You're right, Bill, but maybe we could lay out why threads are closed - or at least some of the reasons.

Apart from personal attacks and various 'isms' it seems to me (and I'm usually wrong)) that someone posts an amusingly ironic/flip comment, which may or may not have a hidden slight, the recipient has an instant, knee jerk reaction, fires off something unpleasant, others jump on board and lo and behold, a slanging match ensues.

The mod is then left to sort out the pieces of hurt feelings, snubs, accusations etc. Yes, it could be left - and perhaps in the case of deliberate nastiness, could be used to show the 'awfulness' of the poster - but not all of us are happy for personal attacks etc to be left.

I dunno, each thread is different and each closure is for a different reason - pick one! Maybe mods can leave a message when things are getting a bit close to the wind... 'Oi, watch it' or something!