Just because I had a bit a spare time, I went and counted and categorized the posts in the "On the Cowardly Nature of Guest Postings" thread. This is, of course, entirely subjective and is subject to discussion and disagreement.

I counted 147 posts, and likely missed a few. Of these, 20 were solidly pro-guest. This includes the ones, and I think it was well over half, who differentiate between "named" guests (enthusiastically welcomed) and anonymous guests whose only intent is to create dissention. This is not my distinction, but is specifically stated as such in these posts. There are 10 who oppose guests under any circumstances; interestingly, 2 of these are guests.

21 comments are neither pro nor con on the issue of guests, but are simply snide...call them flames if you'd like. Most of these, 16 of the 21, are from guests (either named or unnamed). The most typical of these comments is on how the vast majority of postings in the thread indicate how much members hate guests.

Most of the posts, 96 of the total, are essentially in the nature of conversation...one person, member or guest, making an essentially polite response to something someone else said.