Maybe the wrong choice of words - certainly there is nothing racist about Mudcat, but I think you know what I mean. We do not want to be a clique or a handful of friends that feed off each other.

While there are detractors, overwhelming I get a spirit of openness and welcome here at Mudcat. I think we want to see more people posting notes and sharing opinions. You have to take the good with the bad.   

Windsinger said something on another post (after I foolishly posted some comments that were taken out of the context I intended) about people respecting one another. THAT may be missing these days.   We tend to get caught up in our own opinions that we fail to listen to others.

I've also noticed that the people who post the most negative comments seem to be looking for opportunities to make snide comments. It comes across as if they are just dealing with some inadequacy (like my spelling) and have some sick need to snap at others.   

As my mother used to say, you take the good with the bad and make the best of it.