It is also true that, because most people on Mudcat are not known to one another in real life, a person might wish to discuss something that they don't want to be 'traced' to for more important reasons.

Let us say, for instance, someone wants to talk about a problem at work. Who is to say that the 'problem' they want to discuss isn't being caused by another Mudcatter (unknown to the original poster). Or that the 'problem person' wouldn't read the posting as a 'lurker' or non-member. Over the years, people give enough snippets away about themselves in different posts, so that if someone wanted to build a pen-picture of another Catter, reading their posts would give a fair assessment and might get them into serious trouble. It isn't just the members and guests who read this forum. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to discover that many people, who we never come into 'contact' with, just read - people watching.

Like in those scary movies when the scared person runs for help and pours out their heart to the very person who is after them (usually only the viewer knows this bit though!)