"The 'problem' with Mudcat, as well as its virtue, is that it tries to be one of the most open forums around."

It's openness is what makes it a great place to be, but as you say that comes at a price. However for all the boors, prigs and pompous gits (me) it is a wonderful place, and the only forum I've stayed on since I started back in the late 1990's and still log onto several times a day.

I've met people here who have, through robust and thoughtful argument changed my thinking on some subjects at a fundamental level; Divis Sweeney springs to mind as someone who showed me the other side of a complex and difficult subject and made me think differently and realise much about how we are spoon-fed information by governments and media on any number of subjects. I'd like to buy the man a pint.

It doesn't matter if the mods don't get it, if we don't get it or whatever. What matters is it's here, it still exists and we should be grateful.