Felipa wrote: I thought the reason the thread from the Russian was treated with suspicion was because it contained quiz questions that looked like something #1peasant had written... To my mind a neat example of what McGrath is rightly concerned about.

If someone comes here looking for help with quiz questions about Ireland, why the hell should we do anything else but take it at face value? What's the loss if it turns out to be Conrad (#1 peasant), who in any case has proved more than willing to put his name to more provocative posts than that one.

McGrath is right not only because of this example but because it typifies the smartarse retorts that other one-off visitors have had. I vaguely remember someone seeking advice about a failed relationship. The degree to which some Mudcatters cosset each other in such matters is almost nauseating, but this woman's mistake was to be a Stranger, so she was immediately categorised by the worldly-wise as a Fake. As though we really could not have afforded to run that risk! How precious do we think we are?