Have no idea why anyone would want to hide or mask an IP address whilst typing into a forum, unless of course one is intent on causing offence or something similar. Of course this is a private forum and it has private rules, but because it is so publicly accessible, what is wrote would be determined to be in the public domain. If one slanders another in here or even on the likes of facebook, it doesn't to me seem or shouldn't be treated to be any different to slandering someone in person or libelling them to a newspaper. I am sure their is no stopping of opinion, but of course, there is a line to be drawn between freedom of speech on the one hand and causing offence on another. Sometimes difficult conceptions, but if like the guidelines say, it is treated like any other type of public conversation it shouldn't be difficult to see that line.