Deprecated `Thread.stop()' in forthcoming JDK 1.2. Why?

[peter . pilgrim]

     I read somewhere that Thread.stop() is now deprecated. Now how on 
     earth do we stop a thread ?
     I thought the solution would be Thread.interrupt()
     but that only works when the thread is sleeping, at least in JDK 1.1 
     documentation.
     
     I do not have the JDK 1.2 to hand, and I have started use multiple 
     threads in Swing/JFC/. It seems to be idiocy to have a start method 
     and not have a stop method. The stop() method justs halts the thread 
     object and the garbage collector collects any rubbish.
     
     Thoughts?
     
     Pete