else.  Just seems somewhat dishonest is all to moderate your own posts and then lock the thread when you consider having the final say, as you stated "I didn't think I owed him the last word."  Doesn't matter to me one bit, just pointing out that again, not everything is black and white.  To me what was done heavily shades into the grey area but to each their own.  I guess being a moderator entails the right to have the last word.  Just an observation.

[/QUOTE]

I didn't moderate him at all.  I let him have his say insulting me... I could have just deleted that message, eh?  I figured it was better than just having the whole group of messages deleted, which is what the VGC did the last time a political argument turned insulting.

 

As for you, I figured you were finished discussing the issue.  After all, the last post you put up consisted of a sentence constructed of less than five words, of the "Hear hear!" variety.

 

If you want to continue discussing it, feel free.  But if you (or anyone else) would rather insult VGC user m0zart rather than discuss the validity of the principles behind intellectual property, you'll be discussing it alone.

[Alienblue]

Unlike site forums that have HUNDREDS of users, everyone at VGC should (and usually does, I think) be aware that the few dozen regulars on here feel like freinds and should temper their words (just as you two seem to be doing now, good!) .... it is okay to have fun and joke so long as the other person knows it is a joke.

With me, I have accidently offended others twice simply because they MISUNDERSTOOD....and it does hurt! Everyone on here is a good person, there are no jerks or trolls that are REGULARS, and EVERYONE has flaws. That makes us HUMAN. But I like all the humans on here, from a to Zen!

Well, human flaws Except me of course, I'm perfect Alien, so I get to point it out.

[feilong801]

Let me then ask a question to m0zart out of curiosity, as I'm not really sold either way on the IP issue as it stands with products that have been long dormant and are easily copied:

 

You mentioned in one of the posts that when the property owner puts that IP into public domain, that they at that point surrender their rights to it voluntarily.

 

According to your ethics, is that the only time that a property owner loses the rights to an intellectual property that they own? Are there are other things, voluntary or otherwise, that could void someone's intellectual property rights?

 

Again, I'm just asking out of curiosity and not because I'm taking a side... I just want to see what the answer is.

 

-Rob

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=Alienblue]Well, human flaws Except me of course, I'm perfect Alien, so I get to point it out. [/QUOTE]

You know what I like about you, Alienblue.  You're a peacemaker.  That's a rare quality on almost any forum these days, even the nicer ones such as this.

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=feilong80]Let me then ask a question to m0zart out of curiosity, as I'm not really sold either way on the IP issue as it stands with products that have been long dormant and are easily copied:

 

You mentioned in one of the posts that when the property owner puts that IP into public domain, that they at that point surrender their rights to it voluntarily.

 

According to your ethics, is that the only time that a property owner loses the rights to an intellectual property that they own? Are there are other things, voluntary or otherwise, that could void someone's intellectual property rights?

 

Again, I'm just asking out of curiosity and not because I'm taking a side... I just want to see what the answer is.[/QUOTE]

 

I will answer this question later, Rob.  I think it's a worthy question, and it might lead to something more constructive in terms of the discussion.  The problem is I am rushing to get a white paper on reliable messaging in web services finished before the end of the day.  So I might be a while, but I am putting this message here as a placeholder so I can get back to it when I am able to.