Imagine the Mudcat as a local folk club in the real world. If a person who is a member, and whom we all know, starts acting like a jerk, we would tell them to stop being a jerk, but would put up with them. They are a friend or an acquaintance and we all know that normally nice people can lose control sometimes. It usually means that they are under some kind of stress and we make offers of help or support. A member who is a jerk all the time would get ignored, and, if it gets bad enough, asked to leave. But a complete stranger who shows up at the folk club, starts insulting people and refuses to give their name would be shown the door in short order. A stranger who shows up, says "hi", introduces themselves, joins the conversation, and sings a song would be welcomed and encouraged to join the club.

What I'm trying to say is that I don't mind occasional flames from regulars at Mudcat, if those people are normally not flaming. I hate the anonymous guests that only come by to stir up trouble, like the one with the racist thread and the one who castigated Joe for not deleting the racist thread. If we met these people in real life we would ignore them and maybe even cross the street to avoid them. They deserve the same respect as an obscene phone caller. I would have no problem with Joe deleting their threads immediately. I would have a problem with threads from members being deleted, even if they are flames or trolls. A member who does nothing but flame or troll could eventually be shown the door, after due consideration.

I know no one wants to hear more about stalking, but as a person who was stalked on the newsgroups for a number of years, I have acquired a strong distaste for anonymous people with strong opinions voiced in harsh language. Delete them, please.

John Peekstok