"I yam what I yam"
    Popeye

It can be important for administrators of a site to be able to have certain types of info. There are just too many things that can interfere with smooth operation to allow total, unchecked freedom of posting for any bozo who who decides to show up.

That being said, Mudcat has a reputation for wider toleration than 99% of 'em!

It is handy (and often fun) to be able to log out and use joke names to have innocent fun being "Old Man River" or "Emperor of the Universe"...or to do things like play the "Secret Santa" game, or ask a potentially embasassing question about medical stuff, for instance.

But when being 'guest' for petty and hateful purposes, or to impersonate someone, or to threaten someone, or to intentionally stir up problems happens, it is serious business, and I'm GLAD Joe and other administrators have some tools to deal with things!!!

I assume that it IS possible to hide or change an IP in order to say things you are too chicken to say under your own name or handle, but when this happens, the mods at least have editing & deletion options if it gets out of hand.....that's the way it is, and that's the way it should be!