Malc, yes, I am the only moderator, unless I'm away and then someone else keeps their eye on things. Clicking on the 'Moderator Alert' button does just that too, in case I've missed something, and also alerts someone at head office in London. It seems to work well enough, for we don't have too many idiots making it uncomfortable for the rest of us.
I'm a big believer in free speech, but expressed it in a proper manner. Okay, there are times when we get hot under the collar and get a bit forceful in our views. That's okay too, providing we don't go too far. And usually, we sense when we've gone a bit OTT and try to smooth things over in another message. What has worked very well on FM too, is that we have a great nucleus of sensible, level-headed posters who are quick to point out the error of someone's ways. Many times they have done my job for me.
One of my pet dislikes is the poster who has to take their frustration out on spelling or grammar mistakes simply because their argument within the thread has collapsed around them and they can't think of a logical reply. It's especially silly on a forum which doesn't have a built-in spell-checker and where most of us dash things off on the fly, so to speak.
There is another aspect to this as well. What we have to realise is that for every one of us who post regularly there are a hundred or more who just read the messages. Many of them are just not confident enough to write an opinion for fear of being ridiculed or taken to task.
It's easy for me to tell them there is nothing to be frightened of, but not so easy to accept it and post a message. Which is another reason why we should be extra careful of jumping down somebody's throat, if they are a new poster, if they've said something we don't agree with. It may have taken a lot of doing for them to post that message in the first place.
What you don't realise is what goes on in the background. Many times I'll email someone privately to ask them to tone it down a bit, or to tell them something about the person they're criticising that I think they should know, and which would probably change their opinion.
If someone said something that was blatantly slanderous or came out with serious profanities there would be no communication at all. They'd be gone.
Part of my job as editor of this website is to make it it as easy and comfortable as possible for visitors to use. If I have to prevent some people from using it to do that then I will. The website will, eventually, be better for it.
No forum will ever be perfect. There will always be the odd rogue who comes along and tries to be clever. There is little we can do about that except to be philosophical, shrug it off, and then get on with life in the real world.
I can't think of when a thread was closed without explanation. Not an important, on-going thread anyway. So if there was one you want an explanation for just go ahead and ask.
Banter? Dunno about that Peg-leg..........