They're a funny old lot a STW towers, I can well imagine that they're probably quite aloof and probably quite cliquey in their way too… Possibly something to do with that strange combination of weird micro-niche-pseuedo-stardom vs total obscurity to the rest of the general public, that defines their lives. Almost like school teachers in a way.
I seem to remember – a fair while back – one of the moderators commenting that they were actually finding the PaddedFred/Peado-gate thread quite amusing – then they took an about po-face and closed it. They seem to appear to on one hand advocate the inane playground antics of STW, but then shut them down as soon as it appears to be maybe tarnishing the business image of ST, which is fair enough I suppose.. It's a delicate balance.
The thing is, I really appreciate the daftness of this site, as much as I appreciate the occasionally 'daft' approach that ST takes to MTB journalism. The playground antics, in-jokes, irreverance and sillyness are part of what define STW for me and help foster a connection with a mountain biking community, comprised of people that I feel I know somehow, yet I may never meet.