after 7 years here, I have some very clear ideas about whether and how I would get along with certain people in person..(having met many dozens of Mudcatters thru the FSGW Getaway, I know I have a good guessing average). [I have been surprised by a few as to appearance, but that is not the inportant thing.] There are many people I enjoy...and respect....but whom I doubt I would like for next-door neighbors, if that makes sense.

As for myself, I try very hard to present myself in print as I am RT, and pepper my posts with underlinings and other tricks to try to show emphasis and 'voice tone'..I love **good** humor (yeah, that means I shudder at juvenile attempts at jokes I outgrew in the 4th grade..*grin*)and I like serious, thoughtful debate, dislike unthinking bias and shallow pettyness and provincial narrowness of viewpoint.

What amazes me is how many folks there are at Mudcat who fit my exacting standards..*grin*...and how few I have serious reservations about!

I have a list of about 10-20 people here whom I would cheerfully drive extra hours in order to meet them and have some genuine interaction with! (and play music with, in many cases!)

This internet business IS strange--it is quite tricky to decide who you want to be and how to interact with others. Some people appear 'flat'...they type in short, abbreviated sentences with no 'feeling'...others have a personality which shines thru, (whether pleasant or not)....
   I wonder what it will all be like in a generation or two.