Thread closing is getting way out of Hand

Yep, that's a perennial problem, but further to what I was saying last post, I don't think there's any real solution to it
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...except inamuch as the forum denizens learn to trust the mods. Trust is essential, IMO and these guys are going the right way about earning my trust: ie. by engaging in reasoned debate, being transparent, frankly admitting it when they are wrong, and being reluctant to ban people.

Of course they won't always make the right decision (they are human) but it looks to me as if their intentions are good

Like I said before, rigid rule enforcement is a tactic used by the very worst kind of Mod. So be careful what you wish for...

An extreme example: one Mod I knew would instantly ban everybody he disliked, or who knew too much about him, or who disagreed with him, on one pretext or another, including "being disrespectful to a mod" and "questioning my judgement" (in the case of those who suggested that he was not being wholly impartial when he banned the other people) He was eventually exposed as a bully (amongst other things) and was banned . He thereafter set up his own forum exclusively populated by sycophants who believed his stories about being victimised, and he used this as a base to disseminate libel against the very same people he'd victimised before. Sadly, these "poor me" hate stories remained credible because the kind-heated Admin allowed him to pretend that he'd left the other forum voluntarily, and only a few (self included) knew the truth of the matter.

Point is, this kind of person sets out to appear very righteous, and often succeeds. He makes himself look "good" by the simple ploy of making others look "bad". Your policy wouldn't do anything to curtail that kind of Mod, especially not if there's a rule against criticizing Mods!

Some people will always cry "favouritism". But if they can do so, and get away with it, i find that very reassuring I don't think we have any Mad Dictators here (and believe me, they are surprisingly common)

jay