This community has always been a bunch of piss takers. There was also definitely a culture here of people coming in and going 'oh ok I have to take the piss out of people to be seen as cool' and the odd people who would always take the banter too far. And people who would back away because of that which always made me sad, especially when I knew their sense of humour was classic Muser hahaha.
I haven't read the posts you refer to from Niall but for all you know he could be talking to his friends. For example there's a post from me I came across last night where I said 'shut up vagina face', to a long term regular, and anyone coming in and seeing a (then) mod talking like that might be a bit like
But, as I have always said to defend the culture of this place, shiny record label and management companies aside, this place started as a message board for a very naughty young rock band, and that sense of humour we all had back then is what's endured.
So yeah, sticking up for Niall - everyone knows this place is fan run, he's just a fan, chatting, the same as the rest of us.