Should Theatre Australia Members Only be allowed to post

I don't have a major problem with that (which will probably surprise some people). I happily registered and have as far as I can remember only posted once anonymously (when my computer was defiantly not allowing me to log on). I defend peoples right to more or less say what they want but have never really been comfortable with the anonymity. (that didn't look right but the spell checker isn't complaining). I think it will reduce the number of just plain unpleasant posts. I still feel that we should be very careful not to censor people because we don't like what we see written down. Whatever we do as performing artists some people are going to hate it and some people are going to love it. Some people express their feelings in different ways than others and come across as offensive. Some posts on this site have been described as malicious that is a hard thing to prove as often it is not known who they are and you cannot ascribe malicious intent unless you can prove a motive. Some of these people almost certainly see themselves as being blunt and honest even though we do not see them that way but some of them are giggling school kids waiting for exactly what they are given, a pompous angry response. That gives them the opportunity to continue and claim the moral high ground. Some of them seem to have what they believe to be a genuine grievance, unfortunately they don't seem prepared to identify themselves in order to resolve that grievance. One poster on this site has been repeatedly asked to come along and identify themselves and to serve on the committee they are attacking. I know myself that unless you are part of the charmed circle that won't happen. You won't get elected. I am sure that there is no deliberate attempt to create a clique but we vote for who we know and like and unknowns or people who see themselves as opponents are often rejected. I speak from the position of having been on both sides of that situation. I have been a part of what someone once referred to as a "self perpetuating oligarchy" and have been part of a small group attempting to break into a similar closed group. Perhaps the poster has a point if you sit back for a while and think about it. I don't know the situation in WA but I will say that sometimes with the best intention a situation can arise where a group begins to look like a closed clique. If you are on the inside you sometimes can't see it. Please do not believe that I am criticizing the ITA or suggesting that you are in anyway a clique. I don't know I can't comment. I am not even sure what started me on this line. To go back to the original question maybe making people register in order to post isn't as good an idea as I originally thought as it may stifle what could be healthy criticism as well as the more unpleasant stuff. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au