I get occasional feedback on my comments within the threads where I post, and once in a while I get a nice PM from somebody, which has usually been more than enough "recognition" to satisfy me. And, of course, I know that that I appreciate many of the comments I read without reponding to each and every one to tell how much I enjoyed 'em. Who would?

I realize that I have *no* reason to expect any virtual "valentines" -- I don't participate in the chat room, I have no real-life contact with any other members, and I neither give nor receive much in the way of social contact through MC -- for me, it's just a vehicle for exchanging ideas and observations, generally on a fairly abstract level, so I have no business expecting much in the way of *personal* affirmation from my fellow members.

Despite all these valid insights, however, I've felt badly on a couple of occasions at not being mentioned in one of these BS "favorites" threads.

It never bothered me until earlier this year: After a couple months' absense while undergoing radiation treatment for a tumor in my neck, I logged back on after I began to recover, and almost immediately saw a thread entitled "Missing Mudcatters -- Where are they?" Like a fool, I assumed that somebody, somewhere, would have noticed that I hadn't been around for a while and would have said something. No way.

Once I felt that sting of disappointment once, I seem to have become a junky for personal recognition. Whereas I never before had wanted or expected to be mentioned in a discussion like this one, I suddenly felt a compunction to open every stupid discussion of personalities, to scroll through hoping to find some mention of myself, and then (of course) to feel bad -- albeit briefly -- upon coming up empty-handed.

Serves me right for venturing "below the line," and not sticking with those good old meat-and-potatoes music threads!