I figure ya gotta have the balls to stand up for what ya believe. Seems pretty simple to me. Posting under a name at least allows the people with whom ya disagree to message ya and clarify or get in touch to tell ya what an idiot ya are. I've had the good fortune to be an idiot on a few occasions--OK, maybe more than a few, and it has allowed me to meet three people with whom I correspond now and then. Don't get much better 'n that. I wrote to apologize for stupid stuff I'd said, and they were kind enough to accept the apologies. Now, we're friends. Anonymous GUESTS likely won't have that opportunity. That's sad. To me, the Mudcat is a site whereon people give their honest and considered views. They don't all agree with mine, but it would be a boring world if that were the case.

I notice, for example, that mousethief and I would likely disagree with regard to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, each of us seeing the other as being wrong. However, I'm not about to get abusive about it. I don't doubt, over time, we'd reach the conclusion that the other is a bit wrong AND a bit right. That said, I think it is always appropriate to know who one's accuser is. It just seems fair, that's all.

Bruce Murdoch