Now here is what I think is a really cool idea for controlling the proliferation of acrimonious threads that go on and on and on and on and on.....
Instead of starting a thread at Post #1 and proceeding sequentially forward to an unknown number of posts, why not limit various types of threads ahead of time to a specific maximum number of posts...and count down to ZERO!
For instance:
Music thread - Starts at post 35, counts down to Zero, then ends automatically.
Obit thread - Starts at post 50, counts down to Zero, then ends automatically.
Joke thread - Starts at post 43, counts down to Zero, then ends automatically.
Political thread - Starts at post 200, counts down...etc...
Scatological thread - Starts at post 10, counts down...etc..
Thread complaining about the forum - Starts at post 15, counts down...ect..
Mother of all BS threads - immediately starts counting backwards from present score toward Zero, counting in tens instead of ones, and ends at Zero. That would kill it in about 3 months, I figure, and good f*cking riddance!
Shatner threads - start around 900, count down toward Zero.
You see? Elegant and simple, controls unwanted thread spread, and encourages people to say what they have to say fast and get it over with! Prevents endless disputes between people who won't quit.