<dons Mod hat>
Speaking as the Mod who closed the thread -
or 
, (depending on your outlook 
), I'll give you some background.
I had an interest in - and read - the whole thread from the beginning
. On the whole, the discussion was conducted in a sensible, mature and reasonable manner throughout. It was a credit to CC 
and to those engaged in the discussion. 
However, once it expanded to draw in those who didn't/don't have a close, perhaps detailed, interest in the pro cycling scene, past and present, it began to become repetitious, with people who had not read all the previous posts asking questions and expressing opinions which had been answered/discussed some pages earlier.
It was also noticeable that, when news/information was slow in emerging, the thread changed character a bit.
After the USADA decision, the main purpose of the thread had been fulfilled and it was suggested via PM that the conversation had run its course, discussion was drifting and becoming acrimonious.
To prevent it becoming abusive and to maintain its position as a 'model discussion thread on a potentially minefield subject' (my definition), I re-read the last few pages and could see the validity of the proposal to close it.
So I did - not in any way to stifle debate, more to stifle acrimony and abuse. Clearly, there is a strong voice calling for its re-instatement. Discussion is on-going amongst the Mods and we have not made a definitive decision yet, AFAIK. 
There have been a few posts in this thread referring to trolls :troll: . If you think someone is only involving themselves in a thread in order to troll - please use the Report button. Remember that we are not full-time Mods, we have other priorities, we are fallible
but we do try to keep CC running according to its tag-line: "A fun and friendly cycling community".
I hope this explains my (our ??) reasoning.
Speaking as the Mod who closed the thread -
or , (depending on your outlook ), I'll give you some background.I had an interest in - and read - the whole thread from the beginning
. On the whole, the discussion was conducted in a sensible, mature and reasonable manner throughout. It was a credit to CC and to those engaged in the discussion. However, once it expanded to draw in those who didn't/don't have a close, perhaps detailed, interest in the pro cycling scene, past and present, it began to become repetitious, with people who had not read all the previous posts asking questions and expressing opinions which had been answered/discussed some pages earlier.
It was also noticeable that, when news/information was slow in emerging, the thread changed character a bit.
After the USADA decision, the main purpose of the thread had been fulfilled and it was suggested via PM that the conversation had run its course, discussion was drifting and becoming acrimonious.
To prevent it becoming abusive and to maintain its position as a 'model discussion thread on a potentially minefield subject' (my definition), I re-read the last few pages and could see the validity of the proposal to close it.
So I did - not in any way to stifle debate, more to stifle acrimony and abuse.
Clearly, there is a strong voice calling for its re-instatement. Discussion is on-going amongst the Mods and we have not made a definitive decision yet, AFAIK. There have been a few posts in this thread referring to trolls :troll: . If you think someone is only involving themselves in a thread in order to troll - please use the Report button. Remember that we are not full-time Mods, we have other priorities, we are fallible
but we do try to keep CC running according to its tag-line: "A fun and friendly cycling community".I hope this explains my (our ??) reasoning.
