Getting fed up with 'guests'

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: markus Campus Bellorum (inactive)
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 09:30 PM

Thanks all.

I am a member again.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Pseudolus
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 12:58 PM

I understand the frustration. I have a policy, I never talk to, react to, yell at, listen to, anyone who simply posts as guest. I may read the post and if some "named" catter posts, I may react to that, but never to someone not named. You can see how much of an effect my policy has had on the guest problem (*BG*) but be that as it may, I'M happier and I enjoy logging in much more now. I know, I know, it's easier said than done but hey, it has worked for me.

Frank

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: little john cameron
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 12:13 PM

Ah still don't know the pronunciation o Pene.Ah asked him bit he'll no tell me.Anither unexplained bit o reality. LJC

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 11:59 AM

leeneia-I initially felt as you do about registering with Mudcat. I erroneously thought that my e-mail address would be public. As I understand it, only the Mudcat elves have access to it, and frankly I trust Max, Joe and Pene more than I trust my banker, grocer or any of my doctors! ...Now if we can just see a picture of Pene so we know he's real.

Mary

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,Mark
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 09:42 AM

I'm not GUEST,Mark, I'm the one who signs this post below. (I only put in the wrong name for the sake of a demonstration and apologise to you, Mark, if you are offended)
Mark and leeneia,
most of us have nothing at all against GUESTs. Most GUESTs come in and have a name we know them by, they are polite, we are, and there's no problem. We do have problems ('problem' is a big understatement for all but the first category), however, with
- GUESTs with no name at all for that makes communication difficult if you don't know whether you are talking to one or three GUESTs. That's what Rick means in his first post here.
- GUESTs with a name like GUEST,hateme who come here for a single message like 'All Americans are stupid and what do you think about it' and never show again under this name.
- GUESTs who are obviously Mudcatters who use the anonymity of the GUEST,chooseanyname possibility to tell some Mudcatter they do dislike what they'd not dare to say using their known name.
- GUESTs using a known Mudcatter name (like I did in this post for the purpose of demonstration) to write nasty things (preferably about other known persons) which that Mudcatter whose name was pirated never would even think of. Joining as a member makes pirating a name much more difficult.
You are both so far from any of these disliked GUESTs that from my point of view you can keep that status forever and if another Mark of those 20000000 should turn up there'd still be MarkA, MarkB, MarkC, etc.
You are not meant by this thread though at the first glance it might look so. Join or not, but enjoy this place.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Amergin
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 06:21 AM

Guest, Mark, or not so Guest, Mark, post your problem in the help forum so Max and his elves can fix it for you...

Guest, leenia, just set up an email addy at Yahoo or Hotmail or one of the other billion places across the net. You can set those up with false information....

Amergin

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: DougR
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 01:28 AM

Yep, MMario, I think you got it right! DougR

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: MMario
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 11:26 PM

All I had to put in was an e-mail address. and Mark, it's anonymous "guests" (most likely regulars hiding behind the "guest" label) that flame that bug us, not regular guests whether they give us a name or not

at least that's my opinion and it seems to be that of many here

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: flattop
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:49 PM

Nothing says that you have to give correct information on the internet, leeneia. If you are concerned about safety, use false information. (Mudcat needs a correct e-mail in case you lose your password but yahoo will do.) I signed up on an American newspaper site as a 35 year old Australian woman. Haven't received any sales literature targeted at that audience yet.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 09:48 PM

I would like to be more than a guest, but the Mudcat wants to know too much about me. My name, address, e-mail address. I an not going to put that information on the same system (the Internet) that has my banking account and can also make a record of any searches I might make on health issues, job security, etc.

Sorry!

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,Mark
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 09:10 PM

I removed all the cookies from my machine.

This included the mudcat one.

Now I am finding it difficult to rejoin.

So, I am a guest.

I ask for lots of lyrics and chords and will continue to do so.

If you do not answer me because I wear the wrong title. So be it!

Mark

Thats

Mark (one of the twenty million other Marks on the planet)

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Amos
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 12:07 AM

Hi. My name is Amos and ...and....(sits down suddenly).

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 08:45 PM

Why, yer welcome, there, BlueJay. That's a very observant daughter you have there. What MMario is referring to is a picture of me which used to be on bbc's Mudcat Resources photo page (see the Quick Links). Since your daughter is interested, I will sned the picture back to bbc and ask her to put it up, again, when she has time. So, in a few days or so, check it out, okay?

