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**Bud Helms** · March 12, 2009, 09:42 AM

Most of the threads you see closed have a closing statement. It may be abbreviated (brief), but if you read that closing statement you will know why the thread is closed.

Most closings are political topics or completely off the general topic of firearms.

Read the closing post.

You said you read all the stickies, but did you read the Forum Rules, AKA: Rules of Conduct?

Some threads get moved, not closed. Some threads get merged with others, not closed. Some get closed because they are duplicates: members come here on fire about a poll they found and post a "Let's Hit This Poll, We're Losing!" thread, while two titles below that, it has already been posted and has three duplicate already merged with it. At some point, enough is enough. We just close 'em. I come here in the mornings and find two or three threads on the exact same event. I combine (merge) them or close a couple. What good does it do to have mutiple discussions about the same topic?

Most closings are from being off the topic of firearms or being overtly political.

Politically correct? That accusation get thrown around occasionally. We also hear all about how we are jack-booted censors and have no respect for the 1st Amendment. That is mostly because we don't have a wide open discussion policy. We try to stay focussed on our main theme. TFL's theme and mission is firearms and the promotion of their responsible firearms ownership. This site is no one's soap box.

That said, we do allow some slightly off topic postings, but there is always a firearms connection in some small way. That is a moderator's call to make.

Bottom line is, if you don't like the way The Firing Line is run, there is no shortage of gunny boards on the internet. Find one that satisfies you.

Now, for example, this thread is a candidate for closing. It is a perfectly legitimate question, but it concerns the moderating procedures on TFL. It does not concern the general topic of firearms and their responsible handling and ownership. It would have been more correctly asked in a PM to a moderator. Not a big deal, but it is a minor distraction from the theme of the board and this particular forum.

March 12, 2009, 09:42 AM	#2
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	Most of the threads you see closed have a closing statement. It may be abbreviated (brief), but if you read that closing statement you will know why the thread is closed. Most closings are political topics or completely off the general topic of firearms. Read the closing post. You said you read all the stickies, but did you read the Forum Rules, AKA: Rules of Conduct? Some threads get moved, not closed. Some threads get merged with others, not closed. Some get closed because they are duplicates: members come here on fire about a poll they found and post a "Let's Hit This Poll, We're Losing!" thread, while two titles below that, it has already been posted and has three duplicate already merged with it. At some point, enough is enough. We just close 'em. I come here in the mornings and find two or three threads on the exact same event. I combine (merge) them or close a couple. What good does it do to have mutiple discussions about the same topic? Most closings are from being off the topic of firearms or being overtly political. Politically correct? That accusation get thrown around occasionally. We also hear all about how we are jack-booted censors and have no respect for the 1st Amendment. That is mostly because we don't have a wide open discussion policy. We try to stay focussed on our main theme. TFL's theme and mission is firearms and the promotion of their responsible firearms ownership. This site is no one's soap box. That said, we do allow some slightly off topic postings, but there is always a firearms connection in some small way. That is a moderator's call to make. Bottom line is, if you don't like the way The Firing Line is run, there is no shortage of gunny boards on the internet. Find one that satisfies you. Now, for example, this thread is a candidate for closing. It is a perfectly legitimate question, but it concerns the moderating procedures on TFL. It does not concern the general topic of firearms and their responsible handling and ownership. It would have been more correctly asked in a PM to a moderator. Not a big deal, but it is a minor distraction from the theme of the board and this particular forum.