I don't hark back to a 'golden age of Mudcat', for I feel that is yet to come, with all the fresh new blood that is now contributing. It is up to all of us to rise to the challenge of these newer posters and not to JUST refer them back to a similar discussion "'We' had two years ago". One of those newer posters appears to have just left, unfortunately (see the 'I love Mudcat' thread').

The events that Rick refers to and subsequent silliness, does highlight a problem. When I first came to The Mudcat, what attracted me was the welcoming and helpful 'tone' and that I detected a feeling that, it was more important, what was being said than who was saying it.

That emphasis changed over time. Now though, with all this (temporary) 'guest' stuff, the identity of the poster is not now certain, we can now only respond (or not) to what is being said and the 'tone' in which it is worded. Which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise? 'Knowing', in a cyber-sense and recognising all these good folk's names is nice but there is a balance to be struck between the personal stuff (being made public) and the music/politics etc. I have always worried about the danger of the forum becoming, just another chat room, where who is saying something is more important than what is being said.

"Send flames and burning pitch-forks to:"

The Shambles.