Oh, and the cat which is on my head? HE laughs at me all of the time! Tell your youngun' that "Trystan" is a clown who winks at me, smiles, and stands between the kitchen and hallway, hind legs on the linoleum, front legs on the carpet, and scratches his hind legs, like a bull getting ready to charge, revving his engine, then takes off in high gear, racing through the house and making me laugh me arse off, while the other cats run in terror!

Of course, the simple answer is that katlaughing is a contraction of my first and last name: katlaf, so I added the *ing* 'cause it fits me.

Now, is that as clear as mud? Oh, and you may say you don't have a lot of time, but watch it! This place is very addictive, we've even talked about starting our own 12 step group! Hahaha!

Welcome, welcome!

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: MMario
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 05:26 PM

try seating one on somebody's head.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,BlueJay
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 05:23 PM

Thanx kat/katlaughing, I'll join up. I don't have much time to peruse this site, but the few threads I have picked have been very stimulating and rewarding. To Rick Fielding, the original poster of this thread, I am a guest, and if you're talking Latin, I seem to have learned Latin. I'm probably too eager to divulge personal information, (what the hell, I live in a small town where everyone knows everything you do anyway), so your comments seem very reasonable. And Kat,(can I call you Kat), my three year old computer literate daughter wants to know how a cat can laugh.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 01:44 PM

Ave atque vale.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Amos
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 11:12 AM

Sometimes having to say it over and over is just noblesse oblige, Rick...the burden of the rational voice in a field of haywire motormouths. Appreciate your constancy!

A

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 11:01 AM

I'm afraid your right Joe. I guess I ex........ah forget it, what's the point anymore.

Rick

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 05:05 AM

So what if my parents named me GUEST??? Ive learned to live with it and so should you!!!

Subject: Joining Mudcat - no obligation
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 04:24 AM

Well, no, you "belong" if you're here and you're having a good time with the rest of us. If you sign up with the Mudcat registration, it allows Mudcat to identify you when you come here, and makes it so you can get personal messages and can add links, and are automatically identified by name on your forum messages, and you can access chat when we've had it. I think the most notable benefit is the personal messaging, which is nice. It's not the end of the world if you don't register, but there are some nice features you can access.
And it doesn't cost a thing, And Max would never sell your name and stuff to anybody. We trust Max. So can you.

I have to say, in all due respect, that Brother Fielding may have made an unfortunate choice of thread titles for this thread, even if he did a reasonably good job of explaining himself in the first message.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 04:05 AM

The point of joining is, as in any organisation, club, association, or union(trade or otherwise), to be a part oa a community of like minded people. ie. TO BELONG.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 03:47 AM

You also dont't have to join to contribute. I think its about $80 I've contributed over the last two and a half years and I've never joined. What's the object in joining?

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: AKS
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 03:25 AM

Your Latin, Rick, is quite comprehendable even to a non-native English speaker like me, and you made a considered point by expressing that kind wish in the first place.

And in addition: if one would not dare to put one's real name under a posting, be it of any category, the contents of it need reconsideration. Isn't this the same basic idea that lies behind the freedom of the speech? One may not insult people or tell lies about them publicly without running the risk of being sued, or have I been misled?

Well, asking stupid questions might be a different matter, but still, honest people don't need anonymity (exceptions allowed).

Arto Kalevi Sallinen, Joensuu, Finland

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Benjamin
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 02:18 AM

Okay! I thought it costed money (which I don't have much of) to join. Now I've found out it doesn't, I've joined! No more 'guest' tag! That was a lot simpler than I thought!

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:48 PM

Oy vay, Good night Gracie!

Rick

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,of a Guest
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:45 PM

The disadvantage of membership is that KatLaughing can spam you with healing letters of invitation and you can recieve awful advice from Computer Idiots that believe themselves brillant, so, stay a Guest it has no obligations and no irritations

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:33 PM

You are more than welcome - now can we put this one to bed??????

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:27 PM

GOD BLESS YOU BUGSY! I was beginning to think each of my posts must have been in Latin. Thanks.

Rick

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:13 PM

NO PROB'S!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,brian
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:11 PM

sorry i misunderstood you

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:03 PM

Brian, If you take a few minutes to read the earlier posts to this thread, you will see that it is not the "GUEST" that everyone is getting fed up with. No one has anything against GUESTS in general.

It's the "ANONYMOUS" GUEST.

This thread seems to be going round in circles.

Cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:48 PM

I dont think that not answering guests is the right idea. Everyone of you started as a guest at sometime. Besides just cause you are a guest does not mean that you cannot add something worthwhile. It is just as silly as labeling freshman as inferior in high school. My advice is to welcome the guests and try to promote you club by being helpful to them. This would gain the respect of the guests and in my opinion would encourage more of us guests to become members. There is nothing wrong with being a member to try a club for a while.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: BK
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:33 PM

Bill D; thanks for the great idea. As for the "GUEST" bit - I agree that it was a sensible & effective - & very open-minded, non-hostile, mature adult thing for Max to do, & it does at least stop some behavior that was indescribably offensive to me. I work in a prison & have to put up w/all manner of vile scummery daily. To come here - the BEST place in cyberspace & find, for example, some sick-o phoney &*^%$#&* signing in as the one & only Katlaughing - well, it was too disgusting. I'd've been a lot less polite than she was. I HATE when work follows me home! I CHERISH the opinions & knowledge of the folks like Kat on the 'cat, & anyway, it was just plain mean & deciteful..

Cheers, & BRAVO! to max! BK

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 09:47 PM

and if one is paranoid about cookies, I recommend one of several programs which allow YOU to set rules about which cookies..(and java & javascript..and more) that YOU allow!. I am using something called "AtGuard"..but it has been sold to Norton Utilites, you can find Norton's version at their site...there is also "BlackIce"...but I have not used it...and any number of others. (Oh, the javascript option in the cookie-masher programs stops those 'pop-up' windows on sites like GeoCities, too! Well worth looking at!)...the cookie-eating programs come in a variety of flavors, so look & decide...and I'm sure there a couple of freeware examples out there. It is good to have a good store of bookmarks to freeware sites--you can get a lot of neat stuff that way...

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Gary T
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 09:25 PM

BlueJay, a mudcat is a catfish, hence the logo with one jumping out of a banjo. To join, look at the menu at the top of the main page, over to the right, and click on "Membership". No fee, essentially it's a matter of registering. It also sets a "cookie" in your computer that automatically puts your name on your posts, saving you from typing it in and eliminating the "Guest" tag.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 09:14 PM

I hereby promise not to to respond to any request in a thread started by any anonymous GUEST who doesn't even supply a pseudonym - if we all do that they'll vanish down the page pretty fast.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 08:56 PM

First time I saw the Mudcat was when I was looking for a BBC site in a search engine, and came across bbc. "Strange" I thought. Strange is good. So are strangers - but names are handy, even with strangers.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 06:43 PM

Sorry, bbc, that SHOULD have read "at BBC's Mudcat Resoures", not "the" BBC's. Whoo-boy, then we would've really arrived!

BB - me, too

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 06:18 PM

Annap, I wasn't really going anywhere. Just expressing my feelings; making a point.
When you were a kid, did you ever pack your bags and tell your parents you were leaving?
I think the furthest I ever got was the backyard.

BB

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 05:17 PM

Blue Jay, it costs nothing to become a member of the Mudcat. The advantages include being able to send and receive personal message, listing your profile or picture on the BBC's Resources Page, and just plain joining in in support of a great website. Oh, and a lot of us were once Computer Idiots, too, no problem there!:-) Ask any question and you will generally get a rapid answer/response.

There is an answer about what a mudcat is in the new thread, that GUEST started, "can anyone tell me about the Mudcat."

Having a name beside GUEST makes it easier to respond to individuals and engenders trust and mutual respect.

Thanks and welcome to the Mudcat, Blue Jay.

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,BlueJay
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 05:01 PM

Rick Fielding, I empathize with your concerns about cyberworld anonymity. As a guest, I also understand the need for anonymity. I'm fairly new to computers, and there's lots more like me, who are COMPUTER IDIOTS- probably should just take it back to the store, but the internet in general is fun and informative. I'm not a regular "mudcatter", but I pop in from time to time and have even found a couple of long lost lyrics, easing my mind greatly. I think the Mudcat Cafe is an invaluable internet resource even though I'm not a member, (a couple of people have encouraged me to join). But you see, I like to visit many sites and they all want me to sign up. I like it just the way it is: visit as a guest, I'm not trying to screw things up or plagiarize anyone, I just may have an occasional question or comment. I tink there are probably more people like me out there than there are regular mudcatters. Hell, I don't even know how to sign up if I wanted to: I bookmarked the discussion page and haven't explored it further, and check in occasionally. If it weren't for the anonymity warning I read, I'd probably be giving you my e-mail address at this point.

My point is that there are a lot of people like me, who stumble on to this site, who are neither computer geniuses nor have the finances to sign up officially. I know you've had problems with impersonators, but please don't assume that if BlueJay is a guest there is some malicious intent.

My final question: what exactly is a "mudcat"? My closest frame of reference is "mudduck", an endagered species of Colorado railroaders. You may be tired of this question, but I think I'll take the bold step of starting a new thread, (and why is it called a thread)?

