The idea is that threads fade away when there is nothing left to say in them. If the staff had to close every thread so that it would fade away that wouldn't make any sense. The best way to get a thread that has exhausted its purpose to fade away is to simply stop posting in it. It's quite simple, however, since this thread is still accumulating posts I will close it. If you need to discuss something further relating to this thread please start a new one.
Sage, sage, sage.