Max is a benevolent dictator, Mudcat is not a democracy.

Fact; end of....

Mudcat life goes on business as usual; behave well and cross oceanic and cultural friendships grow and flourish.

Fair enough, we're all mostly adult enough to accept these fundamental ground rules and conditions.

But there always remains one main issue stemming from this benign totalitarian status quo,
that results in occasional member discontent and public protest.

That is the secretive anonymous nature of the 'mod/clone' close-ranks inner elite club.

There have been too many instances of deletions by occasional apparently 'rogue' mods
that seem to members to be unfair, arbitrary, biased, patronising, and downright arrogant & provocative.

We may not have any right to know the identity and 'behind closed doors' methods and reasons of mod behaviour
and internal disciplinary procedures;
but we do need reassurance that any appointed mods are not to be tolerated abusing their privileged positions & power.
to the extent that they would have been well suited thriving as corrupt Stasi Cheifs.

It is this that seriously annoys and inflames, and often causes 'difficult' but acceptable within reason threads
to spiral angrily out of control.

Bad mods spoil the system and undermine our confidence in all the other decent hard working 'firm but fair' mods we respect for maintaining Mudcat as a forum of first choice for many hundreds of regular visitors.