Spread

About

In Before the lock or IB4TL is a images to use the forum threads to response the admin to close/lock the thread. This is a way to show that the thread is incredibly dumb or goes against the rules of the message board.

Origins

True origin is unknown but most likely to use in the forums.

It is very earlier to use than the In b4 x because it was used in 4chan in 2007.

Usage

"Ib4tl" is to lock/close some dumb post by the admin of the thread.

Here's the example of the Ib4tl on KYM Forums

https://knowyourmeme.com/forums/memeory-lane/topics/6063-creative-the-internet-can-now-find-stars

There is also a video from YT:

Update: The user "Nick" notified me of a link showing "IBTL" being used in late 2002 on an Xbox forum. http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=138756

The year origin has been updated from 2003 to 2002.