The real truth is that when it started, back in the Dark Ages, Mudcat was one of the very few places on the net that was simple and clean, and -- for anyone who was wrestling with threaded discussions elsewhere -- astounding in its useability.   You will notice that, for example, the reason why Google won -- and why Macintoshes are the turtle in the race -- is the simplicity and clarity of design, not crammed with crap, and not too complicated. Max is one of the pioneers in that design ethos, and (I am not kidding here) should be recognised as such by the computer history folks.

Apart from, and beyond that, there were all these great folks, and the music, and a lot of love.   It took a long time for everyone, everywhere (not just on Mudcat) to figure out what it meant to create -- and sustain -- an online community, e.g. what are manners? what are the binding rituals? And so on. Thanks to Joe and others with a great deal of patience -- and a little of the folkie ethic -- Mudcat is still a beacon on the Internet.

Max Vobiscum

yours,

Peter T.