I saw in another thread that Mick Lane said this isn't a music forum, that's it's more of a hangout for people who like music. I think he's right. It used to be a music forum, where music was the primary focus of discussion - and delightful, intelligent, uproariously funny side discussions sprang from the music discussions. Now it's a cozy, friendly hangout for a bunch of nice computer addicts who know each other quite well and enjoy each other's company. There are music questions that come up regularly, and people will wander over and answer the question and go back to goofing around with their friends. The music discussions still arise on occasion, but they're really not connected to the main part of the discussion. Sure, there are more music threads than "BS"- but the music threads contain far fewer messages.

So, what's happened? The balance of Mudcat has changed, and I think Mick is absolutely right that this is no longer a music forum. He likes it that way. I don't.

Yes, there is a need for community and goofing off and prayer and concern and freedom - but do we have to sacrifice our reputation for music in order to satisfy the needs of our current community? Are we drawing and keeping people who want to talk music, or are they getting disgusted and drifting away?

I'm not completely opposed to anything that is currently happening at Mudcat. It's still a vibrant, interesting place filled with wonderful people. However, it is no longer primarily a music forum, and I would like us to work together to nudge us back into balance.

How can we adjust the balance?

• Well, the first and most essential thing we must do is to maintain the discipline of silence and do not respond to trolls, flames, and Spam. We've had some horrible threads started in the last week, but what's even more horrible is that Mudcatters have responded to these threads at an incredible rate and ran many of them up past the hundred-message mark. The most deplorable thread was the "Erection" thread, and people responded to it with dozens of messages. People, what is it that drives you to prolong this insanity?
  
• Another thing we can do is to provide a home for personal things that don't quite deserve the prominence that threads get. I think there's a pretty easy way for us to do this: Think twice before you start a thread, and don't start threads for personal matters. Feel free to say anything you want in messages within a thread, but don't start a thread unless you think it's going to make a discussion that's interesting to all. If you want to mention needs for prayer or birthdays or welcomes within a thread where it fits, that's wonderful. People around here generally are compulsively nice. If you start a thread, people will feel compelled to respond to you so you won't feel alone, even if they have nothing to say.
  A week ago, I was involved in a spectacular and very frightening car accident. I was driving the speed limit, and in my rear-view mirror I could see a pack of cars racing with each other, coming upon me at a tremendous rate of speed. One car hit me from behind, hit the car next to me, and ended up in front of me. A fourth car hit me from behind and pushed me into the first car. It was a very significant event for me (and the damages to my pretty red car were $5,000), and it would be perfectly appropriate for me to tell people here about it - but should I have started a thread to tell people about it? No. What significant things could people have said in response? Would have made an interesting thread?
  
• One more thing I'd suggest: Find another home for things that are repetitive or not of general interest - and by that, I mean especially prayer, healing, birthdays, welcome, and requests for sympathy. Is Pete Seeger's birthday suitable for a thread? No, I don't think so. He has a birthday once a year, like clockwork, just like the rest of us. Is a new Pete Seeger album a suitable topic? Certainly. It's nice to welcome new Mudcatters, but is it appropriate to start of thread for each of the over six thousand people who have joined us? Nope.
  
• I got a prayer request e-mail from the Mudcat prayer mailing list today, and it struck me how perfectly appropriate it was. I read the message with interest, thought for a moment about the person who needs prayer, said a brief prayer, and went on. The message was almost a gift to me, I think. I had asked to be put on the mailing list, and it gave me a moment to be thoughtful of someone in need. It didn't arouse controversy or question because it was right where it belonged. Such messages are welcomed by all who receive them, and I think that's how it should be. An occasional prayer request in the Forum isn't the end of the world, but where do you draw the line? There were three this week, and it seems that related topics on Mudcat multiply geometrically. So, I'd suggest that we make good use of the wonderful Mudcat prayer and healing mail lists, and start threads on such needs only when it's clearly a matter of general interest to Mudcatters.

That's my opinion. It's not infallible, and it's not Mudcat policy. Still, I think there's a need for us to work together to adjust the balance so Mudcat regains its reputation as a home for rich, intelligent discussion of music – mixed with a lot of fun and a lively community life.

-Joe Offer-