These are the non-exhaustive list questions I ask myself before I elect to shut down a thread. Which, if I might add, happens very rarely.
- Does the thread violate community guidelines?
- Has the thread outlived its usefulness, to the point that further posts serve no purpose other than to degrade the experiences for users
- Is the OP trying to game the forum?
- The OP’s posting history
- Do the contents of a thread constitute a security risk to any person(s)?
If any of these conditions are satisfied, it is grounds for closing a thread.
In this case, I will actually reopen the thread since the conversation has changed, and the thread has been appropriately categorized. Moments like these are critical, because they define the culture going forward. If you would like to debate and have direct influence on community guidelines, please volunteer to be a mod. That would personally make me happy. Of course, you don’t have to be a mod to question what a mod does, but as it is in any community, some people have to be responsible for making and enforcing the rules.