[NT!]

i lock threads where i want to make an example of the thread - i.e. there have been several like it lately and i want people to see it's not ok, or it's a very uncommon problem that people might not be aware is against the rules.

for just boring, total dreck type stuff, deleting is preferable to locking. this is something we discussed at some length a while back, i think it's best for the moderation to be less visible when there is a certain contingent that will view lots of locked threads as a problem with mods, basically no matter what, instead of as a problem with posters.

i don't think it's a huge deal either way, but after that discussion i changed my strategy a bit and have found that deleting results in overall a lot less pointless bitching than locking.