So can I take it from your post, Backwoodsman, that you might agree that compulsory sign-in (as per your guitar-forum) might help a bit - (accepting, as I do, your preference for continued anonymity)?

I wouldn't want to see that one-strike policy here. It would indeed be too big a change from what makes Mudcat special. I'm only talking about changing the moderation policy by a few degrees, but to achieve that mods need the technical tools to react quickly and effectively when than they can now, so minimising the damage.

It's the speed of reaction, and the message that sends to everyone else, that is important, rather than the outcome for the individual concerned.

Do you see any merit in my argument that the fact that people can continue to post as guests (under a different name - does Mr MS, do we know?) even if excluded, diminishes the threat of exclusion?