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The new feature of [on hold] instead of [close] is great, but maybe it's not fully implemented yet. As of now, we put questions on hold to encourage editing, but when the question should be nominated for not being on hold, we call it reopen. Is there a specific reason for this or is it just a labeling mistake?

reopen voting

Reference question: What is the purpose and origin of in-page navigation

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    So, I guess my question back to you would be - what should the option be called? 'un-on-hold', 'de-hold', 're-activate'? I wouldn't be surprised if, having looked over the syntactical options, we end up back at 'well, reopen isn't too bad after all'.
    – JonW Mod
    Jun 26, 2013 at 9:43
  • LOL I agree to that @JonW, it might be the correct label. Still it feels wrong to reopen something that isn't closed. Looking at suggestions doesn't give the proper meaning either "advanced, forwarded, furthered, hastened, hurried". If i had to chose, it would be simply activate since on hold is also inactive. The community may have a better label, let's ask them of an alternative?! Jun 26, 2013 at 11:11
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    The label does matter but let's not forget what is actually happening: The question might be called “on hold” to encourage editing but it really is closed (can't be answered, will look like it was not a good question, etc.) so we need to act accordingly.
    – Gala
    Jul 10, 2013 at 10:46

2 Answers 2

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"On Hold" questions actually are closed, so it makes sense to be able to reopen them. "On Hold" means "Closed, but may be re-opened".

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    I could agree to that, that the questions are closed, but we call them something else to make them less frightning for new users. Jul 29, 2013 at 5:09
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I think it is because we have not changed the labels. It is still 'close'/'close votes' and 'reopen'/'reopen votes'. Which, I think, should be changed everywhere too.

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    I don't really agree with changing the "close" button label. You're still voting that it should be be closed. There's just a "waiting period" before closure looks final now.
    – Ben Brocka
    Jun 26, 2013 at 15:30
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    @BenBrocka Ah, ok. So it's Vote to close -> Hold -> Reopen and Vote to close -> Hold -> Closed -> Reopen
    – rk.
    Jun 26, 2013 at 15:37
  • Yeah things will eventually convert to a "closed" state. The weirdness is the "reopen" verb doesn't match up with the present state of the "hold" question in a sense. Though it's still technically all the same thing; the only difference between "hold" and "closed" is how long it's been since the question was put on hold
    – Ben Brocka
    Jun 26, 2013 at 15:40

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