In the closed thread, Max's withholding of permission to publicly berate a fellow human being is reminiscent of Brer Rabbit's request not to be thrown into the briar patch.

Not that permission ever seemed to be needed - but official permission to berate this fellow human being had already been given to our forum in the following.

Subject: RE: BS: Closed threads & deleted posts.
From: The Shambles - PM
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 02:04 PM

Well, I used to give you equal treatment, Shambles - but you kept badgering me about that being repressive censorship.
So, you got what you asked for. Catspaw can say what he likes about you, until such time as you stop your incessant campaign against the way we do things here. You are not a nice person, Shambles. Do not expect to be treated nicely.
-Joe-

Which was included in the complaint that was ignored but for which I was then publicly asked to leave for making.

The message that seem to be coming across is that those who spend most of their time complaining about their fellow posters and blaming them, like the current Chief of the Mudcat Editing Team - do not like to be complained about - no matter how poor an example they set.