Hi,

I don't think it was the tone so much that changed while Joe was away... it was the content.......

During that time.. there didn't seem to be very many requests for music (lyrics/ tunes etc)... but there were a lot of chatty type threads..... that isn't a complaint just an observation....... made by myself and others I was talking to. Also around that time there were a lot of newcomers, (again not a complaint... welcome to all of you)... so they wanted to ask questions which many of the 'old timers" here have seen dealt with before... but that isn't a reason to dismiss people off handedly as sometimes happens..... a friendly point towards the appropriate thread is more useful.

Plus there was (possibly still is) the problem with thread names being shortened because the titles in inverted commas were disappearing... so people were getting told off... for putting in "lyrics required" threads..... I know we get fed up with those threads...... but at least one of those people had the guts to tell us that he had just stumbled into the thread from a general search of the internet.. these people may have had no idea where they were... and some of the comments they received were probably enough to scare them off again.

Mudcat goes through cycles,(trust me I know about this **grin**)... sometimes there'll be threads that you just HAVE to check in on, other times there'll be nothing that interests you......... there'll be times when its mostly serious discussion...... and other times when everything has gone off on a complete tangent. Everybody likes different things..... some like the chats.. some like the serious stuff.

There are threads which have got nasty in the past, but we are all different.. and just like in real life, we aren't going to like or be liked by everyone..... we just need to accept that we are all different.

I love it here, I love the people and the fun, (I've had a few runs ins.. and worked through them)... but most importantly I have made some wonderful friends...... and that's what keeps me coming back.... long may it continue.

Slainte

alison