Is there the possibility of an option, when displaying unread postings, to not bother displaying any threads in the shit heap. Or indeed any posted to by "Whitelackington" who seems more interested in european politics than caving...

Peter Burgess is your man.  He knows how to set up ignore poster filters (or so he said).

How long does it take for the contents of the Shit Heap to rot down into something inoffensive and useful for the garden? Seems to be taking forever.