But there's still the problem that a stay-away-from-the-garbage policy, if consistently applied, would mean that a couple of well placed anonymous posts could close down a thread.

And that could as easily happen in music threads, which can also turn quite sour sometimes.

We should avoid being provoked into posting by these people.But at the same time we need to avoid being silenced by them. It's a difficult balance, and I know I haven't got it right myself a lot of times.

It seems to come in spats, which are unpleasant, but they pass. Putting up with it is a price for having the Mudcat. Going too far in the direction of active preventive measures would be too high a price for tackling this irritation. And there are always ways for those so minded to sneak round any set of defences anyway.

Good point, Kevin-
I'd say that if a legitimate thread is going and a flamer butts in, the best response is to keep the thread going, but act as if the flamer were invisible. Don't acknowledge a flamer in any way. Catspaw might suggest that you imagine the miscreant let out a very noticeable fart, and act accordingly (I wouldn't say that, but Spaw would...)
Threads started by flamers are another matter. Don't post to them, even if others have posted. Don't try to turn the thread with humor - it rarely works, and it gives the troll/flamer lots of the attention he/she craves. It's easy to identify flame/troll threads. They almost always started by a Guest, and they almost always start out with a nasty tone.
-Joe Offer-