The 'general pattern' wasn't an observation about the way threads *typically* go. It was an observation about the way LOCKED threads *typically* go. You know, the threads with the little padlock on them. There are considerably less of those and thus it isn't so very hard to keep up with them ;-)

> We're happy to improve what we do here, and that's why I'm okay with this thread.

That's terrific :-)
In fact... I think it is really great that you are allowing this to continue :-) It might be the case that the thread disintegrates, that is true. Or... It might not. But you know what? Even if a thread does disintegrate that doesn't mean that nobody benefited from it...

> I'd ask that we stay away from generalizations that aren't necessarily true

You mean like 2+2=5 is necessarily true (i.e., true in all possible worlds) ;-)

Wasn't it clear that I was talking about LOCKED threads and not ALL threads? I'm sorry I'm not clearer. I mean that most genuinely. I do have trouble being understood by people sometimes and I'm genuinely sorry for that. I'm working on it. But... I'm also doing my best.

While I agree that over-generalisations etc tend not to help things along I do think that talking abstractly rather than homing in on particular examples can help with respect to people being able to discuss things relatively objectively. But then one does need to provide particular examples at one point. And... I won't be doing that here.

I think...
I could be wrong...
But I think...

The thread could return to the original concerns something along the lines of...

How do people feel when you think your words have been censored?
When have you felt like that has happened to you before?

I think it is fairly normal for people to be more or less involved in an online community over time. Percieved 'let downs' can often pre-empt someone leaving to have some time away.

When have people felt like that before?
How do they construe / explain what happened now?

(Aka... I don't think this is or needs to be construed as a personal attack on the moderators.)

It could help the boards for people to be able to talk about such things... If it is treated as allowing a process rather than getting hung up on the content thing... But who knows... Maybe someone will 'report this post' and get a few friends to 'report this post' in which case...