Shambles, complaints are one thing but constant arguments are another. One can never provide the ideal for everyone but hope to accomodate everyone as well as possible. This change illustrates this. It provides a new default view but also allows those who prefer the old mixed view to have it that way.

Probably the key question in any of this is what Mudcat should be. My personal belief, based around the idea that Mudcat owes much of it's existance to the fact that it is the primary location for the dt and to past qualtiy musical contributions that Mudcat should give folk and blues music more importance than BS. I would not however argue that BS has no place in Mudcat, I would in fact argue that a certain community element is healthy for most of us. Other views may range from ideas that Mudcat should be soley about music to a general mis-mash of anything with no priority being given to anything.

What I do know is that there have been rows about BS for as long as I have read this forum. I am also aware that there have been many casualties and that musical contributers have been either lost or turned to a position where they contibute less frequently. On the subject of traditional ballads, one could count on one hand the people likely to provide quality accurate information. This, I believe is a very sad reflection on a forum holding what I belive is by far the largest collection of folk songs and with such a vast membership.

It aslo became clear that Mudcat was getting attacked by trolls starting BS threads. One could argue over the need to respond to trolls but like it or not, these threads were answered. Under the old view, these threads were frequently the most responded to and got straight back to the top. Apart from causing a distraction to some, can you not imagine the impression that can create for a first time visitor to the site? I would think it also fair to suggest that most people come here originally in a search for music and find themselves joining in with other stuff later.

I think the change in the default view (after all it is still possible to view the old way) will have an effect on the forum but perhaps one for the better. Apart from removing troublesome threads from immediate attention, I believe it will reduce the number of people joining with "general chatter" or even trouble making as thier main objective and that Mudcat will once again have some focus.

I don't see that this focus will detract in any way from friendships being made amongst lovers of music or that a community spirit should be weakend. I would instead suggest that with reasons for the constant waring for the past few years removed or reduced, the ability to have a true community will be strengthened.

Jon