I can hardly believe the anger that an issue like this stirs up in some, after all I HOPE this is supposed to be our HOBBY and not some kind of basic training before we're sent off to war. It seems though that some people value scholarship, far more than politeness or common courtesy. My own profession has a lot of that, BUT we don't have an internet site that calls itself a CAFE, and unless I'm mistaken, Mudcat has "chat" prominently displayed up top, along with an auction etc. Most of the anger seems to be coming from people who think that the site has become frivolous. Well there wasn't a sign saying "only folklorists welcome." And there certainly wasn't a warning stating "Humor and wit not welcome here". If you want this forum to be more "serious" then you're going to have to put up some signs to keep the rest of us out.

marty