I think that svpii and onefreeman are hitting on some important points here, as do several other people on other threads.

My concern is around leadership:

• Many people have pleaded in posts for Randy to take a strong leadership role and if nothing else treat this as the lobby of the House of Miles, and to paraphrase Rudi we've brought our grandparents for a visit.
• True leaders cannot and do not demand respect due to title or status or wealth or strength of voice. They earn and command it over time through deeds. The people who are leaving are considered by many to be our leaders, thus the outroar. Notice that only when PremEx decided that he had enough, and Rudi appeared to be offended by Randy did all **** completely break loose. Catman's departure was unfortunate but not the first time, therefore there was less commotion over that event.
• Many of us expect our leaders to stay and protect us, even at their own personal cost - but upon reflection I don't think it is fair of us to do so
• New leaders will emerge. They always do.
• Leaders, however, can only do so much without authority. And in this society, only Randy doles out the authority.

So, to come back to NJDavid's original question: What will happen now?

If Randy is truly and personally hurt by the loss of the leadership provided by those that left, then I think we will see change. If not, then all the new leaders of the community that emerge will still not have the tools at their disposal to efficiently deal with this situation, or other difficult situations that will follow even if ozstamps left today and never came back as the set of participants evolve.

[Edited for UBB errors]

[This message has been edited by ElmhurstNick (edited 03-03-2001).]