Button to "Finish" Thread

Variations on this idea have been suggested many times, and there are a number of reasons not to do it.

For one, the original poster is often not qualified to know if they have been given a correct response. For example, often a poster will respond with an idea that will cover up the symptom of a problem without actually addressing the underlying issue (like declaring a global in a header as static instead of properly externing the variable). In that case, if the the OP finalizes the thread then people may not pop their heads in and say what a bad idea that declaring the variable static is.

Secondly, it discourages discussion on related issues in the thread. One example would be this thread where while the OP received a canonically correct answer in terms of standard C++, there were some interesting implementation specific behavior that were explored that may not have been addressed if the OP had finalized the thread.

Also, threads belong to the community not the original poster. Making it so that the OP can make a thread not visible unless a special mode is set is disrespectful to others who may want to read the thread. The forums are not a personal service where a thread serves one individual; the forums are meant to gather information for the users as a collective.

Quote:

Original post by SiCrane For one, the original poster is often not qualified to know if they have been given a correct response. For example, often a poster will respond with an idea that will cover up the symptom of a problem without actually addressing the underlying issue (like declaring a global in a header as static instead of properly externing the variable). In that case, if the the OP finalizes the thread then people may not pop their heads in and say what a bad idea that declaring the variable static is.

This shouldn't be a problem. What I was suggesting is a message mode that is hidden be default, but you can still post in it if you would like to view the threads. I didn't suggest for discontinuation of posting in the thread. Just a sort of marker saying "this problem has been solved".

Quote:

Original post by SiCrane Also, threads belong to the community not the original poster. Making it so that the OP can make a thread not visible unless a special mode is set is disrespectful to others who may want to read the thread. The forums are not a personal service where a thread serves one individual; the forums are meant to gather information for the users as a collective.

Of course they don't belong to the original poster, but I was suggesting was just a way for those who want to answer questions to not have to sift through as much text to find someone who needs help still.

It could be off by default and switched on by those who just answer questions and don't really have much interest in arguing in longer threads. I can see the problems you've suggested, but there are ways around them, and I think it would better the forums.

Quote:

Original post by Mercury This shouldn't be a problem. What I was suggesting is a message mode that is hidden be default, but you can still post in it if you would like to view the threads. I didn't suggest for discontinuation of posting in the thread. Just a sort of marker saying "this problem has been solved".

This is a problem, because that marker would be a lie. If that marker is there, someone who knows what they are talking about may not poke their head into such a thread and say what is wrong with the original suggestion and make a correction. If that marker is there someone else who doesn't know better may come along when trying to find a solution to the same problem and also be fed the wrong idea. The original poster is simply not qualified to place such a marker down since if he is asking the question, he, by definition, doesn't know what the answer should be.

Quote:

Original post by SiCrane Quote: Original post by Mercury This shouldn't be a problem. What I was suggesting is a message mode that is hidden be default, but you can still post in it if you would like to view the threads. I didn't suggest for discontinuation of posting in the thread. Just a sort of marker saying "this problem has been solved". This is a problem, because that marker would be a lie. If that marker is there, someone who knows what they are talking about may not poke their head into such a thread and say what is wrong with the original suggestion and make a correction. If that marker is there someone else who doesn't know better may come along when trying to find a solution to the same problem and also be fed the wrong idea. The original poster is simply not qualified to place such a marker down since if he is asking the question, he, by definition, doesn't know what the answer should be.

Perhaps this problem could be fixed completely by having the thread be finalized when a moderator and the OP both set the flag? Or make it so it's closed when the OP thinks it should, but the moderators have full control over it as well. (I suggested that in the first post)

I'm beginning to see the problems you're worried about, but I still think if thought through it could help.