# Thread closed after not even one day

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022>\
**Category:** Forum Feedback\
**Created:** [November 6, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022 "2022-11-06T14:38:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![petzenbeer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/petzenbeer/32/28767_2.png) [@petzenbeer](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/petzenbeer)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/1 "2022-11-06T14:38:07Z")

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There has the question been raised recently if iNat will leave Twitter, opinions pro and contra were uttered.  
As I understand, every thread is closed two month after the last contribution.  
This question, though, was shut down after merely a day in existence by the beachcomber in Sidney.  
I wonder why? On the first glimpse it looks for me for censurship, trying to avoid discussion.

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**Author:** ![jamesjarrett00](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jamesjarrett00/32/31231_2.png) [@jamesjarrett00](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jamesjarrett00)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/2 "2022-11-06T14:53:02Z")

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It is also possible that they were trying to keep this site apolitical. The twitter thing is really only a US thing for the most part and iNat is more global. And to be honest it is refreshing to be on a site that doesn’t get into all the political stuff.

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**Author:** ![cthawley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cthawley/32/1445_2.png) [@cthawley](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cthawley)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/3 "2022-11-06T14:54:40Z")

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Threads do automatically close two months after the last reply, but they can be closed earlier which isn’t an infrequent occurrence. In this case, the thread was “solved” due to a response from iNat staff answering the OP’s question. Solved threads are closed somewhat frequently in general (though some are left open too). As someone who didn’t participate in the thread and wasn’t involved in closing it, the OP seemed to be asking a question directly of staff/iNat’s plans not asking for a broader debate about the merits of using Twitter or not, so a closure once a clear reply was given that addressed the topic seems reasonable.

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**Author:** ![jdmore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jdmore/32/1116_2.png) [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/4 "2022-11-06T18:06:34Z")

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The staff response concluded with

> [@Will iNaturalist leave Twitter?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/will-inaturalist-leave-twitter/36999/14):
>
> I’m going to leave this thread open for now, but as the original question has been answered, it will be closed if the conversation turns into a broader discussion about Twitter or other social media.

Subsequent posts moved in that direction, and so a moderator rightly closed it. There are plenty of other Internet sites where the merits of other social media platforms can be discussed, but the iNaturalist Forum is intended for topics related to using iNaturalist.

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**Author:** ![jnstuart](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jnstuart/32/1623_2.png) [@jnstuart](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jnstuart)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 10:59pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/5 "2022-11-06T22:59:42Z")

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Since I don’t tweet, I wasn’t even aware that iNat had a presence on twitter. Seems this forum does a pretty good job in keeping users informed.

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**Author:** ![DianaStuder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dianastuder/32/43358_2.png) [@DianaStuder](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/DianaStuder)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2022, 11:18am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/6 "2022-11-07T11:18:35Z")

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When this happens  
[https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/inaturalist-is-down/34889](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/inaturalist-is-down/34889)  
(Comments 66, 67, 72 and 73 mention Twitter)

We need alternatives - like other social media too.  
We - don’t tweet - we use it as a breaking news source.  
(Had to Google to find that thread, since in forum search didn’t find it?)

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**Author:** ![tristanmcknight](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tristanmcknight/32/12490_2.png) [@tristanmcknight](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tristanmcknight)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/7 "2022-11-11T18:59:10Z")

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There are still logical followup questions, though, and shutting the whole thread down instead of just moderating a few posts seems a little abrupt. Now we get duplicate threads asking about Mastodon again today. (Though I am a grouchy opponent of closing threads anyway-- it seems to cause more hassle than benefit.)

Since Twitter now seems to be flailing around a system where anyone can get a verified check mark just by paying a small fee, knowing which account is actually the official iNat one to follow for news (say if the servers crash again, Diana is right) could be tricky. Bad actors will spoof official accounts-- it’s already been reported happening with airline help accounts, like [here](https://mobile.twitter.com/themaxburns/status/1590857135285768192). Does iNat have a plan for this?

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**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/8 "2022-11-11T19:22:47Z")

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Always [good to do a quick search](https://forum.inaturalist.org/search?q=mastodon%20order%3Alatest) before creating new topics. Whether or not a topic is currently open, it’s still visible in the list of latest topics and in searches.

If people have other questions about iNaturalist and their social media accounts, messaging them directly at [help@inaturalist.org](mailto:help@inaturalist.org) or starting/continuing in an existing topic in #general makes more sense than continuing here in #forum-feedback.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/thread-closed-after-not-even-one-day/37022/9 "2023-01-10T19:23:04Z")

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This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
