togul,
Let me first say that I do feel bad for Marc, because it was his thread and I do apologize to him for the closing of it, but it was going places it shouldn't be and I felt it was best to end it.
When a thread starts to go south (which I define as likely to happen) redirection is a good choice, but when comments considered objectionable or out of bounds have already been made it is often too late to do that.
If something is caught right away a comment can often be edited out and explanation and/or caution added so that people know what's going on. If it's not caught right away comments have been made to comments and sometimes many posts and different people are involved. Rather than mass-editing (which leaves everyone wondering about something) closing is easier.
As I see it, leaving a thread open with objectionable content in it means that more (similar or opposing) comments must be accepted too, and then we are in a discussion that we are trying to avoid.
Additionally, anything left standing will likely be brought up by someone as a complaint at some point.
On a personal note: To be totally honest here, I'm not always 100% sure that what I do is the best possible action, but I try very hard to be unbiased, and I do believe I have the best interests of the Forum as a whole at heart.
Bill
