Overzealous moderation

[caravel]

an open invitation for rules violations.

Any thread is an open invitation for "rules" violations... threads should not be closed just because a mod has a hunch that rules will be broken... sorry but that's just absurd. Wait for rule breaches first then close. Why shelter and protect them from themselves...?

Of course you are, you're perfectly within your rights to do so... but how long would the thread remain civil? Are we really going to condone Orgahs hurling personal attacks at one another?

The opening post of the thread appeared to be baiting people to come forward and start a flamewar; in light of certain events over the last week or so, I didn't want things to turn nasty, so I made the decision to close the thread.

There is no evidence that personal attacks were in the pipeline - how long can any thread remain civil? Try moderating the backroom - I'm sure you'd close every thread... a moderator's job is not to play "social worker", lawyer or predict the outcome of a thread.

Is it your job to assess what every post "appears" to be? The post may be just a joke... anyway it was warman sticking his neck out with that thread... why not leave it and let him face the consequences of his own actions, instead of jumping in and locking down at the slightest provocation?

Not just the letter of "the law," but the "spirit" of the law, etc.. We've closed a very similar thread to this in the recent past, by the same Orgah, for the same reason. Had I seen this first, I would have closed it instantly. I'm surprised to see this thread in it's regard--the reason seems obvious to me, particularly in light of the Front Room.

I thought you were in favour of "hands off moderation"? Your position on this surprises me.