I can't tell you how many times reputable members here have told me in private they don't agree with the actions of staff or other highly ranked people here, but they refuse to get involved because it puts them at risk from being attacked and having their own reputation destroyed for doing so.
Bullshit. Whoever thinks this is very wrong. I can't say much about reputable members as I'm not in DT and don't watch the situation (closely), but the staff will certainly "attack you" if you disagree with them. The moderators tend to have different views among themselves in addition to disagreeing with theymos on certain rules and such. There's nothing wrong with that.
The problem is not different views and opinions. The problem is there is no uniform enforcement of any of the rules around here and not even any official rules posted. This leaves the doors wide open for abuse, nepotism, and other types of selective enforcement. There is no rule of law here at all, just might makes right, and that certainly never goes bad does it?