The problem isn't GUESTS, per se. It is the people who use the anonymity to simply take shots at folks, stir up problems, and be downright mean. Then the passionate folks that inhabit folk forums (I count myself among these) take umbrage and start responding in kind. For a very long time we tried to be selective in how we deleted, just sticking to the troublemakers. The problem with that is that our mod's were acting on their own perceptions, and that wasn't always consistent. So we made the decision that we would lay out some very simple guidelines. One of those is that one must post with a consistent ID. We will still let the unattributed GUEST post stand when it is clear it is just a person cruising in to get some information, but we will ask them to adopt an ID in the future. We are not perfect on this yet, but we are getting better.

Personal attacks are simply not allowed. I can tell you from being here since very near the beginning that we are all susceptible to this. It would not be hard to find attack posts from me that I am not proud of. The fluid nature of what Max envisions here certainly allows that, but in the near past we have made the decision that we simply are not going to allow that. But members need to understand that there is a difference between a personal attack, and an attack on one's position. Administration of this isn't an exact science, but we are getting better.

Bottom line, friends, is that we are attempting to maintain the essential nature of Mudcat, and yet deal with the fact that it is not the little village it was all those years ago when many of us came here. Not an easy task, and those of us in charge of trying to keep it going appreciate that you all care about it too.

All the best,

Mick
another Forum Moderator