I have given some thought to what Svpii recommended. As not being part of the solution can be construed as being part of the problem, I wanted to weigh in.

It occurs to me that we really are a fairly homogeneous group (I don’t anticipate that the AA people will call for a Jihad against the United folks). If we can’t figure this out, what hope is there for peace in the Middle East and the old Yugoslavian region?

I abhor censorship, and it is only with great misgivings that I imagine the marketplace of ideas being regulated. And to even consider censorship I have to shift my view of FT to be more of a club than strictly a BB. But someone yelling “Fire” in our crowded theater has caused a number of FT stalwarts to evacuate.

Looking at Svpii’s working proposal, it looks to me to be a full time job that few would do for pay, let alone on a volunteer basis. So, using the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid):

A Board of Governors, or User Advisory Council (UAC), could be voted in by popular vote. This Board, maybe 25 members, would have clearly defined powers and could, by say a 75% majority of a voting quorum do the following:

1. Move a thread from an active Board to a “contentious” or “time-out” or “Hot Debate” Board;
2. Lock down a thread;
3. Suspend a user for up to two weeks;
4. Recommend to Randy expulsion.

A defined number, say three, could make a motion for voting. Once a motion was made, it would be forwarded by email and voted on within a set number of days. Failure to get response from 50% +1 of the voting members would cause the motion to die.

Randy would have veto power over items one, two and three, above.

Names of the Governors would not be known to help curtail lobbying (I know, a little like a Kangaroo Court). Voting would be conducted off the Board and tallied by Randy’s crew.