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: MMario
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 04:14 PM

It isn't really the "guest" designation that people are complaining about...it's the plethora of anonymous posts. Partly I think it's because they are much more obvious now....and because it's frustrating trying to reply to a vacuam even when the request is legitimate. Add to that the creeping suspicion that someone is deliberatley posting requests to make 'catters respond.....

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 03:02 PM

C'mon-- The GUEST designation did what it was supposed to do: it supposedly solved the problem of stolen handles, or identities, or whatever it was that brought on that last big scamperdown. I think Max did a great job with it, and I can't, frankly, understand why there's so much whining about it. If you are bothered by the designation, don't open the thread --isn't that what some folks have been preaching in other instances?

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Amos
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:59 PM

Well, thankee, kindly annap. The occasional airhead who comes through these pagesusually (I think) finds the _actual_ interest of the majority offputting and goes off to screw up some other site :>).

Just choose a few of the biggest of your friends who will come and act as Masters at Arms and you'll have nothing to fear.

Or you can ask people to respond by personal message, which will filter out the n'e'r-do-wells.

Warm regards,

Amos

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: annamill
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:53 PM

Amos, I've enjoyed your postings very much. Your songs are great and I am glad you've joined us. I'd have you at a gathering anytime, but I don't like being in the position of having to pick and choose who comes. My home has always been open to any Mudcatter, even Gargoyle (mean as he can be sometimes). Now I'm a little nervous about doing that. Oh, I'll probably do it anyway!

Love, annap

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Amos
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:41 PM

Hey guys, I'm just a loudmouthed newcomer in Cat terms, but I'd really appreciate it if you not go away, as I feel it would cost me too dearly. I admire you all and enjoy your views and communications.

The mention of the ant practicing on the elephant comes to mind. The flak bugs go away after a while and the genuine hearts still appear.

A.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: annamill
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 01:46 PM

Spaw, BB, Moonchild, Bugsy Boy, Mick..can I come too? This whole thing is scaring the s**t out of me. I'm afraid Max is going to get sick of it all and shut us down. Between you and me, if I was new now, I'd be real reluctant to offer my home to "anyone" on Mudcat. If that's true, you know something valuable has been lost. Sad, huh? I know I miss what we had. Maybe a lot of wonderful new people have joined us, but they're being lost in the garbage. I hate subversion and mistrust. I usually avoid it, but I have such good friends here, that I'm reluctant to go away.

Oh well. Love, annap

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 12:21 AM

Boy, it can be easy to be misunderstood again and again. Once more, my ONLY point was it would be nice if newcomers under the "GUEST" banner, would sign a name at the end of their post. ANY name, just to give it a bit of a personal touch. No more, no less. I'm NOT asking people to reveal their visa numbers.

Re: song requests. My way of dealing with them has always been to COMPLETELY ignore any request that doesn't give some information other than "song wanted". If someone's social skills are so lacking that they can't even say please and thank you, their request can fall in a lake...or off this forum.

Rick

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 11:13 PM

Thanks Rick, I am so happy to know the people who have chosen to show themselves here.There are some wanderfull people here and the ones that dont want to show themselves tell me they are not here to be met.. What is the point of wasting time on someone who isnt there.I'm always interested in what a person who stands up and is counted has to say.The word guest is an aside to protect us from the childish bull dinky .Please dont get mad at it you guys,it has helped show whos has been nauty and who has been nice..Its been very helpfull.Dont go away Spaw I look forward to your words here. All the best to thoughs of good will. You know who you are!!!! Guy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 10:18 PM

re: Escamillo's posting way back up there...

I wonder:

If whoever the "musical police" is/are realizes:

Posting all those dozens of requests for lyrics/chords is far more disruptive to the purpose of the Mudcat (at least, as I understand that purpose) than any BS or healing thread. What he/she/they are actually doing is making the people who comprise the knowledge and information base of the Mudcat reluctant to answer *any* lyric/chords request, by making them doubt the poster's sincerity in asking... Many of the postings seem designed to simply waste the time and expertise of these people, not truly to want an answer.

IMO, that's a downright shame. My intro to Mudcat was when I requested lyrics to a song that had been haunting me, and received answers almost immediately--and I thought, Wow! This place is terrific! and came back again to learn more. Thank you, all of you who willingly share your knowledge and quirky senses of humor!

If the "musical police" render the Lyr/Chords resource unusable or untrustworthy, as seems to be happening, he/she/they have impaired half of what makes the Mudcat somewhere special.

That ploy won't force Mudcatters to discuss "only music," it will force Mudcatters to discuss nothing at all. Or is that really the reason for all the hoorah?

JL