As the topic title says, please stop posting either of the lock icons that are available as emoticons () into threads which you think need to be locked.  Not only that, but if you think a thread needs to be actioned by a moderator do not reply but use the report function by clicking the 'Report' option inside offending posts.  Posting the lock icon does not automatically get moderators attention, only reports do that.  Posting the lock icon, 'this thread needs a lock','lets lock this one down' and any variation thereof only succeeds at a) bumping a thread that is going off-course b) encouraging the people performing the offending behavior to continue posting poorly.  This means that not only are people more likely to see bad behavior, people that behave badly will do it more so, creating a sort of double-whammy effect.  The more people that use the report function, the faster moderators will be able to see bad behavior and take action on it, generally making the forums a cleaner place for everyone.

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