Mudcat's been great fun & a fine resource besides - worth it for the archived posts of the late Malcolm Douglas alone I shouldn't wonder. I don't like the PM thing at all (which is why I rarely sign in) nor do I like Joe Offer's Papal Infallibility or else the secret policing that goes on by way of moderation. More worrying is that most people here seem to think this in some way justified and comply accordingly even to the point of apologising! Free speech is a wondrous thing, folks - frank exchange likewise, all the more so when rooted in genuine passion for the subject - but it's not the once one has wandered in the realms of the Unmutual (or been named Troll) simply for expressing an opinion. Sad really, as we've have some great threads here - amongst my personal favourites was The re-Imagined Village, a general discussion on the nature of English Culture, Music & Folklife which was bounced down below the line by Pope Joe without a word of explanation after nigh on 900 posts.

Is it true that Mudcat is some social experiment along the lines of The Prisoner / Wicker Man? An online virtual religious community / personality cult that also serves as a fine resource for people genuinely interested in Folk Music? Here's a tale - I once unknowingly met a Mudcatter in the flesh at a festival / folk club / singaround and we got on like a house on fire, exchanging pints, songs and stories like we'd known each other all our lives. After a few hours the talk turned to Mudcat, my new friend asking me if I'd heard of it, and me telling him I had and what name I posted under. At this point his demeanour changed completely and he wandered off never to be seen again. Even last year I was openly talking Mudcat with fellow festival punters & performers, but this year I've resolved to rely on good old human contact; seems we folkies are weird enough anyway without the Mudcat factor getting in the way.

Times I've vowed never to post here again, and for very good reason (more free speech / PM issues!) but there's always something to come back for - and some fine & erudite people posting here who are a pleasure to read. People drift in and out, as people do, but at its best - and most human - it's a very good place to drift in & out of.

The people, Lord, thy people... etc.

S O'P