Jeri writes:

"I don't really understand the level of fear that would make someone not type any conistant name into the "From:" block."

And that is it in a nutshell. There are a number of people here who don't like people who wish to post anonymously, because they are hung up on the "accountability" issue.

People who defend the US First Amendment rights, and who are in solidarity with free speech and right to privacy activists around the world, find the "accountability" issue specious.

You can agree to disagree without flaming those who support the right to anonymous free speech in forums which allow it.

And Mudcat members aren't doing that, as I see it from a GUEST perspective supporting the right to post anonymously in THIS forum, which DOES allow it.

Jeri's three rules seem very sensible to me. But it does seem as if some membership has some considerable difficulty adhering to them, or even wishing to honor the spirit of them in threads I've participated in.

As someone said in one of these threads a ways back, this is an issue for members to work out among themselves. It shouldn't require heavy handed intervention from site owners and site administrators (some of whom clearly have self-control and anger issues to deal with regarding their own responses too). You should be able to police one anohter when you see things getting out of hand.

When you are a leader of the forum, and garner the respect and admiration of the membership, that puts the onus upon you to set an example. No GUEST has that power, either as a newcomer or occassional visitor.

All