If a topic is split, either someone trolled, in which case they might as well be made aware of it, or it just veered off topic without any one person at fault, in which case no one should be offended by it.
Exactly. Changing the thread title of split threads into something vaguely humorous (in the case of trolling-related splits), or something more related to the topic under discussion (in case of topic drift), is something that I personally feel to be necessary. In the first case, to give us all a bit of a laugh (and to drive home the point that disruptive behaviour is annoying), in the second for obvious reasons.
I am also sure the split titles have contributed to the inactivity of some newbies who were still adjusting to the social rules on the site, lets face it would you hang around a forum where by posts you have made have been split and given a heated title along with possibly a lock on said split?
There is only one case in recent history that I am aware of there this actually happened. The noob's name was "Stormy Fairweather". Look him up. Then tell me that that is actually happening often with a straight face again.
end of the day mods and admins are supposed to lead by example if they are not doing that then it makes their actions questionable
Again, I, personally, can not see the negative side here. Through split thread renaming, we all get more clarity or, as may be the case, a bit of a laugh at the sight of utter stupidity.
Also, Mobius, why are you backseat moderating?