Silas, you say "I have been on this site for nearly ten years. I have been here since almost the beginning -Nov.1996. I have met Max, Joe Offer, Jeri, Big Mick and various other mods & regulars in person for years. We have discussed many thing...including what a joy...and a lot of work.. it is to have so many diverse inputs & knowledge...however


"..., it becomes immediately apparent that the main interest in Mudcat is from the UK."

That is not exactly the case. It is at least misleading as to relevance.
While is is quite true that posts from the UK have increased until they do seem to be a majority on most days, it is crucial to understand the cultural, demographic and geographic differences.

The US is so large that many 'folk music oriented' people have never met each other, and have little easy opportunities to do so. A few HAVE traveled from distant parts to special events like the FSGW Getaway, but that can be expensive and only a few can do it often.

The UK is small enough that it is possible for folks to plan around a number of festivals... or even popular folk clubs. I am sure that a much larger % of 'folkies' have at least met each other over there. I envy them, even though I meet many from BOTH UK & US at the Getaway.

The UK also has a MUCH more developed system of clubs & festivals than we do...perhaps because of its size, but also because of its history as a major source of much source material and the relevant archives and recordings. I have collected recordings from & about English, Scottish...etc... folk music for many years, and I also envy those who have so much history right near them.

Now... the cultural element: however you want to analyze it, there are discernible differences in HOW the world.... not just musically... is viewed. (A couple of posters from the UK have agreed/admitted/discussed that the debates, banter (including insults- serious or not), and 'hot buttons' are often different. I have mentioned my amazement at the level of chaos in Prime Minister Questions when I see them on BBC America. The 'fine art' of zinging each other.... whether playfully or seriously... is common over there- not so much here, except in certain groups and by rigidly enforced rules.
...So, when debates ensue in an online forum- Mudcat being a major one- the UK folk often have 'stronger' opinions and express them more...ummm... 'intensely'. There are, of course, individual personality differences but the cultural ones show thru. And then we have what we see above- some wanting 'better behavior & less insults & naughty language with more editing & censorship, and some being upset that ANYTHING is censored by mods. What are the &%@#$* mods supposed to DO?
The point has been made dozens of times that MAX owns the site and wants as little censorship as possible
see this thread from 3 years ago!

a quote from it from Max!
"We don't want to delete or ban anything and the ONLY reason we do is because of (collective)YOU.

Our mistake, our mistake, we let the squeaky wheel get the grease for too long and now we have dozens of spoiled brats on our hands.

Moderating is work. It takes hours and hours a day. I will not run a site that keeps moderators busy with circular logic, pedantic idiocy and political disputes in which it's obvious at least one of the participants doesn't actually care about the ideology and is just going along for shits and giggles.

We're people. And you're fucking with us, and you're wasting our time when we've already offered it to you in service of Folk Music."
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He appointed a few people to TRY to keep the nonsense down to a dull roar in order to follow the spirit of that post. Is that so hard to comprehend? If YOUR debates go beyond Max's rules (and the mods' best interpretation of those rules, be prepared for notice, remarks, or even moderation of them!

I will tell you clearly that the growing imbalance in posts from the UK & US is partly because of what SRS mentions... that some from the US just give up in the face of the tone of many post from a few UL members. Of course there are other factors... one of the main being Facebook. I can name a dozen former US regulars that are on FB... for whatever reason.. but a couple have told me directly that the signal-to-noise ratio is too bad here. (and, on FB, it is MUCH easier to ignore & not see those who offend you.)


Ok..........much too long, but I don't seem to be able to condense a serious issue into a bumper-sticker remark. If you read it and want to comment--please think & digest it for a bit instead of 'instant reply'..............

whew!