Folks - At least at the moment I have some very simple reasons to not sign up, reasons that don't apply to anything concerning Mudcat or any of its members or guests. On the other hand the reasons that make me post messages here indeed do apply to things and people like these.

What we/you (?) are doing here is public, regardless of any membership. I'm aware of that. If anybody objects to things I'm saying or only feels bored by them or by the fact that I'm saying them in public he may tell me ALSO IN PUBLIC. If so, simply do and I won't disturb any longer. (In the meantime I'm relying on Sir kendallot to give me a downstroke when I'm in danger of behaving wrong.)

May I add some very personal opinion?

It seems to me that every time people become afraid of something they first try to control it by introducing regulations (with the illusion that once there is a law it MUST be obeyed) instead of simply facing it (knowing and thus not having to face the fact that laws NEED NOT be obeyed as long as there is no 'police' to look after them).

What is happening at Mudcat is one of the very (much too) few examples that it IS possible to control things without 'orders from above'. Introducing any restrictions for posting messages would mean that you give away (deceive) one of the very few chances to really prove that knowing our personal responsibility to what we are doing and acting upon it is at least as good as submitting to some 'Obrigkeit' (german word, literally translates to 'abovity') and have them do it for us (that's impossible, don't blame the poor chaps for not managing it).

Thank you

Joerg