John,

>The whole idea of having multiple sysops is that one can react if the others aren't available. The source of (perceived) paralysis is a structure that has a lot of gray areas when it comes to hot-button posts. We are trying to address this.

Glad to hear it. I hope Michel will back you up and let you put plans into action.

>It's a shame that general class and comportment aren't enough...

I agree completely that it's a shame. I, for one, am not ashamed of attempting to be courteous or of encouraging ideas over insults, even if the majority or most vocal here were to label that as "old-fashioned" or the strangely derogatory "PC", which seems to cover just about anything that is civil and genteel.

>...but that's as it is and what can you do about it?

I'll do what I can. Or was that the "generic you"?