Deleting vs. Locking. What's the difference?

This doesn't have much to do with anything other than the question in the title, I'm a curious lad afterall.

Sometimes threads are locked and other times they are deleted. Why are there two different methods of "termination?" And how do you mods decide when to use each one?

Deleting is for REALLY bad things.

Locking is just a slap on the wrists.

Sometimes mods want to leave a topic locked but with a closing message so the OP knows why/how/when it was locked.

Other times, it's simply more prudent to delete it.

Man, I'm not going to lie.  I'd love it if a mod came in here with a witty quip along the lines of:

"Man, I'm not going to lie.  I'd love it if a mod came in here with a witty quip along the lines of:

"Deleted threads (insert explanation here).

Locked thread look something like this one."

...and then they lock this thread!!!  THAT would be epic.

OOH!  EVEN BETTER!  What if one of them just quotes me and says "^^^That"?!  BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

"

"Man, I'm not going to lie.  I'd love it if a mod came in here with a witty quip along the lines of:

"Deleted threads (insert explanation here).

Locked thread look something like this one."

...and then they lock this thread!!!  THAT would be epic.

OOH!  EVEN BETTER!  What if one of them just quotes me and says "^^^That"?!  BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

"

Locked topics tend to be locked so A.) The OP can see the closing message of the Mod and B.) It can be an example for the rest of the community on why and what topics will get locked.

Deleted topics tend to be deleted because A.) The may be just pure spam, Eg an advertising topic, where locking a topic still shows the advert link and B.) Its pushed the boundries so far it needs nuking, now.

When a topic is locked, you can still read the FUCKING HILARIOUS random shit people put up... like this: http://www.giantbomb.com/forums/general-discussion/30/how-do-you-become-a-reviewer-here/221010/#12

... I seriously couldn't stop laughing at the 'fan fic'

"Locked topics tend to be locked so A.) The OP can see the closing message of the Mod and B.) It can be an example for the rest of the community on why and what topics will get locked.

Deleted topics tend to be deleted because A.) The may be just pure spam, Eg an advertising topic, where locking a topic still shows the advert link and B.) Its pushed the boundries so far it needs nuking, now."

"Locked topics tend to be locked so A.) The OP can see the closing message of the Mod and B.) It can be an example for the rest of the community on why and what topics will get locked.

Deleted topics tend to be deleted because A.) The may be just pure spam, Eg an advertising topic, where locking a topic still shows the advert link and B.) Its pushed the boundries so far it needs nuking, now."

"Hamz said:

"Locked topics tend to be locked so A.) The OP can see the closing message of the Mod and B.) It can be an example for the rest of the community on why and what topics will get locked.

Deleted topics tend to be deleted because A.) The may be just pure spam, Eg an advertising topic, where locking a topic still shows the advert link and B.) Its pushed the boundries so far it needs nuking, now."

................Hamz hates me.  =  (  No lock, no mention, nothing.  I try and I try......and I fail.  OH, I FAIL!!!

BiggerBomb said:

"jakob187 said:

"Man, I'm not going to lie.  I'd love it if a mod came in here with a witty quip along the lines of:

"Deleted threads (insert explanation here).

Locked thread look something like this one."

...and then they lock this thread!!!  THAT would be epic.

OOH!  EVEN BETTER!  What if one of them just quotes me and says "^^^That"?!  BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

"

Put on a Santa hat, Jakob. You'll feel much better."

Play in oncoming traffic.

"

"Man, I'm not going to lie.  I'd love it if a mod came in here with a witty quip along the lines of:

"Deleted threads (insert explanation here).

Locked thread look something like this one."

...and then they lock this thread!!!  THAT would be epic.

OOH!  EVEN BETTER!  What if one of them just quotes me and says "^^^That"?!  BWAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"Well, my question is answered now. He can quote you and lock this if he wants."