"Question: how many different guest names can one use before it would make the concept of someone "stealing" one of them silly?"

Bingo !!!!

Now that reminds me of a related point expressed recently by a dubious frivolous chap going under the name of
"Old Boy"

"....But, yes, my latest new mudcat name for this weekend is a hastily concocted daft jokey sounding ID
that is here consistent thread specific..
Obviously I couldn't be bothered thinking up a new one for anywhere else I've posted in the past 3 days.
Next weekend I'll probably be just as bored & restless and reinvent as a new someone else for all our 'mutual amusement'.
Or might even drag one of my comfortable familar old personas out the 'dressing up' costume box.
Fear not good folks, I always try to abide by a personal rule of only being one persona at a time,
none of that multiple identity disorder malarkey
indulged in by some of you regular mischief making miscreants.

Happier now ?."

Something well worth expanding upon in this thread as soon as I find time to work it into a sensible relevant contribution

TOO BE CONTINUED >>>>

Hookey Wole, you have to understand that you are conducting a conversation in this thread with the person who set up that bogus thread in your name. There is a lot of "between the lines" stuff in this conversation. Since you are a guest and not a member you can't receive Personal Messages from another member or from one of the moderators who might answer your well-founded and thought-out queries about the incident. The fact that two different moderating actions took place on the "cock" thread simply means more information became available. It has been suggested that you ask to join Mudcat and all will become clear. I suggest you follow that good advice.