Your quote Stephen :-

>>> "Agreed. I'm closing all of the related threads, as well.

Thanks, everyone, for participating. I hope it was fun, interesting, valuable. I'm sorry for all of the negativity that was created along the way. Maybe we can revisit these ideas another time, in a more productive and mature way." <<<

I fully appreciate, Stephen, that some 'threads' can wander away from their original beginnings and I fully agree that they can descend into negativity and immaturity but surely that means that those 'participants' who are predominantly negative and exhibit immaturity win ??
They get a 'thread' which 'might' be "Interesting and valuable" closed down !!!!!!!!!!

Which means, surely, that negativity and immaturity becomes the lowest common denominator which then governs the progress and final outcome (i.e closing) of many of the discussions ?

If negativity and immaturity closes 'threads', rather than a 'thread' naturally petering out from lack of further interest, just how "Interesting and Valuable" does a 'thread' have to be to keep it open ?

Regards,
May Belt,
P.W.B. Electronics