The story is largely in Joe's own words in the threads linked to above.

I used to contribute to these type of navel-gazing threads and Joe would post asking us not to indulge in these as it only encouraged our many-named-ones and was counter-productive.

Things have changed somewhat, I don't think that there is much wrong with The Mudcat that we can't encourage each other to sort out, but Joe now seems to think there is and starts these threads to point what steps he proposes to take to correct them. They contain such gems as.......
Free speech is fine, but you're just a pain in the ass.
-Joe Offer-

What happened to not agreeing to what folk say but defending their right to say it? I am defending peoples right to be able to say what they wish, not just what Joe will permit them to say.

Having a rule of thumb guidance on the cutting and pasting is not a problem. Turning this and other rules of thumb, into imposed hard and fast rules, by referring to them as needing to be imposed by being a huge problem, is not. It is an old tactic but folk still fall for it.

Folk write and support the general principles of what is supposed to be happening and why, but a careful read of Joe's comments in the above prohibition/control threads will show what is being supported and defended by many posters, is not what Joe is actually doing.

These threads pre-date Jeff's BS split and this measure alone has rendered all of this minding of everyone elses's business
and heavy-handed imposition of control unnecessary. Can we just give this measure a chance to work first?

What will need controlling next? - It may even be you.........