Jon - 24 hours ago I would have agreed with you 100%. I still think Shambles is his own worst enemy.

However, something about his post suddenly made sense. I started looking at some of the posts in the help section that he pointed to.

Yes, the mods are doing their job - and I think they are doing a good one. That does not mean they are perfect - Mudcat will always be a work in progress. I think the frustration that we all felt has boiled over and can be seen in some of the postings that they have made.   

I do feel that ANY forum such as this needs to take their members into consideration and deal with them accordingly. For most of us, they do. There is a difference between laying down the law and becoming abusive - even borderline abusive.

If I were in their shoes I would have probably said a lot worse. Shambles is the extra starch in the shorts, the grain of sand in the shoe, the gnat that won't leave the picnic. I do not have the patience that the moderaters have shown. Still, there is evidence in those threads that there is indeed a witch-hunt for Shambles.   

Maybe it is time that the moderators reflect on how they dealt and will deal with Shambles. Get rid of Shambles or treat him without prejudice based on his past actions. The alternative is to go on "as is" and all the sniping, grumbling and whining will continue to where it hurts Mudcat even further.

I would also say the same goes for Martin Gibson - they got rid of him or her and things seemed "comfortable" for awhile. Now, Shambles is the new Martin Gibson.   Perhaps it is time to deal with the situation honestly and openly?