How about just deleting the threads that are controversial and don't add value the the forum?? Seems pretty simple. Moderators have the power to nip it in the butt but are partially to blame for allowing the threads to go on....
grunterhunter8,
And it does seem pretty simple... But, if I deleted every thread I thought didn't "add value" to the forum, there would be a lot more bitching going on, maybe not in public, but certainly in private. What the average member does not see, is that almost every post/thread I remove, I end up having to deal with a series of PM's from the person who's thread I removed, and occasionally their buddies who are also bent out of shape.
You do have a point about some threads being allowed to linger for too long...
