What difference does it really make if people join Mudcat for the music, or for the B.S.?

Surely the important thing is the content of posts.

Many of our Republican posters (they're not all rabid IRA killers, you know) have expressed their viewpoint in a more well mannered fashion than those who respond to them with narrow minded, and one sided comments.

McGrath is right to the extent that it is comforting to know that you are talking to someone who shares a common interest, in this case music. But it certainly isn't, and IMHO shouldn't be, a requirement for membership.

Nor does it in any way make their opinions less worthy of consideration.

As an Englishman born and bred in this country, who happens to have hundreds of years of Irish ancestry on both father's, and mother's side, I am always very interested in learning about Ireland. In order to do that, I need to hear both sides of the story.

It would greatly please me to be able to do this without having to weed out genuine comment from a storm of vituperation and hate, especially as most of it seems to come from people who should know better, and on other subjects usually do.

Don T.