Good to see it didn't stop you having a pop though.
I reckon The Times' technology creates a unique URL each time someone tries to share it and there's a time limit on it.
This link from the middle of the thread, for example, seems to work for me...
I have no idea about the link as it worked fine for me earlier and posted to NSC's FB timeline it has 703 reactions, 63 comments and 90 shares. So it must have been working if it's not now.
The only theory that really matters here is it's poor to steal someone else's work and publish it elsewhere.
I'm not sure it's illegal, but it's certainly bad form. I've edited out the wholesale copy and paste that was on here.
The Times allows people to read articles where the link has been shared. That's their chosen model, currently, to allow people to get a taster and, hopefully, subscribe...