I see I was right to be a bit sceptical about the words I quoted from you, Steve...

But your point that the original topic for this thread might be a way of keeping discussions relatively courteous (given the occasional "scumbag" and stuff like that) does have some merit. Which would suggest it then might drift on to other issues where tempers flare, such as gun control, Israel/Palestine, Irish history, and quite a host more. Turning into a version of the "Mother of All Threads", but with a focus on controversy. And going round in perpetual circles.

I don't really think so. But perhaps there'd be something to be said for it being possible to set up a thread about a controversial subject with predetermined different moderating ground rules from the rest of the Mudcat.

No swearing, no spitting, no gouging of eyes... Threads that would be guaranteed to stay respectful, without interfering with the hurly burly in the threads generally which would continue to be more relaxed about that. (In fact you could have another set of threads which would be predetermined to go to the other extreme, and only the sickos would go there...)