I LIKE MUDCAT THE WAY IT IS!

There, I've said it......(sorry about shouting).

Most of the aggro on this forum could be dealt with very effectively by removing about eight or maybe ten members. Nasty guest posts are more than offset by those that are germane, and intelligent contributions to debate.

The most serious flaming and personal attacks are the work of one little group, who are easily identifiable by their inability to contribute to discussion, which leaves them only personal abuse as a means of getting involved.

As I see it, Joe is looking at members only posting as a means to control MEMBERS which would not give them the opportunity to re-appear as anonymous guests. Given the personal attacks that are constantly heaped on Joe and the clones by one member in particular, I can understand his feelings.

IMHO, however, to follow this course would destroy the very thing that gives the Mudcat its unique appeal.

Far better to leave it as it is, and accept two premises:-

1. There will be posts which may offend some people. Learn to live with this, and don't open threads that might offend.

2. Accept (at last) that what Joe and the clones are doing at the moment is in the best interests of all, and represents the bare minimum of responsible moderation.

It's not rocket science. It is the system which has kept the forum alive and interesting, and IMO will continue to do so if we leave it alone.

Don T.