A few years ago, there were a number of Brits who came to the FSGW Getaway as part of a singing group. Several of them came on their own, and were wonderful additions to both the music and the camaraderie.

One of my very good friends is an expat who is now an American citizen... but has many stories about his younger days in England.

On the whole, my own life and understanding of both music and my own **extensive** English heritage has been enhanced by the long list of Brits, Scots and Irish who have been a part of this site for over 20 years.
It IS the case that cultural differences often show up in the flavor & intensity of political .... ummm... 'discussions' and language. I even see it in various British comedy TV shows we get... and I often have to resort to closed-caption to get some of the language and references.

In Max's attempt to have a site that is as open and 'free' as possible, there are inevitable conflicts and disputes about 'where to draw the line' when remarks and attitudes get personal and/or excessively heated.

   I know personally... as in RT meetings and long chats, Dick Greenhaus, Susan of DT, Max, all of the mods but SRS.. and still have developed a close contact with even her. They ALL good people and are trying... but the old line about "herding cats" applies in spades.. and "herding Mudcats" is perhaps even more fraught with awkwardness.

   There is **NO** way to do any sort of moderation without debates about the difference between 'reasonable moderation' and 'overdone censorship'. It seems to be "Now MY ox is being gored!"

An "American site?" only in some sort of legal sense. This is the rarest sort of sites... world-wide in scope,privately run, long lasting, **mostly** uncensored... and with millions of posts over 20+ years still available.

I am 81 next month. If this damned virus leaves me alone, I expect to be following Mudcat for a few more years....

I sure hope nothing...internal or external... occurs to interfere with it.

Ya' all take care....