Somehow the place went through a different evolution than many other message board sites and this was due to the immediacy and ease of usage that Max built in. You can get immediate replies and an almost chatroom like style or keep a thread alive for as long as it takes to get an answer.

Part of it is in the type of character that shows up here. Almost everyone came to a great database in search of folk lyrics and discovered not only the DT, but the forum as well. As a group we're "different" simply because of our musical tastes and the "general folkie personality."

Most of us were not too computer literate and we found a place where it wasn't necessary to speak the language to speak OUR language, and in the process gained considerable computer skills. Mudcat began a transition from strictly lyrics to discussions and Max was brilliant in letting the place find it's own way. If Folk Music mirrors life, than so does the 'Cat and that fact alone weghed heavily as discussions went to dofferent topics and indeed anything became "fair game"........and yet still tied to the music somewhere. For some it was a blessing and for others a curse, but we hashed things out, argued and fought........some couldn't find the niche in both worlds and left. Some restricted themselves to one or the other and eventually they too dropped away. It is significant that a large number may have gone, but an even larger number remain from 3-5 years ago. New members find it a friendly place and they too make decisions. No one who "lives" here can "exclusively" play in only one world and enjoy the 'Cat. Like Folk and life, it's multi-faceted.

We learned as a group, often the hard way, haow to deal with flamers and trolls and frankly, in that area, we may have come up with a distinct style that works here although nowhere else. We also learned that we could be friends and agree to disagree. Though it frustrates some, very heated discussions happen here and yet the severest of antagonists will emerge from the fray with a sound and freindly relationship. Then.........well............

I believe we had some events occur which for whatever reason, often those above, began to "form" us and band us together as a community, as a real cyber village. Anna was so excited to find this place, she wanted everyone to come to her house for a "gathering." We were Net Wary and yet somehow it began to dawn on us that we were folkies and nice folks first and net junkies second. Anna went all out and though there was some trepidation felt beforehand, her first gathering was not only a stunning success, but made us all want to enjoy that fun too!!! Festivals became Mudcat meetings! Soon 'Catters travelling here or there would try to link up with others as they passed through.

After a particularly nasty time several years ago, we started the "Tavern Threads" (Thanks Leej), which showed us a way to heal without hurting as badly and these began to add to the "Lore of the 'Cat" and produced a certain iconology of their own----If you're new here, do you ever wonder about those lime jello references?-----Some of that lore became a problem in some thinking there was a clique. We hashed that one out too and now most feel nothing of the sort and instead get into the spirit of the place and play along, more anxious to know the story behind tiples than thinking they were excluded.......Cliques don't happen here because most of us are anxious to "tell you all about it" so you can add to the craziness.

Then I had an aortic aneurysm. We were still feeling along and changes were coming fast, but suddenly one of us was perhaps about to die. None of this is to my credit obviously, I just happened to be the one who was about to belly-up. Catters found themselves banding together........crying, praying, and sending their best to a man they had never met in 3D, but a man most considered a friend because of the songs, thoughts, and words they had all shared here. Everyone took a look inside and realized that if they had traded places with me, this same epiphany would have taken place and realized too that they felt strongly about virtually everyone else! We began to show that we did love and care for each other and that the trials of our own lives could be shared by great friends unmet. Much of this happened in the same time period and the future for the place became wide open and quickly changing. The caring and love grew and made it a different place as well, as Barry Finn's recent liver transplant and my own heart surgery showed. We have members who daily remain in special thoughts all over the world.

So some time goes by and we see the emergence of this English bloke who is becoming the "Ambassador-At-Large" for this village. Bill Sables spread himself out over Engalnd and began trips to the states and Europe as well. After several trips to the US, meeting more and more 'Catters, Bill and Allan C. got together on the "Great Mudcat Adventure" where they made a big loop of the US having Mudcat gatherings everywhere they went! These were often first time gatherings by Catters in those areas and led to more and bigger ones later. This summer, Bill has already attended a great gathering in Germany where some net friendships once again spilled over into real life and those folks are closer than ever before! Bill followed that with a whirwind tour of the US and Canada with 2 young Catters, talented beyond belief, not only bridging generational gaps but cultural ones as well.

We have a Resource site here with pictures and bios thanks to bbc and the Radio show has become a fixture on Tuesday nights for many. It's a fantastic place alright! Though some feel it's just another MB, most here do not and accept in out hearts the real truth............We have no idea how it got this way, bit it sure is special!!!

HINT: It's the People!

Spaw