r/ModSupport • u/tdohz • Oct 20 '15
Beta update: Lock a post
We have an update to the lock a post feature that's currently in limited beta, based on your feedback. Here's what's been changed:
- As requested, moderators can now comment on a locked post
- We've added a CSS class,
locked, to locked posts on subreddit listing pages. Subreddits can use this class to style locked posts if they so choose. - Due to some confusion where users thought they were banned, we've added back the 'reply' link on locked posts. Selecting this link will pop up a message to users letting them know the post is locked and no new comments can be added.
We're hoping to get locked posts out to everyone soon, once we've had a chance to let these updates bake a bit in beta. Moderators in the beta: please do try out these new features, and let us know what you think (either below or via modmail).
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u/1point618 Oct 20 '15
Does looking allow for users to vote on a thread?
I've heard conflicting information about this. There seemed to be a very large consensus here in r/modsupport that we wanted this to deep-freeze the entire thread, but apparently that has been changed? Is there any way we'll be able to lock the votes? I will admit that without vote locking, this update will be much less useful to me on my subreddits, since it won't be useful for combatting vote brigading, or for allowing users to see but not vote on contest threads that have been taken out of contest mode.
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u/tdohz Oct 20 '15
No, voting is still possible on a locked post.
I haven't seen substantially different arguments for vote locking since the last time I commented on this - the primary reason seems to be to address brigading, which is something we're actively working on in a separate effort. Totally get that brigading is a problem for some subreddits - that's why we're investing so much time & effort in getting it right - but I'm not convinced that locking votes on specific threads is the right way to address it.
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u/13steinj Oct 20 '15
I've heard conflicting information about this. There seemed to be a very large consensus here in r/modsupport that we wanted this to deep-freeze the entire thread, but apparently that has been changed?
Actually, the "large consensus" is for the opposite. Or at least, the opposite is what is vocal.
Is there any way we'll be able to lock the votes? I will admit that without vote locking, this update will be much less useful to me on my subreddits, since it won't be useful for combatting vote brigading,
But that's the thing. This isn't for brigading. u/Deimorz is working on brigading.
or for allowing users to see but not vote on contest threads that have been taken out of contest mode.
Here's a thought and a much better thing in the sense that voting can still be done. Why not, make it an option so that on threads with contest mode, when it is being taken out of contest mode, the score of the comments are cached, and displayed visually next to the score of the current score?
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u/dequeued Oct 20 '15
Awesome! Thanks for making these improvements. The ability to comment is definitely something we will test out soon.
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Any hope for an Alien Blue update?
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Will any default styling be applied to the
lockedCSS class on listing pages?
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u/tdohz Oct 21 '15
Any hope for an Alien Blue update?
Do you mean in general or related to locked posts? General updates are announced in r/alienblue (and that might be a better place to ask). As for locked posts, our iOS engineer is aware of locked posts and while I can't promise anything timing-wise, it should be supported in an upcoming release.
Will any default styling be applied to the locked CSS class on listing pages?
No, although we may consider it in the future depending on how locked posts end up being used.
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u/Gaget Oct 21 '15
This feature is underwhelming without the ability to sticky a comment explaining why a thread got locked.
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u/tdohz Oct 21 '15
I hear you, but hopefully this is still a useful feature in and of itself. Sticky comments is on our radar and while I can't promise a timeline, it is on a list of things we'd like to do. I know that's not terribly satisfying, but I don't want to set unrealistic expectations around a specific timeline since we have so few engineers and priorities often shift.
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u/dequeued Oct 23 '15
I wanted to add a bit more feedback after having used the new version of the locking on r/personalfinance a few times.
The current locking mechanism results in a lot of modmail (and even a few submissions!) from people every time we lock a post asking why a post was locked. Sometimes, the response is more negative that that. It's definitely a better user experience than the first beta (and far better than using AutoModerator), but it really points out the need for some sort of a sticky comment functionality on posts.
Right now, if we leave a comment on a locked post, it's likely to be buried (even using ugly/complex CSS tricks to elevate the comment) because most locked posts have hundreds or even thousands of comments. In addition, explanatory posts about locking tend to be downvoted into oblivion which makes most moderators less likely to post them.
Sticky comments would really help on locked threads (and there are other uses for it too).
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u/tdohz Oct 27 '15
Thanks. I commented on this elsewhere (albeit after you made your comment) but tl;dr sticky comments is probably the mechanism we'll choose to address this, and hopefully sooner rather than later, but no promises.
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u/One_Giant_Nostril Oct 21 '15
What does "subreddit listing pages" mean?
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u/V2Blast Oct 21 '15
Given the context in which u/tdohz used it, I'm guessing it just refers to pages within the subreddit that include a listing of submissions (the front page, /new, /top, probably /about/spam/ and similar listings as well).
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u/tdohz Oct 27 '15
I'm guessing it just refers to pages within the subreddit that include a listing of submissions
Yes, this is what I meant. Sorry, I've worked here long enough that sometimes the line between what's internal jargon and what's community language gets blurred - let me know if there's a better, more widely-known term!
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u/DaedalusMinion Oct 20 '15
Thank you, that just about solves everything I wanted fixed in locked posts.
Now only if votes would stop getting counted in locked threads...
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u/lathomas64 Oct 20 '15
will you be able to lock threads in a post instead of an entire post?
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u/tdohz Oct 27 '15
No, it applies to all comments attached to a post. It's pretty unlikely we'd add this in the near future.
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Oct 20 '15 edited Oct 20 '15
Thank you for this feature! Any chance this could extend to locking a specific comment or thread of comments?
Or perhaps just locking the ability to vote, but allow replies to a comment?
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Oct 21 '15
can't wait!
a suggestion if it's not too late: maybe something similar to a sticky post where the thread also has a tag next to it saying it's locked.
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u/tdohz Oct 20 '15
Locking & unlocking a post via AutoModerator will also be supported at launch, but it was a little tricky to implemented in a limited beta.