Only when they are closed because of personal vendettas or complaints about board policy and/or staff. Even so, he didn't just restart it, he asked for permission first, so it's hardly the same.
Why do you insist on making an issue of this? What is there not fair about me allowing someone to start a new thread? The old one went downhill, and I stated it could be restarted so long as it remains civil and mature. Not sure what you think I'm being unfair about. I think saying "no" to the request to try again would have been unfair.