Threads getting locked or deleted

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Please, don't take this the wrong way, but how come some threads get deleted completely and others just get locked? I've seen threads with spamming, trolling, racism, attacks, bigotry and whatever else and it just got locked. But other threads get completely deleted from the face of the planet when the last time I looked at it (could be just ten minutes ago) and the thread didn't have any forum rules broken, just the topic got a bit confusing or something. But if threads can be deleted, then what's the use of locking others? Why can't they just be deleted too?

This is not a rant, I'm just curious and confused.

There are often complications that members are not aware of behind the scenes. So for example if a thread gets bogged down in flaming it it typically locked. If a thread was created by a troll or sock puppet of a banned member then it is deleted. Threads may also be deleted if they contain offensive posts. Sometimes threads are deleted as a clean way of ending the thread as leaving a thread still there but locked would allow other members to continue reading it or taking a conflict within it to other threads.