David, I think it's worth mentioning that 53BOB has also made some worthwhile comments and begun/contributed to some interesting discussions. He made a comment on Mrrzy's thread about string noise on the guitar which I thought was utterly poetic, saying something to the effect that the noise made by fingers sliding over the strings on an acoustic guitar was "the soul of the song, letting you know it's alive." I'd much rather have extra posts from someone who loves listening to and playing music, though he may be more talkative than most, than from many others who simply love to make people feel bad.

I agree with JJ, though, that there does seem to be more nastiness and rancor on the 'Cat than there was, say, a year ago. People seem to be quicker to take offense, to pick fights, and to make snide comments. In my opinion, some of this (maybe much of it) is due to the discomfort and unhappiness felt by many people since September 11 and the resultant economic woes and general jitteriness. I'm completely serious about that. It's amazing how far and how deep the ripples have spread. (The economy here in Hawaii is a case in point.)

Those 'Catters and guests who are unhappy and bitter will no doubt leak some of that into the 'Cat, as they do into the rest of their lives. And those of us who have the inclination to rise above it will no doubt continue to try to do so. "And life goes on within you and without you."

Aloha,
Mark