Aren't 'Open' and 'Locked' direct opposites and contradictory?

[Probo]

So, someone, please explain how anything can possibly be both 'Open'
and 'Locked'?

If I don't get satisfaction here I shall post a $400 question on Uclue
which I shall mark 'Private' - just to spite all the non-researchers.

(I would have used the word 'Antonym' but, as Myoarin's grandson is
called Ant, he may have thought that I was being personal.)

Prob Ablyright

[myoarin]

I quite agree. Fine to have the lock symbol for those who can't read,
but for those who can, it is contradictory to have "open" next to it,
which also could be interpreted a rebus command: open lock.

No, he is called "Anton," always. Hasn't yet done anything bad enough
to justify also using his second name to let him know what he hears
next is really serious.

Cheers,
Myo (still puzzling, or maybe more puzzled)

[Roger Browne]

The question is simultaneously open for answering, yet locked to
researchers other than the one who holds the lock.

Suggestions for improved adjectives are welcome, but ... "unanswered"
sounds more negative than "open" don't you think?

Regards,
Roger

[Probo]

Roger

I have a suggestion:

Why not remove 'Open' in the Status Column and replace it with just
the Lock Symbol?

The preamble in the Subject Column provides a full explanation. For
example:

'Asked by evanl, locked for research by davidsarokin'

You have not been charged for this suggestion.

All the Best

Bryan

[Roger Browne]

> Why not remove 'Open' in the Status Column and replace it with just
> the Lock Symbol?

Before we had the lock symbol we used the word "Locked" in the way
that you suggest, but it caused problems when a question was still
locked yet had a state other than "Open" (e.g. "Cancelled" or
"Expiring").

The current system works well for us because we can see the difference
between "Open and locked" and "Expiring and locked". I've had a look
at other sites in the Q&A niche, but none of them support the concept
of a researcher lock, so no inspiration there.

Regards,
Roger

[Chip Eastham]

Completely off topic, but in topology "open" and "closed"
are not direct opposites and contradictory. A set of points
might well be both (or neither).

We researchers do like our jargon!

_
M
+

[David]

> Completely off topic, but in topology "open" and "closed"
> are not direct opposites and contradictory. A set of points

> might well be both...


Something that is both open and closed can be thought of as slightly
ajar.

A Klein bottle is slightly a jar.

Hence....

<<there must be some sort of logic at work here, I'm just not sure
what>>