Maybe what all this navel-staring demonstrates is a need by Max to take a long, hard look at the Mudcat and concede that the whole BS thing is a bandwidth-hogging hornets' nest that would be better junked.
With the notable (and unusual) exception of CH's boorishness in the "..walked out of a session" thread, most musical topics seem to be conducted in a genuine spirit of co-operation and decorum. Below the line, however, it's a bloody mess. The forum has grown too large, I fear, to cater for many of the subjects in the BS section. It's a bit like a bar - a small snug is fine for shooting the breeze and putting the world to rights, but the bigger and noisier the pub, the less easy it is to have a sensible conversation, and the more likely one is to end up with a punch on the nose.
And yes, I know there are those wise virgins who say "but you don't have to look at the BS section - I've got a magic filter..." but that's not the point.
Animosity begins below stairs, and filters upwards. CH is a case in point.
And look at the ructions over Northern Ireland - ard mhacha, Divis Sweeney, Dave the Gnome and Keith A of Hertford are all decent people with a love of music. That should bring them together, but pointless (and boy, are they pointless) spats below the line serve to divide and antagonise. I just wish I could get all four in a bar together with a few beers and get 'em singing and playing...
But, hell, I'm just a meddlesome guest!