Remember this - many other boards work only on a membership basis. This is not a must here, but is it so great a discourtesy to ask that people grant us this courtesy?!

Yes.

For as you point out this forum does not work on a membership basis.

Max does not require posters to use a name and appears not to consider it a discourtesy for guests not to use one. If he now does require this - then that change should be made clear.

Until then the word 'US' therefore includes anyone who posts - not just those who would judge and wish other posters to do, as THEY require.

If you mean by the word 'US' (and I suspect that you do) - those who have cookies - surely how guests are treated by the membership is a test of that membership? The membership has responsibilities as well as rights.

Would it not then our duty as members to always welcome guests and their choices?

Is it really very 'friendly' to keep insisting that guests conform to rules that do not exist?

The request for others to use a name has been made many times - but it remains just that - a request. If folk do not wish to use a name - that must be their choice and if you expect them to respect your choices - you must also accept their choice.

How would you respond if 'THEY' (the guests) asked (or rather kept insisting) that you to give up your membership to post on equal terms with them? Would that also be a discourtesy?

Encouraging and making personal judgements and just wishing or demanding that others do as we require, will not solve this issue. Freedom of expression means that others have the same freedoms as you and I do. On our forum - this may be a difficult concept but it is one well worth defending.

This horse has been well and truly 'led to the water' - whether the horse drinks or not - still remains a matter for the horse.