One of the first threads I opened was met with instant aggression. I simply started a BS thread to notify Catters of a CND demonstration around Lakenheath.

It was attacked about the ungreen prospect of having a coach carrying demonstators. There was attack for supporting the CND which launched a war on terrorism political hoohaa. The experience very nearly put me off MC. Had it grown to the heated proportions of some threads do here, I may have crawled away never to return.

Other occassions I have been smacked for accidently mistimed responses. It happens every so often that you are pipped at the post. Also if you do not have a lot of time to play on the MC, you are forced to scan through and not read fully every post on long threads where you want to make a contribution, raise a question, offer an opinion. This can lead to repetitions, ill considered conclusions, erroneous assumptions, etc.

It does not help that in some cases the most admirably knowledgeable Catters can be the least helpful and friendly.

Mudcat has been and continues to be a social learning experience (positive and negative) for me. I think I will stay.