This post is from me. I will verify it when I am able to get in through the front door.

In cyber space you can never, ever, ever (to the power n) win or loose a fight. There are no winners or losers, only combatants. The only way to avoid the fight it is to stay out. In real life it is easy win or loose a fight. If a bully hits you and you cry he has won. If a bully tries to hit you and you break his nose you have won. Simple.

The point is not winning or losing, Dave. On the internet, it's all about behavior. People can substantially effect and/or change the nature of a website by controling behavior. A troll seeks to effect behavior for a small reward... the sense of power he or she feels as a result of making someone respond emotionally.

With a bully, the issue is a much larger one. Especially a bully like "Martin Gibson". With "Martin", the reward was a much bigger one than with trolls. He got his reward from the feeling of power he got from subtantially changing the whole tone and nature of the Mudcat. Rather than allow the Mudcat to be what it is naturally, on its own, he stated many times his intention to make it over into something he wanted it to be. And he stated many times that he intended to be the driving force and major power figure within the Mudcat. Most of his behaviors supported those declarations.

The object is to find ways to reduce and/or eliminate the behavior. Egging "Martin" on increased his destructive behaviors. Trolling for "Martin" increased his behaviors. Acting hurt by what he said increased his behaviors.

The only thing that could decrease his destructive behaviors was to respond in ways that reduced his ability to feel powerful in the Mudcat. When I did that, it worked.

The reason it was important from my perspective to want his behavior reduced and/or eliminated is because there are times and situations when allowing a bully like "Martin" to abuse people has the potential to be just as devasataing to someone in their 3D life as if the bully hit them over the head with a tire iron. I saw such behavior from "Martin" on several occasions (toward other people, not myself), and that was what made me decide to stand up to him.