I don't join in BS threads much because I find people too often read what they want they want to see in other people's messages, although it is getting much the same 'upstairs'.

McGrath of Harlow infers from my words that I want to exclude Guest postings. I don't.

I am concerned that very offensive material can remain visible for quite a while before it is removed. I'm happy that the moderators reacted quickly once they had been alerted. However Sal and I, acting independently of each another, felt concerned that it was a long wait. In my case I didn't know who to contact besides Joe, and I'm grateful to maeve for her intervention. I can appreciate Jeri's exasperation with the very existence of this thread but I honestly don't feel that this thread did anything to 'feed' the troll. However moderating any online forum is a really difficult task, and I do value the balance that Joe and all the other moderators achieve.

I don't have an answer to all the issues; I just follow Bruce Olson's invaluable advice "Muddling through always works"!

Matthew Edwards