ArfinGreebly,
I didn't intend to come off sounding snarky or anything. After re-reading it can very well be interpreted that way, however, honestly it wasn't my intent.
I appreciate your response. It did clear the water for me. However, as I type this, an idea has come to me. I don't know how feasible it is though as I don't have experience moderating forums. As you stated, many threads begin on-topic but spiral out of control. I've read some of those threads and for the most part the original post may make a good on-topic point but then the inevitable political debates ensue with a few on-topic responses to the OP peppered in.
I'm wondering if
A. It is possible to simply delete an off-topic response to an on-topic post leaving others with on-topic comments free to respond?
B. That's even something the moderators here would be willing to do. (As I mentioned I don't have experience in this, so I don't know if this would just create more hoops for the moderators to jump through.)
Just a thought that came to me that I figured I'd share. It seems, to me anyway, that would leave some good topics open for discussion without one or two (or 35, as the case may be) bad apples ruining the whole bunch.