Is thread closure a form of censorship?
Oh, I suppose you could define it as censorship if you like. Still, it seems to be a worthwhile tool in certain circumstances. It helps people "switch gears" and turn the tone of a discussion into something more civil.

All the imposed closure (automatic or otherwise) of an entire thread does is prevent any further contributions to it. And it prevents any later - more positive contributions from altering its course and denies the opportunity for any posititive contibutors to make the attempt.

Wolfgang - you disagreeing with our volunteers on this matter is at least a good start. Do you also agree that the examples I have placed here - of their abusive personal attacks upon me - and attempts to incite others to do this are also not acceptable?