This is a trolling technique that's used fairly often. I'm not sure whether it's always intentional, but the pattern is well established and reliable.

Start a thread complaining about having been mistreated. It doesn't matter if you have been or not, if you provoke people enough with accusations, you will get a negative reaction. Make sure you don't provide specific examples of this "mistreatment." Generalizations are a lot more effective in provoking the general negative response you're looking for, and people might actually be able to explain specifics.

If you start off posting negative opinions anonymously, you'll be seen as wishing to be a member of the group primarily known for flaming.

There may have been a time when GUESTs weren't viewed with such suspicion. A handfull (or perhaps just a couple) of compulsive and very needy Mudcat addicts have changed that. It's the way things are here.

I have no problem with anonymous posts asking for or providing information. Opinions free from personalities are worthless graffiti. People who hide their identity in order to belittle others ARE gutless cowards(*). I'd like to associate them with their opinions if I ever met them in person. Flamers may not be anywhere near as anonymous as they think they are, but I doubt I'll be running into them.

(*) I fully realize that some, maybe most, gutless cowards are not capable of being otherwise. They aren't capable of seeing their abuse of others as somehow wrong. They may say they don't care, but they keep coming back here. Why? Probably because they can't help it.