>Edited to add: And on a personal level, the reason I seem so
>annoyed by all of this really boils down to the fact that this
>stuff is avoidable or within the realm of control just using
>normal damage control strategy. I see some posts from the
>staff and I just want to bonk the guy on the head for posting
>it and fanning the flames when he could've and should've just
>not posted anything at all and left it for you or Twist or
>Kasty or someone else to reign things in.

I agree that there are some people on staff, past and/or present, who are not cool-headed about forum responses. That is to say, they can't always just let it go when someone's trying to provoke them or is taking a position they believe to be wrong.

I include myself in that group, incidentally, even if sometimes I can show restraint.

It's a hard problem to deal with, because we are are a volunteer staff, and on balance I think everyone we have on staff is a net asset to the game even if they may make some decisions I wouldn't, on the forums or otherwise.

So in a sense I agree with what you're saying, although I think there isn't often a solution to the problem that I'm happy with.