It's been a lot worse at times, it will be a lot worse at times - and it's not so bad even at its worst. And at its best it's great. And the best happens right alongside the worst. That's true of life, that's true of the Mudcat.

Free speech isn't an absolute. "Free speech" just means the authorities don't get involved - you say what you want to and take the consequences if what you say angers someone else. And there are limits on what you can do to respond to someone who has said something that angers you. You shouldn't kill them or break their legs.

Well, here at the Mudcat we aren't in a situation where killing each other or breaking each other legs doesn't come into it. What we can do is to be honest about our disagreements, and respect each other.

To suggest that "Free speech" means you can't say that you think what someone has said is false or evil, and try to persuade other people to see it the same way - that would just be a contradiction in terms, because this is precisely what free speech is about - the freedom to tell the truth as you see it.

But that kind of stuff is only necessary in extremis. Most of the time with pretty well everyone the sharpest disagreements can be and are conducted with courtesy and humour, and that's how it should be. The people who operate differently generally seem to get fed up and drift away, or with luck they change their mind-set and help keep the diversity going strong.

But anyway, this kind of thing goes round and round and vanishes away. Honest, it won't be long before we'll open the 'cat up, and every thread will seem to be about music and fellowship and that. And then a little time and it'll all seem to be people denouncing and hating each other. And so on. Thanks Max and Joe, and most of the rest of you.