I don't want you to go, but honestly I am getting tired of defending myself. What I think gets lost, is that I can go weeks without moderating anyone - to me this is a storm whipped up out of nothing. People mix up my role as moderator with my role as a member of the forum.
Max_B, Malf and Chuck weren't banned, they were suspended pending a private discussion between them and Alex. If they are too vain to comply with that request from the guy who runs (and pays for) this site, what can be done? All three of them had chosen to be pretty rude to me, also without even once voicing their views in a PM to me. Imagine for a moment if you had been insulted on the forum in a similar vein - moderators have feelings too!
Possibly you also don't realise that I have a life outside moderating this forum - I can't just dither and discuss for ever. You also obviously don't realise that when something is going wrong, I often start by PMing the person concerned, trying to point out what it is that I want to change. Some respond brilliantly and that is the end of that, others seem to feel offended that I have even contacted them!
If you felt so badly about my moderation, why didn't you PM me about it?
The problem with heated arguments is that while they may be briefly amusing, people aren't always playing fair. For example, sometimes a poster will try to get his way by posting vast numbers of links to sites that support his views - simply trying to shut up real debate. We can all see how easy that would be to do in support of materialism - 50 links to sites claiming there is no evidence for paranormal phenomena, but what use would that be? People have to want to discuss the issues involved.
Perhaps you would still like to PM me to discuss your problems, rather than leaving the forum?
David