I would like to inquire as to why X vs Y threads, all of them, regardless of what X and Y happen to be, have been declared to be off limits? Sometimes, yes, they are spam, as is true of non-X vs Y threads. However, say come closer to the elections, someone starts a thread, Obama vs. McCain (assuming they win for the moment) or Republicans vs. Democrats, would that too be closed? The fact they are styled in vs. form doesn't make it a spam thread, it is a legitimate political debate. Same with capitalism vs. communism, a valid debate on economic principles, evolution vs. creationism, a valid debate on science/religion, or NPO vs. GPA, a valid debate on in game matters, etc.
Further, much of this is semantical. A thread such as "who will win the Republican nomination?", a thread presently ongoing in the Boiler room is no different than "Guilliani vs. Thompson vs. McCain vs. Romney vs. Huckabee for Republican nomination". A thread started about communism is always a thread of communism vs not communism, or always becomes one. Further, the board rules allow the discussion of all the assorted topics that go into the debates, such as Science Fiction (which sparked a couple closed vs. threads a month ago), so what is it about vs. debates that make them "spam"?
It can't be their popularity, the "What song are you listening to" thread blows any post count generated by such a thread out of the water. It can't be the material, seeing as how again, they are often more serious than threads like the aforementioned and the components of them are acceptable discussion topics. The hostility generated can't be at fault for their designation as spam, I have never seen more hostility generated in such a thread than any of the in game threads over contentious issues. They don't multiply any more than other threads, like the FAN war for example, they don't cross over into other threads all that often, unless you get a spree of vs. with one side always being the same (which is true of all thread types).
Honestly, I am at a loss as to how vs. threads are spam, are harmful, and why there is a mandate in place that they always be locked and would ask that the staff reconsider and revisit the issue and consider lifting the ban on them.