A couple things occured to me after watching one of the France threads disappear and then reading BENZ-LGB's follow-up about closing the forum. I don't know if this is still relevant, seeing as how everything seems kosher again, and I'm not sure if the forum software even allows any of this, but here are my thoughts.

First, disable the ability of users to delete and edit posts. Making posts permanent for posterity's sake might make some people think twice before posting something they shouldn't. If a user says something offensive, insulting, or just plain wrong, and they want to correct it, they ought to have to post a follow-up apology or correction. If they don't correct it, it ought to be out there for everyone to see. This is how real life works, and I think it should be appropriate here.

(Incidentally, I don't think this should apply to the tech forums, if only because of the need to have as little technical misinformation floating out there as possible.)

Second, wholesale deletion of a thread should be the absolute LAST resort of the moderators. I would much rather see a thread locked up and left alone than have content just disappear. If there's a problem user, they should get the warning/probation/expulsion treatment. If the thread is simply degenerating, moderators should post a warning then lock the discussion. Maybe there should be a hard limit on the number of forum guideline violations a discussion could produce before it's automatically locked.

Only after the thread's been locked, and then determined to be so damaging that it poses a liability to (or violates the principles of) the site, should it be deleted.

Finally, this forum is only as good as the people contributing to it. The other forums have done very well, mostly thanks to an enormous number of willing, eager, and thoughtful posters. Why should it have to be different here, I don't know. All I know is this: if the majority of people come here to rant, then this will be nothing more than a backwater collection of complaints. If the majority of people come here to bash others, then this will be nothing more than a backwater collection of abusive posts.

On the other hand, if people treat this place as being vaguely important to them (as it must be, since it has the third highest number of posts, next to Tech and Diesel), then it could go back to being a decent, comfortable place to share our collective wisdom.

Anyways, those are my thoughts. That and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee.