Server Name: Forum

Suggestion Title: Don't immediately lock threads after staff comment.

How would it benefit the server: I think this is particularly important with report cases or staff applications that are denied for reasons like "need better attitude", etc. Sometimes a user may want to comment further on an issue that has been 'closed' by a staff member. By locking the thread, you silence a case.
If someone has a cause for complaint, once it's locked by staff, it's game over - any further threads on this topic now have a good excuse to be deleted and users to be punished for it. If you aren't satisfied with a staff response or want clarification on it, you are literally screwed, and I think it plays a big part in why certain members of the community have a dislike for forum staff. I think the new procedure should be to keep threads open for longer unless there is a fear of it actually breaking the rules of the server, or it is definitively over (eg. a suggestion is accepted or denied, or a staff member replies to another staff members' report and the user at least understands the outcome).

Potential Issues/Exploits: none

Additional notes: I DO NOT HATE ANY STAFF MEMBERS, legitimately, but the reason for this suggestion was that I made a request for TheXnator to be talked to about being so quick to punish people for no valid reason (highlighting the case of one particular user). The staff response was that TheXnator would remove the warn, but only in the case of an appeal being made. However, that wasn't the point of the post - the actual request was ignored and I would've liked to follow up asking why and how. The staff reply admitted that he jumped the gun and didn't talk to the user/get all of the info about the situation first, but by locking the thread it means that this matter can no longer be discused outside of a Warn Appeal, which isn't fair because this isn't about appealing the warn, it's about a greater topic. It also means that when a Warn Appeal thread is made, it'll bring the issue back up and they'll probably make the matter worse for themselves. I feel like this suggestion therefore benefits both sides, unless they for some reason wanted to shut up criticism or feedback entirely.

[b]Server Name:[/b] Forum [b]Suggestion Title:[/b] Don't immediately lock threads after staff comment. [b]How would it benefit the server:[/b] I think this is particularly important with report cases or staff applications that are denied for reasons like "need better attitude", etc. Sometimes a user may want to comment further on an issue that has been 'closed' by a staff member. By locking the thread, you silence a case. If someone has a cause for complaint, once it's locked by staff, it's game over - any further threads on this topic now have a good excuse to be deleted and users to be punished for it. If you aren't satisfied with a staff response or want clarification on it, you are literally screwed, and I think it plays a big part in why certain members of the community have a dislike for forum staff. I think the new procedure should be to keep threads open for longer unless there is a fear of it actually breaking the rules of the server, or it is definitively over (eg. a suggestion is accepted or denied, or a staff member replies to another staff members' report and the user at least understands the outcome). [b]Potential Issues/Exploits:[/b] none [b]Additional notes:[/b] I DO NOT HATE ANY STAFF MEMBERS, legitimately, but the reason for this suggestion was that I made a request for TheXnator to be talked to about being so quick to punish people for no valid reason (highlighting the case of one particular user). The staff response was that TheXnator would remove the warn, but only in the case of an appeal being made. However, that wasn't the point of the post - the actual request was ignored and I would've liked to follow up asking why and how. The staff reply admitted that he jumped the gun and didn't talk to the user/get all of the info about the situation first, but by locking the thread it means that this matter can no longer be discused outside of a Warn Appeal, which isn't fair because this isn't about appealing the warn, it's about a greater topic. It also means that when a Warn Appeal thread is made, it'll bring the issue back up and they'll probably make the matter worse for themselves. I feel like this suggestion therefore benefits both sides, unless they for some reason wanted to shut up criticism or feedback entirely.