Basically, if people can calmly discuss things, I will usually allow it. We had a good thread on religion a while back that never did get closed down. However, some things are just such hot topics, and emotions run so high with regard to them, that it is better to close a thread than to end up banning half the posters in it when it spirals out of control.

And Kitti is absolutely right...certain things are private and not open for public discussion. If something is specific to a person, I think it should be their right to decide whether to talk about it or not. It isn't fair for everyone to sit and openly gossip and speculate about it.