Everyone knows I am a mod. Everyone knows that my sentiments are Republican and Nationalist with regard to the country of my Grandparents. I can assure you that I have more than one Irish ancestor, but that really isn't the subject being discussed and it is a cheap shot to try and make it so. Ours is a land of immigrants and we identify with our cultural heritage.

I would say when I came to Mudcat in 1998, I had an unreasonable anti English bias. It was founded in ignorance. The result of all these years of exposure to folks on both sides of the equation has been to diminish that bias to a great degree. I would say I have no bias against English people, but I have had my opposition to the English governments policies in the North of Ireland strengthened to a great degree. Without exception, the English folks I have met have been kind people. I have enjoyed getting to know them and count many as friends. In the end result, my life has been enriched and enhanced coming to know them.

As to my duties as a moderator, there has been absolutely no difference in how I would treat pro English policy posters from posters who reflect my own biases. In fact, usually I leave moderation of those threads to others because of sensitivity to charges of bias. But I will say this. While these threads have plenty of heat, there has not been flame. I can remember back to 1999 or so when we had a long running thread on "Back Home In Derry". It got heated, but we all agreed that it was useful and, for the most part, respectful. We have no need to stray away from controversy here. In fact controversy has probably spawned as much folk music as any factor. I think it is a good thing, done right. Mod's at the Mudcat are not here to control the conversation. We are here to make sure personal attacks aren't allowed (we don't always do this as well as we should), to fix links or edits, and avoid lengthy cut and pastes, etc. Personal attack is a hard one to define. Usually the use of gratuitous vulgarity is the hallmark. Calling someone's viewpoint foolish, ill informed, etc. is not a personal attack. Calling someone an asshole is. Unless something is clear and unequivocal, we usually talk it over before dumping it.

I can assure you of one thing. I am not anti English, and usually stray away from any moderating decisions on these threads so as to avoid the bias charge.

The conversations I have seen between Keith of Hertford, Divis and others are usually well within the boundaries. They are not always pleasant but usually kept with civil norms.

All the best,

Mick