"On the one hand we are told that the level is such that Max alone cannot deal with it. On the other hand we have Joe claiming that this action and censorship is minimal. Both of these cannot be so."

you quoted me, and then proceeded to mis-read or misinterpret what you quoted. I did not say the 'level' of abuse had increased; I said the "forum grew" beyond what one person could easily deal with. Abuse is only PART (and relatively, a smallish part) of the tasks of the editorial team, who spend much more time correcting errors and combining threads and just answering questions and being helpful.

" the need for an omnipotent Witchfinder General – if ever there was such a need – is gone. "...apart from the cutesy title, there is always a need for SOME oversight when there are abusive postings and repetitive incoherent postings. Do you really disagree with this basic idea?

"...painting a picture of a forum awash with abusive postings.."
and THIS is an example of a "straw man" argument, in which you attack, exaggerate or ridicule something which was never claimed. "Awash" is not the issue.....any abusive postings are too many. Would you TRULY want to see EVERY post, no matter how abusive or hateful, remain here?

In your last paragraph, Shambles, you make a VERY good point about respecting each other's posts, but then weaken it by claiming that we are "encouraged to complain"...(little remarks about " 'snitchers' corner" as a reference to the 'help forum' sure don't seem to ME to be conducive to friendly, peaceful coexistence)

You keep referring to Max, and how HE should deal with all this. Maybe...but delegation of responsibilities IS how he has chosen to deal with it, for the most part. If I could locate them, I remember several occasions on which Max has explained his decisions and noted his confidence in Joe, Jeff and the other editors. He also said not TOO long ago, that he would try to answer direct PMs...have you tried getting a final, definitive, personal answer from Max about your ongoing concerns?