Bill,
I guess that I have to ask, what it the purpose of designating a Moderator if they do not moderate the site? No disrespect intended but if the designated leader doesn't lead, then there is chaos.
More than one good forum has been ruined because individuals were allowed to personally attack people and the moderator left it unchecked. Some posters are just mean spirited people, some just try to build themselves up by tearing others down. Either way, the forum suffers and people begin to drop off and not come back.
Once the forum gets the rep. of being nothing but a home for bashing and no real information is being exchanged, it dies.
I would encourage you to do some moderating. If you feel (dislike) the snide personal attacks, then delete them and they will stop. A friendly exchange is one thing, nasty attacks are another.
There is no dog of mine in this fight, I have just witnessed other forums that didn't police the threads have their readership dry up. This forum overall is a decent one and it would be ashame to have good contributors avoid it.
I'am just saying.
Bob