Nicking points

[Carnut]

There just seems to be rather a lot of nipping-in-and-nicking-pointery going on this week!
It's happened to me twice and now it's happened to Amsterdam.
Someone gets nearly there but for some reason either it's not locked or the lock has passed, so someone else just nips in while you're not looking with that final detail on the back of the work that the original puzzler has done and hey presto! the new guy gets the point and the work done finding out basically what it is is wasted.

At the end of the day it's a game and it doesn't really matter.  It's just a bit irritating!

[Ultra]

And you talk about my temper.

[Carnut]

And you talk about my temper.

I'm not cross!
Just slightly irritated, that's all.
I'm not going to get worked up about it because it's only a game and I play it in the spirit of that!

I was actually in a position to do it myself a couple of days ago.  I almost asked if it was now open to all, as I knew that final bit of the answer.  But I didn't ask, as I thought that if it was thrown open and I nipped in with answer and took the point, I wouldn't be comfortable as I had not done the work.  So I left it, and in fact the original puzzler did come back an hour or two later with the complete answer and (rightfully) got his point.  That was fair.

[Allemano]

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=15251.msg140743#msg140743

[Carnut]

Yes, I know.  I'd already read that!
It's not a problem - just mildly irritating as I keep saying!

[D-type]

Not everybody understands this locking business.  I don't think the rules are written down anywhere obvious.  I suggest that puzzle posters always use the format "Locked to whoever for however long".  And, because of the different time zones we live in, that the poster also posts "Unlocked" when the time comes.

If it's not locked it's fair game.  Often the second person probably knew the answer but the first one got in first with a part answer.

[Allan L]

Some people lock it "until your next answer" which seems to me to be better than a time-based lock as we are not all able to drop everything and finish our research in a hurry, and it helps with the time-zone bit that Duncan refers to.
I've been on all sides of this - had a point nicked from me, nicked one from someone else and set a puzzle that needed locking. I've also declined a lock that was set up for me as I knew I'd get no further.
As Wendax said, it's just a game - and a good game too, even after four and a bit years.

[Vincent Vell Vet]

A very valid point, Carnut.
We should all try to be polite and do the gentlemanly thing and give the other guy time to finish - a day or so whether it's locked or not.
At the same time, if someone knows they have no further info, they should say so if it's not somewhat obvious.
I might give little hints or clues to help out a fellow puzzler not knowing any more than that about the car.
But someone might think I do, leaving me the courtisey of time to look further.
The whole thing might be confusing to some, much like this rather uncohisive post! 
And yes, I've had a point blatantly nipped from me a while back, but I can't worry about it.
This site is just too much fun to worry about points, if I've leaned about a certain car then that's all I really care about!

[Ultra]

This site is just too much fun to worry about points, if I've leaned about a certain car then that's all I really care about!

A pearl!  I found a pearl!!!

[Wendax]

It is the AutoPuzzlers version of "Non scholae sed vitae discimus".