In the past I've felt that having any kind of separate page for "community stuff" was uneeded, and have said so here, but I think I've changed my mind on the issue.

I consider Mudcat part of my daily living experience now, and would be sad to have to leave, but business concerns, family matters, and learning a new instrument (jazz and blues fiddle) have cut into my on-line time substantially. I can usually manage about half an hour a day (down from an hour plus) usually broken up into 2 or 3 segments. Sometimes this changes (usually one a week) and I browse and post for a couple of hours...but I'm never sure when I'll get the time for that to happen.

I'd love to see some of the music specific threads hang around longer, and attract the real "music nerds" like myself a bit quicker. Of course, as I've stated MANY times, the sharp wit, personal disclosure, and political opinions often found in the erroniously labeled "BS" threads make this the "perfect all around site" for me.

If I've only got 10 or 15 minutes though, I'd rather just visit the "music" threads where I may have answered a question for someone, or am looking for an answer myself. Being terminally curious, if I'm confronted with threads named "UFOs visit Mudcat" or "Is Catspaw the Devil?" or "Will Armageddon start in San Diego?" I'm just too weak to pass them up!

If it can be done without HUGE problems, I'd be in favour of a separate "Community Interests" section. I think it would cut any current disatisfaction with balance, overposting, and spiritual issues by 9/10ths. The other 1/10th? Screw 'em if they can't take a joke!

Rick Fielding