Also, some changes have been around a lot longer than you suggest. I think you will find Joe Offer was able to delete posts in 1998. So that need emerged very early on.

It was always possible for Max to do this also. It was never a course of action that was used widely or as a first and only resort as if this were the answer to every small problem - as it would appear to be now.

Intersting comment from someone who claims to have no desire to tell Max how to run Max's site.

You know that following Max's public comments over the years - that I consider that there is a difference between Max's site - which is a matter for him - and our forum - which he has stated is a matter for us.

A point even recognised by The Chief of the Mudcat Editing Team when attempting to justify his latest personally motivated posting restrictions on me - by stating in this thread - that it is not because he wishes it, or Max wishes it - but because Mudcatters wish it.   

So it is obvious that Max (and even in this case, the Chief of the Mudcat Editing Team) expects posters to decide the shape of their forum..........