Just read through this. It was great to read a long thread about this kind of topic which didn't have any of the kind of sick stuff we've been having recently - till right near the end, when it started to creep in.

I think the sensible use of personal messages should be a crucial element in keeping the tone balanced, with a mix of all the things that keep the Mudcat good.

That's why people who insist of being GUESTS rather than members and combine that with throwing insults around are so destructive. Any dialogue with them has to be on the open threads, and that distorts and diminishes the whole tone. Either that or you have to ignore them, which is wiser - but that in itself destroys the sense of an open forum in which everyone has a right to their say.

In spite of which, this is still a spenldid place to come. It just needs a handful of people to mend their ways, and it'll be good as ever, and even getting better in time.