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I agree with @Mrs. High Heels:

I'd prefer a limit. I could see this being abused. I don't want to come on here and see every couple of threads closed, would make me not even want to participate/read. Maybe I'm in the minority but I'm not a fan of threads being closed unless there are personal attacks, drama, etc.

@mrbee: I knew that we could request closing threads from you guys. I guess I feel like having that extra step of having to contact your or mrsbee could be preventing people from closing threads. To give that kind of power to everyone I feel like it could be overused without you two as the buffer. But hey, I could be wrong! You could start off unlimited as @Mrs. High Heels: suggested and then change it if it's being abused.

I don't really like when threads get closed unless there is some personal attack so I would vote for the status quo of having to ask to close threads.

I guess I don't see the need? Are there high instances of closing threads?

I like the idea. Sometimes I've seen threads where the OP doesn't have the intention of being judgmental. It could have been a rant. Usually it's completely innocent. The OP usually realizes that it being taken the wrong way and tries to explain but at that point, it's already too late. People start piling on and usually there's no end in sight. You just start seeing more and more people comment about how your wrong. I've created at least one thread where it was taken the wrong way and I just kept hoping the thread would die. I never asked that the thread be closed because I didn't want to bring attention to it. Now that the thread is dead and months have gone by, I would feel more comfortable closing it without anyone noticing. Therefore reduce the ability for the thread to be bumped at a future date and rehashing it all over again.

As for the limits, I'm not sure. How would someone abuse it? I'm just trying to think. If it's a controversial thread, the OP might just want to stop the drama. (I think we all would like less drama sometimes.) If it's a thread where the OP has gotten enough responses, maybe it's okay that they close it. (I have seen on HB that people create new threads based on old threads all the time, so I see that it's the norm to create a new one with current responses.)
Maybe it might be abused if someone leaves the site and decides to close all of their threads. It might be an eye sore to see all those threads closed on the main page if they are all fairly recent.

So with that said, yeah, I think there should be a limit. Maybe 5 per day? This will limit a ton of closed threads on the main page? (Maybe?) If you want to close more, you just have to wait another day.

@mrsjazz: I agree, 5 per day seems like a TON!!!!

And as I stated above... I'm just not a fan either of closing threads.

@bluestriped bee: I actually don't think 5 is a lot but that's just me.

I've never asked for a tread to be closed. I've only had one or two not date specific threads (like the old Classifieds threads) actually closed and that was because no one wanted to be 'it' when it came to killing the thread. Even if I were given unlimited access to close threads, I don't think it's a feature I would use. Merely because I so rarely put up anything worth closing!

That being said, I'm like a few of you - started a thread only to watch it spiral out of control and not get the (for lack of a better term) validation or to be consoles like I was hoping. It hurts to see people who seem to have such a low opinion of you taking an opportunity to strike when you're weakest! Most vulnerable! I can see why wanting that closed, and the ability to do so quietly yourself, would be an asset. Other times there are double thread posts where something happened between you hitting 'submit', it being sent to the server, and something going screwy along the way. Wouldn't it be easier just to close it before you get too much feedback? Without having to bother a moderator?

I mean it's just like the classifieds - you start a 'for sale' or 'looking' post, items are sold, you close the topic. Maybe that's something to consider. Write the programming so that the closed topics act like the classifieds and are sent to the back of the archive. That way the 'closed' topics don't overwhelm the first page.

I do sometimes wish we had the ability to delete a thread we made altogether but realize how quickly that could be abused. There are just some of mine I wish (months and months after posting them) would quietly disappear...

I think this issue could be solved with some good old fashioned moderators on the boards. I can understand when people post and feel ganged up on, a mod can gently remind everyone to stay on topic as needed.

I don't think this is a good feature. I personally think a component of every conversation is differing opinions, and this would enable users to just shut it down the first time they heard something they didn't like. Unless someone asks you to shut it down, I think it's better to let users work it out on their own.

I'm not a huge fan of this. I see the need if a thread gets too heated/off topic..but I would hate for someone to close a thread because their question got answered.. what if I search the same question 2 months later and want to bump it, or have a question..I have to start a new thread?

I agree with @mrsjazz: there should be a limit. I personally never really need or want my threads to be closed.

unlimited, i'd like to believe that most ppl wouldn't abuse it. and use it with caution for those OOPS posts

I'm iffy. I understand wanting to close a thread that snowballs out of control or has an "attacking" component to it. I would worry that people would arbitrarily close threads though without a real reason. I think it would help take some of that burden off the admins though. I suppose allowing users to do it unlimited but be able to revoke that privilege/access if it's an issue?

And, like @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: said, when a thread is closed, I like to know why. Sometimes it's noted that it's at the request of the OP or something. Yesterday a thread just up and disappeared all together! Wasn't closed, just deleted out of the blue!

@MrsMcD: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Ooh, just reread that. I second the longer edit period! Provided that people don't "edit" to delete the post...

@MrsMcD: OP asked for it to be deleted

I'm not a fan of closing posts personally and I've never seen the need to myself.