Forum Moderation Guide: Managing Posts and Threads: Locking Threads
This page is part of the [[Moderating Microsoft Forums]] series.
Part of a moderator’s function is to lock threads so that no additional posts can be created, edited, or deleted. Most threads remain unlocked, even after a post is marked as the answer. However, there are times when threads should be locked, as follows:
· A thread becomes unruly and gets out of hand
· A flame war begins and cannot be resolved by moderators asking it to stop
· A thread becomes very long and must be locked for system performance reasons
· A message comes from Microsoft in which replies are directed elsewhere (an email address, another thread, etc.). An example of a locked thread in this scenario is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Replies Directed to an E-Mail Alias
Note: You should first change the thread type to a Discussion thread before you lock it. Otherwise the forum engine will consider this thread as unanswered.
Another situation where a thread should be locked is covered in the guideline on Moving Threads:
Any thread that does not conform to the correct audience for a forum property should be moved. However, the Microsoft Answers forums are on a different platform (known as the PQO platform) from MSDN and TechNet (known as the STO platform). Therefore, if the guidance above indicates that you need to move threads between (Microsoft Answers and TechNet) or (Microsoft Answers and MSDN), follow this procedure:
1. Reply to the** **user with the following example text template, but should be customized according to your specific situation or scenario:
** **<Forum user>
Your Windows 7 question is more complex than what is typically answered in the Microsoft Answers forums. It is better suited for the IT Pro audience on TechNet. Please post your question in the TechNet Windows 7 Networking forum.
<Moderator signature>** **
2. Have another moderator mark this post as the answer and close/lock the thread.
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