Can someone explain to me the thinking behind the READ ONLY icon. This icon appears when you "lock" a forum.

 

I would expect that a moderator of that forum with MEMBER PERMISSIONS that allow them to post, should override that lock. In other words, even if a forum is locked, shouldn't a moderator still be allowed to post?

 

From my perspective, the READ ONLY icon should indicate to members that they are now allowed to post in that forum - they would know this before they even enter the forum by seeing the read only icon.

 

As it stands now, when the forum is not locked, a normal envelope appears - making it look like they can post it that forum. But if the permissions are set that only moderators can post, they wouldn't know this until they are inside the forum, and click new topic, and receive the permissions error message...

 

Does this make sense?

 

What my goal here is, is to figure out a way to make a forum read only for everyone except admins and moderators, and at the same time, make the read only icon appear (without having to lock the forum, since that prevents everyone but admin from posting)...

 

Please advise...

 

Thanks!