The "Free for All" page has no "reply" button, and the "new topic" button will take you to a page explaining that only registered people may post. I had something to comment upon, so I registered. I used my professional email address, because I anticipated any participation to be in that capacity: questions from me, research results, and so forth. Besides, I wanted them to know that I was on the level, since it's likely that such a forum might attract people with serious Opinions on an extremely volatile set of topics.

The moderators reply personally, as it states after one registers to join. The text of the reply to me from the moderator:

Hi
I see you have applied to join our forum. Can you tell me where you learned about us and what your interest is, or your connection is, with the Middle East?

Thanks

[I'm trimming all the identifying information out of the correspondence. Apart from that, it appears as sent and received.]

I replied as follows:

Hi.

I found a link to your forum on another board, from an internet acquaintance who lives in California. http://www.habitablezone.com/currentevents/messages/452518.html

I visited and was interested.

In one of the threads on the public forum, titled "The Veil", the initial post included an extensive quotation from Andy Rooney which seemed very atypical of him in content, though not in tone. I looked it up on Snopes.com, the urban legends compendium, and sure enough, it was merely ascribed to him. Even though the quote turned out not to be pertinent to the rest of the discussion, I wanted to post a link to the correction, which includes a statement by Mr. Rooney. When I discovered I couldn't post, I registered.

As a librarian, I'm always interested in learning about different points of view. As someone who works with children and youth, I understand the value of presenting many viewpoints on social and political issues, and I understand the value of discussion. As a non-Christian citizen of a very conservative Christian small town, I understand the sometimes corrosive effect that religion can have on politics and community life. The only way to counter that effect is through knowledge and discussion.

We have several Jewish and several Muslim families living in my service area, though the only non-Christian house of worship in the community is, I was told when I moved here, the local Catholic church. *sigh* (There are mosques and synagogues in nearby cities which these families attend.) Though the families are Americans, I know that the current problems in the Middle East affect them, especially the Muslim children who sometimes are looked on with suspicion by their peers.

I'm in my early 50s, the mother of four children between the ages of 26 and 15. I was raised in an Irish-American Catholic household, descended from Famine Irish. My ethnic group has a long memory for the past, including past conflicts and wrongs. I sometimes think I see a similar pattern playing out in the Middle East. Forums like yours encourage me greatly.

I know I can read without posting, and honestly, I probably won't post much. My grandfather used to say that God gave us one mouth and two ears as a hint; since I'm looking for insight, I will gain much more by reading than by writing, but I would like the opportunity to contribute when I can.

Thanks

The moderator's reply:

Thank you for your letter and your explanation. I am interested that our modest forum has received such appreciation.

We generally keep our membership to people who have something relevant to contribute: people who live in the relevant area or people with special knowledge or ties to the area. We have found that people who do not fall into these categories inevitably feel sidelined or slighted.

Thank you for your interest

I went back to the forum after this reply to discover whether my status had changed, and it had not.

So there you have it. The "Free for All" portion of the forum is just as restricted as the other parts.

Since Mr. Rooney has said, in print and on TV, that he wasn't the author of the essay quoted in full in the thread I mentioned, that he considers its contents to be damaging to his reputation, and that he would sue the author who stole his name if the person could ever be found, I suggested in a follow-up email that the moderator make this known. (I was certain that the poster was not aware that he had reproduced a forgery.) The moderator did so, mentioning a request made by a non-member, which clarified the status of my request. The poster who quoted the essay withdrew it with apologies, explaining that he didn't know its provenance, as I suspected. So I'm at once satisfied and disappointed.

Perhaps you will have better luck. Be aware of the special requirements when you attempt to register. Interest is not enough.