IB4TL is an acronym meaning "In Before The Lock." It's a 'game', of sorts, that people play in Internet discussion groups.
You will see this acronym used on web boards, blogs, forums, et cetera. Using it sparingly is a good strategy for boosting your post count. When you KNOW a discussion is about to be locked, you can throw a quick 'IB4TL' reply in there, and get credited as if it were a normal post, even though it is basically a useless, one-word observation.
While this is a dishonest tactic, it is generally acceptable to most moderators and admins, and the message is left to stand, as-is, towards your overall post count. High post counts are a status symbol on many sites.
The gamble is, if the thread isn't locked, it makes YOU look like a fool - a poor judge of character. Sometimes a moderator or admin will leave a discussion open, that would otherwise be locked, just to make YOU look silly. As I said, it's a 'game'...
You will see this acronym used on web boards, blogs, forums, et cetera. Using it sparingly is a good strategy for boosting your post count. When you KNOW a discussion is about to be locked, you can throw a quick 'IB4TL' reply in there, and get credited as if it were a normal post, even though it is basically a useless, one-word observation.
While this is a dishonest tactic, it is generally acceptable to most moderators and admins, and the message is left to stand, as-is, towards your overall post count. High post counts are a status symbol on many sites.
The gamble is, if the thread isn't locked, it makes YOU look like a fool - a poor judge of character. Sometimes a moderator or admin will leave a discussion open, that would otherwise be locked, just to make YOU look silly. As I said, it's a 'game'...
Troll: hi just wanna to tell everone hear u suck
Member: Then why are you here?
Troll: cuz yall sux
Member#2: Can we knock it off, please?
Troll: i like to knock u off
Member: IB4TL!
Member#2: LoL! IB4TL
Troll: waz tha mean u gay or sumpin
Moderator: That does it! I'm locking this thread. Troll, clean up your act or you'll be banned!
Member: Then why are you here?
Troll: cuz yall sux
Member#2: Can we knock it off, please?
Troll: i like to knock u off
Member: IB4TL!
Member#2: LoL! IB4TL
Troll: waz tha mean u gay or sumpin
Moderator: That does it! I'm locking this thread. Troll, clean up your act or you'll be banned!
by VinDSL November 26, 2004
Get the IB4TL mug."In Before The Lock": An abbreviation posted to a thread on a web-based forum when the poster knows that any rational debate has long since been abandoned, and will shortly be locked by the forum administrator.
Original poster: Welfare is bad!
Second poster: Oh yeah? Well, you're a nazi!
Original poster: Oh yeah? Well, you're an idiot!
Third poster: IBTL!
Admin: I'm locking this thread. Nothing to see here, move along.
Second poster: Oh yeah? Well, you're a nazi!
Original poster: Oh yeah? Well, you're an idiot!
Third poster: IBTL!
Admin: I'm locking this thread. Nothing to see here, move along.
by Steve T August 19, 2003
Get the IBTL mug.In Before The Lock - threads with no content are locked. some, however, manage to post before the admin sees the thread and post comments like IBTL
by angrysand July 22, 2003
Get the IBTL mug.Usually used in forums where a controversial topic is being discussed. Opportunist posters will want to leave their mark by simply posting "IB4L" in the forum thread before the it is locked by forum administrator.
by halfway there July 18, 2006
Get the ib4l mug.Abbreviation used to describe a last second post, before a forum thread is locked.
"In before the lock"
"In before the lock"
by jkw2 February 3, 2008
Get the IB4DL mug."I Beat The Lock": IBTL is an acronym used on an internet forum when a poster has judged a thread to be due for locking by an administrator due to off-topic or offensive content. Use of IBTL is a declaration that the user has "won a race" versus the forum administrator, who is about to close the thread.
Original Poster: Hello, I have a wonderful real estate venture for you - a fine bridge spanning the water between Manhattan and Brooklyn!
Second Poster: OMG this is such a scam!
Original Poster: No, I swear this is real! All I need is your bank account number for verification!
Third Poster: scam. IBTL
Fourth Poster: IBTL
Administrator: thread locked.
Second Poster: OMG this is such a scam!
Original Poster: No, I swear this is real! All I need is your bank account number for verification!
Third Poster: scam. IBTL
Fourth Poster: IBTL
Administrator: thread locked.
by Paolomania May 18, 2005
Get the IBTL mug.