In short, those are interesting thoughts, quite right, it seems to me, but I still don't know, don't have authority or influence to make a difference and am not enough motivated to try (my fault, not yours).

I think apathy is the greater impediment to change but there is always the possibility of it and appeal to all concerned will be most effective, in the long run, at least for those of us who do not have authority. This, combined with tolerance and forgiveness.

That's an interesting and thoughtful response; for which I thank you.

I've been trying to shut this thread down, but that deserves at least some response. so I'll hope you'll forgive me for picking out and responding to one line of your post:

If there are no gods, how are decisions to be made? How is anything to be done, for better or worse, without being no sooner done than undone?

Never did I suggest that the Gods should disappear; nor even that Tye should not be a God.

If you read the title question carefully, I asked how did it come about that one person came to exercise such total and capricious will over the running and maintenance of this site.

It is well documented that Tye & I do not play well together, but it was not a "personal" thing. I wasn't seeking to depose him, nor offering to replace him. Just questioning whether his authority was achieve by accident or design; and whichever, whether it is a good thing.

Then someone -- I unfortunately blamed Tye, but have since been convinced (reliably informed) to the contrary -- messed with my account. For daring to ask the question.

And thus, the question and the debate that might have been, has been effectively dodged & defused into a "just BrowserUk shouting the odds" event. Clever management.

You'll note that no one from management has even attempted to respond to the question. Whatever comments they have made have been either righteous indignation or sock-puppeted poison-the-well distraction. Cleverly stage-managed and silently supported.

But, that mostly came after the general apathy was evident; and thus overkill.

There is nothing to be done; because they won't even address the question. And will use every means -- fair or foul -- to suppress it. They hold the cards, and that's the end of it.

---

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

> You'll note that no one from management has even attempted to respond to the question. 

what you call "shaking" is actually pretty offensive!

not feeding trolls is an appropriate strategie.

Cheers Rolf

( addicted to the Perl Programming Language)