I think there has actually been some decent criticism on this thread among the jerks (unlike most of the others on this topic). It seems to me, however, to be eventually based on the paradox of the success of this place. When this began, it was a very small group of people, with no more than 15-20 postings a day -- and apart from those of us who were lucky enough to stumble on to it looking for songs, I guess it was a word of mouth thing. 4 years ago, there were a lot less people using the Internet, period, and only 2 or 3 search engines. We did chat and have stupid remarks, and so on (heaven knows). I don't think it is worth doing the percentages, but I suspect the ratio of music threads to non-music threads is still about the same: the problem (I don't think it is a problem) is the sheer volume of everything. It is more work, even just to scroll. I think it is great: others don't: it is just too noisy for them. I would become worried if the music threads turned into crap, were infected with nonsense: but I don't by and large see that happening. The music threads, and there are tons of them every day, go their way, excitingly. I can see no way out of this except to privatise Mudcat into a club: but happily up to this point Max has made us thrive on openness, and I subscribe to that. I think we just have to live with graffitti: everyone else does in a well-travelled place. yours, Peter T.