The following was in editing brown - when this thread Is anonymous posting to be encouraged was subject to imposed closure by one of our most willing combatants. All done (as the post says) in the name of 'free and open discussion' and to keep us safe from "sneak attacks". Don't worry for you will be judged and peace will be imposed upon you by your fellow posters. *Smiles*

Subject: RE: BS: Is anonymous posting to be encouraged?
From: Joe Offer - PM
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 12:18 PM

Well, I have to say I'm getting very tired of all this animosity. It's great for Mudcat to be a place for free, open discussion, but lately it has seemed to be more like a jungle full of guerrilla warriors. How can discussion be free and open, if everyone has to keep a watch out for sneak attacks? This is a forum for exchange of ideas, not combat.

I get a lot of complaints from people about the conduct of so-and-so, usually an anonymous Guest. The trouble is, the people who complain are just as heavily involved in combat - and then they stick their tails between their legs and want me to protect them. I'm sorry, but if you insist on engaging in combat, I can't protect you. When you join the fight, you open yourself to attack, and what you receive is most often far worse than what you can give out.

So, I would ask everyone to help. If there is combat going on, stay away from it. Act as though the combatants were invisible - that's your best protection from them.

I'm closing this thread because it has become another hotbed of animosity. The topic of anonymous posting has been beaten to death the last few days, and I'm likely to delete or close anything else that gets posted on the subject for a while. Cool it - everybody.
Peace, please.
Thank you.
-Joe Offer-