I didn't think I'd ever get this reactionary, but I can now see the point of some of the arguments in the membership-only thread.
Sure, the Digitrad and the forum would be open to all, but couldn't guests have read-only access?
Personally I cannot conceive of any point at which I'd want to post anonymously. Gervase is my name, and if I think someone's a wanker, I'll call them so with my head above the parapet. If someone hasn't got the balls to post under their own name, they souldn't have the right to flame and troll anonymously. In my book the word "Guest" comes with its own connotations - like respect, courtesy and the need sometimes to bite you're tongue when someone is being an arsehole?
The Mudcat is a big place, and getting bigger by the day. I can't even begin to think how many people use this site, many as guests, others as lurkers (if you're out there, Dominic, speak up!) and perhaps a minority as members.
It would be a miracle if all of those people found everyone else a wonderfully fluffy, huggable human being. This is a community, for Christ's sake, and it'll have its share of village idiots, half-wits fuckwits, bigots and the odd drunken bore who seems to have become part of the bar.
If any of them start to iritate you, just walk away and find a more congenial part of the cafe ('Spaw, of course, can have a letter from matron excusing him 'walk away duties' - he's big enough and decent enough to be able to defuse things face to face).
Yes, it takes courage to walk away in the face of an injury, but you'll be stronger for it - and it really pisses off the bullies of this world.
Anyway, how do you think passing trade would react if they looked through the window of the Mudcat Cafe and saw nothing but fights going on. (Shit, that cappucino just missed my head - cut it out!)
Sorry about the ran t. Please speak after the high moral tone.

This is a nice place - don't fuck it up. And if anyone wants to make something of it, I'll see them outside.... :-)
gervase@pre-emption.com