Arbitrarily closing a particular thread because of the path of discussion (provided that it's not grossly off-topic), or select content that is in conflict with the stated Rules punishes the Forum as a whole whereas taking action against those who cause the thread to be closed would be more appropriate.

*Dismount

An understandable perspective. Generally we close threads when the conversation breaks several board rules and a significant number of posters are complicit in the bad behavior. Essentially, threads get closed because we don't think any decent conversation can be salvaged.

You don't go by that system threads are closed to easily for bad reasons. Moderators should only be around for handling "Trolls" (which most moderators on other boards typically do) because everything else is pointless showing off of power. Many threads should be closed by those guidelines.

If you want to make these boards a better place you should handle trolls and nothing more.

Your right...people should be able to swear while personally attacking each other for posting complete nonsense in the wrong thread.

sarcasm

That's not the way it works here and that isn't going to change.

Whoa, what's with the tree structure I'm seeing when I open a thread? Did I accidentally change one of my personal settings or is that a new change because, I have to admit, it makes this forum incredibly difficult to read.

I think i know what happened. You see the orange at the top, like where the title of the topic is. If you see "Options" click it, and a menu will drop down, click "Switch to Standard".
Right now you are probably in Outline.

Whew. Thank you. I have no idea how that happened.

Sometimes when the forum is running very slowly it will load in outline mode for me as well. If I refresh the page it usually goes away and loads in the standard mode. That may be what's happening to you Propp16

Could be. I don't remember clicking any buttons. Thank you guys for the advice. I'm glad I got it switched back. It's way easier to read this way.

I like the Linear view best, it's extremely handy especially with poll threads.

I'd never tried that before you mentioned it. I kind of like it better now.

i dont see much of a difference between that and standard?

The only real difference is the main post (1st and most times the main subject of that thread) is present on every page at the top. For example, FG has a prospect stat tracker thread, she updates the main post (1st post), if you're using standard you have to back track to page 1. If you use Linear, you don't, it's at the top no matter what page your on.

i fiddled around with all of them, i went back to standard