Celtic Soul,

In case you aren't aware of it, there is the option of joining one of the many decent moderated folk forums or private mailing lists.

No such thing tho as decent discussion forum without disagreement, controversial subject matter.

One plus of the moderated approach is, when intolerant people who disagree with others by heaping abuse on them, they are warned/removed by the moderator. Responses like those from some identified Mudcatters to anonymous guests in CM/DB thread would be the ones to get the boot n a moderated forum, not the other way 'round.

Moderated forums are more tolerant of differing/divisive opinions than unmoderated. Result: forums with more pleasant atmosphere. Being abusive of others doesn't get rewarded, it gets punished, swiftly. Lots to be said for that route.

I frequent a number of discussion forums for writers. Rarely (if ever) have seen the "Shut up, go away, piss off, I don't agree with you asshole" posting we see coming from a lot self-identified Mudcatters. One favorite folk list of mine, can't even recall ever seeing abusive posters, ever.

As you said, people want the freedom to read/post from anywhere nowadays. I do it all the time I'm networked at home and office, use a laptop for mobility. Lots of us prefer anonymity. Because we just do.

If constraints were to be put on this forum, as some as suggesting, I'd just quit reading.

Don't participate often enought to be bothered with trying to remember more passwords, handles, etc. then I am already forced to use in my daily life

Also have a terrible time remembering names. No daily relationship, no face, not much in the hard drive to remember someone with. Fact of life in unmoderated on-line forums for me.

Some here really are involved with each other personally, some not. No need to change the forum to suit the former, at the expense of the latter, IMO.

All