Your allegation of "abusive personal attacks" is a gross exaggeration, Roger. Yes, I and other volunteers have sometimes expressed aggavation and exasperation, and perhaps at times we may even lapse into the sin of innuendo. "Abusive personal attacks" is quite another matter.

Joe why can't you accept the concept that in order to sit in final judgement upon your fellow posters - that you have to be seen to be totally objective?

Or that the example that you Bert, other known edit button holders and the anonymous ones set, will be followed?

If you make public judgements of any named poster - as a fellow poster or as an edit button holder - this example will be followed in a form of 'witch hunt'. Trying to justify this example by minimising the nature of the personal judgements as you do - is just confirming my point.

If you are to sit in final judgement - you cannot be seen to be part of the dispute or even to hold a personal view.

As you well know my argument is that the need to have fellow posters to protect us from personal attacks is simply used as a means in practice for you to shape our forum to your personal taste.

Now you admit yourself that these measures have failed to impose the peace you require - my fears are only confirmed by your intention to still stay and shape our forum into the private members club that a certain few have always wished it to be.

No - there is no going back from this point. If that is what you and a few others want - then please go away and start one of your own and leave our forum to those who accept its realities and limitations and have always been quite happy with them.