"The thing is, we don't know if there were posts on that thread that have been deleted and if it was targeted by someone making it their business to ensure it was closed. We never will know but it is a possibility and, if that is the case, it may be difficult to be open about it. Still, I know what you mean :-( "

Yes Dave, that's precisely why I've made the suggestion a number of times that, rather than deleting whole posts (thereby leaving no comprehensible 'audit trail' so that we mere mortals might understand what happened), or summarily closing threads without comment, it would be helpful if the metadata of deleted posts was left in place, but the body of the post deleted and replaced with 'Post Deleted By Mods', or similar wording.

I completely believe in the Mods having power to moderate, but I also believe that they should ensure that members understand what is going on when moderation takes place. Failing to do that is just low-grade moderation, perhaps even abuse of authority.