Cutting off old threads
 

See my post under The Buzz, Something or other about something or the other. There needs to be a way to cut off threads that go on and on and on -- ad infinitum.

That thread was "Free Coupon Exchange." Someone had suggested setting up a separate thread, which sounds like a good idea. But my original suggestion stands: don't make the whole thread available when all the member - Junior Member wants is the last five days. If I want the past year, I can ask for it.

I agree! Also, I would like the ability to end a TOPIC after I opened it. The "controller" should be the person that created it. This would be valuable when one of the following occurs in the Topic: 1)It runs on and on and on and on OR 2) the answer to the question has been satisfied.

Sorry, I must dissent.

While there are things that irritate me (and I won't go into them here since I want this to be short and focussed), one of the things I like is that threads remain open for update (when information changes) or addition (the "Who we are" thread of baobab's) and are automatically brought forward every time a new posting is added. While I will agree that some seem to go on and on long after the point is exhausted, that seems to be a problem of self-control with some of the posters (and what is wearisome nonsense to one reader may be amusing light banter to another).

The only reason I can see for arbiitrarily shutting down threads is the loading time it takes for a long versus short thread. However, once loaded one can rapidly get to the bottom of things by judicious use of the "end" button. (There seems to be endless potential for puns in that last sentence, doesn't there?)

Anyway, while it may make sense to limit the breadth of a given topic (new "coupon trade" threads monthly, for example), the fact that threads remain open is not that major a matter to me.