I agree w/ this statement 100% as banning certain people from ever joining would just create bad publicity for this forum and actually hurt its credibility.
With all that being said, we as a group must police ourselves and make sure we do not become even 1/10th of a percent remotely similar to the forum(s) we dislike. So if you see something that offends you or you disagree with, or someone says something that you feel doesn't need to be said on this forum; Send them a pm and address the issue like an adult, that way it does not become a childish e-shouting match publicly. To me this is the #1 killer of informative/fun forums, and been the downfall of many I have been a part of in the past 7 years.
I think matters of people being offended or matters that needs apologizing for should be handled this way. If the member that offended people or whatever wishes to apologize and or address their actions to the public, they then can make a post and do so in a mature manner. That is the only way this forum can stay civil and informative In my opinion.
Bottom line, no matter how much babble I type, because I am not even sure where I was going with that. WE HAVE TO POLICE OURSELVES, and it really seems we are doing a good job of it.
-steven-