The descent into poor maligned guests... yawn..

I'm all with you, Amos... when someone comes on as a Guest and joins the discussion in a reasonable fashion, I don't pay any attention to whether they are a guest. When a member comes on and seems to be intent upon stirring up emotions, I don't pay much attention to them.
Some guests seem so obviously to be trying to sidetrack conversations in threads that I wonder if we couldn't all chip in and purchase them a life. What kind of jollies do people get coming here just trying to get people riled up? That's entertainment? I kinda thought the whole purpose of this place was respectful communication. I question how much of a group mind there is here. I sure don't agree with a lot of what is posted here, and clearly most other people don't. But, as long as people aren't getting personal or nasty about it, I can respect anyone's opinions. But, I don't enjoy people who try to stir up the waters, and it has nothing to do with whether they are members or guests. After all, do I really know ga because they use their membership name? Do I know ga (just as an example of someone I have just "met") better than an unnamed Guest? We only get to know each other through time, and some level of respectful communication. It's as impossible to get to know a guest as it is to develop a personal relationship with "Occupant."

For those who come here with good intent, Mudcat unfolds. Very few of us care what the real identities of people are. We get to know people here by what they say, how they respect each other, and us.
I wouldn't know John From Hull if I passed him on the street. I have no idea if he is the world's worst spell9er or a Rhodes Scholar. I like john because he has a sense of humor I appreciate, and I think he is basically a good-natured person. I feel I know him because he uses a consistent, personalized name. As far as I know (although I doubt it, he could really be Penelope Roseblossom. People are accepted here by how they behave. If you act like someone intent upon irritating people as a form of entertainment, you will be responded to as a jerk.

That simple.

Jerry Rasmussen (real name, Edward A. Guest)