I've spent the past week delivering KBF anti-mask leaflets through people's front doors. Hopefully, a few of the recipients will had their interest sufficiently piqued by the leaflets to check out the KBF website. What would be a great shame is if they all came here and, instead of wanting to join us, thought we were all stupid. I get the impression that some posters feel that the only people who look at this forum are already converts and therefore don't worry about showing restraint. There are a number of threads which promote strange conspiracy theories as facts we would all take for granted, or attack politicians aimlessly. If a 'normal', wavering person comes here and sees them, there's a good chance they'll run a country mile in the other direction. Perhaps we should consider establishing a few basic forum rules to see that the quality of our output is high and that we don't repel possible allies. For example: 1) If you're going to make a claim and assert it as fact, make sure it is supported by a reliable source, for example, a news report, government statement or photographic/video evidence. 2) If you believe something to be true but cannot find a source for it, acknowledge in your post that you are posting with all good intentions, but that you may be mistaken somewhere along the line. If you've just heard a rumour, be honest about the fact that you're posting a rumour.

Secondly, I think we would benefit from a literate moderator. I realise immediately why we should be concerned about allowing moderators, lest we should be infiltrated by trolls or 77th Brigade and so on, but I do think it would be necessary to have one or two with very limited powers. Why? Because it seems no one can be trusted to post their threads in the right section of the forum. We've only got seven sections and their purposes are all explained quite clearly underneath them. Yet, somehow, they all seem to become dumping grounds for a litany of links, memes and event promotions. How hard it can it be to get it right? Honestly, the way we present ourselves to other people is important. We've got the full force of Westminster and its rabid Fleet Street lapdogs condemning us, branding us conspiracy theorists/right-wing extremists/left-wing extremists/psychopaths/morons. Let's try to make it a little bit harder for them.