The group suffering from the worst bigotry here are the guests. Automatic hatred, fear, paranoia, results in constant negative behavior towards people posting as guests, including harrassment, villification, and of course, the perennial favorite of Mudcatters, swearing a blue streak and using the worst language possible, directed at the guests, deserving or not.

Even more appalling, Mudcatters feel entirely justified in showing the absolute worst of themselves and humanity, without a second thought of fear of embarrassment, of being sanctioned or ostracized by the group--there is absolutely no limits to the outrageously bad behavior rewarded here for bashing guests. Who are, after all, human beings too. What we do isn't even as bad as bombing people, taking people hostage, sexually abusing them--nothing of that ilk.

Bigotry is really all about hating strangers--the people who aren't "us" whomever us may be in a given group of humans gathering anywhere on the planet.

Want to know how bad bigotry really is at Mudcat? Look at how all of you post to guests who make you angry or dare say something you disagree with. Jeri is right. Guests aren't the only negative force to be contended with here in Mudcat. The negativity has been feeding on itself for quite some time now, has gotten even worse since 9/11, and doesn't show any sign of ending soon.

I guess this is one of those "you get back what you give out to others" cases. The more people are allowed to continue harrassing others, especially guests, you are going to attract the negative sorts of people who naturally gravitate to that kind of thing as your membership. Like attracts like, as they say.