At the risk of making this NG seem even more self-referential and further alienating the very people we need back, here is part of my response to an off-list email from an erstwhile regular contributor:-
I think it a shame that so many regulars seem to have dropped out the NG, I find it a really valuable resource but of course every deserter makes it less so. The bulk of the OT banter and gentle ribbing is surely no worse than than one might expect from friends at a club meeting (Oh the flack I got when I took the pink Kubota to a crank-up!). When it all gets a bit nasty, it is usually the fault of the medium which sometimes makes it difficult to read between the lines to judge the spirit in which a post was meant. Admittedly there are a few professional trolls who are probably best ignored - but that is the price you pay for an open forum, most moderated sites seem dull and sterile in comparison. (Think I might post that last para).