Nice for some to have the choice (I suppose). Some of us can't even appear to get their front-door contributions to stay on the forum for very long.

It would be interesting to know the reasons why you would wish to contibute to a thread by the back-door, (at least twice) so as not to refresh it? If you you do not wish anyone to see your comments on a thread, there seems little point in making them there. Perhaps you could answer the following (in any colour you like)?

Can the volunteers be confined to openly enabling the public to make contributions, rather than be encouraged to sit in secret judgement of and take editing action based on this?

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Actually, Shambles, we like the way we deal with the Clones just fine. They know that they are supposed to delete messages in very limited situations, and that they are to consult with Jeff or me for review of their decisions. We prefer that they submit their decisions to us for approval, and not to the general forum. The number of JoeClone deletions is very small, but it does allow Jeff and Max and me time to do other things. Jeff and Max and I can see all deleted messages, so that acts as a control on the Clones. However, they are trusted people, and there has been very little need for control. They make deletions only when the need for deletion is clear, and they have done this very well.
So, really, that's not the issue. How we supervise the Clones is our prerogative. We do supervise them, and it is quite obvious that they have been responsible in their work. If you have any complaint about their work, complain to Max, Jeff, or Joe. We take full responsibility for their work.
The issue is whether we should be obliged to allow ourselves to be used as a platform for anonymous posts that are of a hateful nature - anti-Semitism and the like. Be mindful that if we give a home to this sort of stuff, Google and other search engines will identify us as as hate site, which will invite more. The other posts that are deleted are Spam, and copies of lengthy political stuff that is available elsewhere on the Internet. We also generally delete personal attacks.
So, Shambles, that is is question. Why should we be obliged to offer a home to this stuff, which is generally available at other locations on the Internet?
Answer the question, Shambles. Why should we play host to anonymous posts that are of a hateful nature? And if it's so important to you, why don't you establish a site to play host to them?
Answer the question, Shambles. Put up, or shut up.
-Joe Offer-