If you are concerned about it and if it is your role to moderate it then why instead of closing thread you don’t address the ‘increasingly disrespectful manner’?
Because my tone was civil and it is not my problem that people first ask for an opinion and when given they can’t stand it. It becomes a problem when they give themselves the right to address their opposite views in hostile, patronizing and intolerant way. And what kind of message the locking of a thread without actually moderating it sends? If one’s opinion is unpopular by certain section then it is okay for that section to not respect difference in opinion, not keep a civil tone, condescend or mock?