I know the discussion of politics and religion is being looked at by Steve and Amir but, quite frankly, the issue has zero to do with the subject and everything to do with the posters.
I would suggest that threads on digital vs analog and the value of cables and the worthiness of room correction and any other number of subjects have all had threads go quickly into the toilet. They are not one bit less controversial than religion and politics.
And it will continue to happen. And for what it's worth, my bet would be that not a single individual has ever had their position changed on any of the controversial subjects by someone posting a high quality opposing view.
There will continue to be subjects that cause individuals to have their blood pressure triple and they will, if allowed to do so, respond accordingly. Unfortunately, it will take two things to deal with this issue on any thread: (1) some set of reasonably well articulated guidelines posted by Steve/Amir on forum decorum (not a task I would want to tackle) and then (2) immediate post deletion and/or poster banning upon breaking the rules. But closing threads (i.e. punishing the masses for the sins of a few) makes no sense to me.
Just my $0.02
I would suggest that threads on digital vs analog and the value of cables and the worthiness of room correction and any other number of subjects have all had threads go quickly into the toilet. They are not one bit less controversial than religion and politics.
And it will continue to happen. And for what it's worth, my bet would be that not a single individual has ever had their position changed on any of the controversial subjects by someone posting a high quality opposing view.
There will continue to be subjects that cause individuals to have their blood pressure triple and they will, if allowed to do so, respond accordingly. Unfortunately, it will take two things to deal with this issue on any thread: (1) some set of reasonably well articulated guidelines posted by Steve/Amir on forum decorum (not a task I would want to tackle) and then (2) immediate post deletion and/or poster banning upon breaking the rules. But closing threads (i.e. punishing the masses for the sins of a few) makes no sense to me.
Just my $0.02