I lurk on both fRoots and Mudcat because I love folk music of all descriptions (even some of the scary world-y stuff) and want to know what is going on. I've never posted on either site and have never liked the 'vigorous competition' between them. But I have been moved to come on here and speak because over the last couple of days when I couldn't access f-Roots, I suddenly realised I didn't miss it at all. In fact, it's absence was a bit of a relief. It's only when it's peevish, supercilious, sigh-you-lot-know-nothing-and don't deserve-us tone was taken away that I realised just how unecessary, unpleasant and unwanted that all-too-familiar f-Roots voice is.

There's some awful arrogant nonsense on Mudcat, too. But it's just a bunch of people with different views and sometimes getting a bit too catty and up themselves about it.Far too often for my liking f-Roots seems to have an agenda and a bunch of axes to grind that are really the stuff of the playground.

I know a lot of people happily contribute to both fora and that is a good thing. What I'm talking about mostly seems to stem from the admnistrator of the fRoots board who seems to have an unecessarily complex attitude to music and life. If I had to sum it up, I'd say Mudcat's basic approach is to ask 'is it good or bad?' The f-Roots tone is a lot more cynical and suspicious and asks ''what reprehensible motives lie behind this?'' Over the last few days I have realised I much prefer the former. Thank you, Mudcat. Now 've lost my virginity, I won't be so coy in future in contributing to your discussions, even if you are all far more learned and informed than I am!