BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 03:35 PM

Which one are you Richard?

I want to be a Grizella but I am more like Jenny enny dots. The mice and cockroaches just want constructive employment. That's what makes a gumby cat.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 03:27 PM

The equivocation was inferred and erroneously applied by me then. Another lesson learned.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 03:15 PM

The overall reception of people here to my own newness has been pretty good. There is an awful lot of flaming on the Cat though. And it's bluddy pointless moody rubbish for the most part.

I think in general, a lot of established forums, rather like 'old boys clubs' can feel affronted at Jack the Lad stumbling in with his his strange new Jazzamataz, coctails and loose women. I've certainly experienced it elsewhere.

I don't really have anything sensible to add tonight accept that fun is always a good thing, but especially when no-one is getting hurt.

Thus stupid worthless banter is to ever be saluted and celebrated as the highest epitomy of human intelligence. Meaning of course: Pure Senseless Pleasure for no other purpose than its for It's Own Sake (hurried voiceover of small-print: "which does not result in pregnancy or other real worldy inconvenience.")

Why do we have kittens, if not to pleasingly riot and piddle all over the place? >mews cutely and bites lightly with tiny, but terribly sharp teeth<

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Bee
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 03:12 PM

Virginia, aside from a few grumpy old (or young..ish) catters, there's also a bit of a cultural divide at times, I think. Sometimes I've misconstrued a friendly or at least neutral comment because I'm not used to the linguistic mannerisms of people from various countries and districts. Best to think about a comment that dismays or puzzles until you can figure out the intent.

I try not to be unpleasant, but some would disagree bytimes.

And welcome, anyway - hope I haven't been a source of discomfort to you!

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 03:07 PM

VirginiaTam: Being partly positive and partly negative is not the same thing as being "equivocal."

And even negative advice ("Don't do this—") can be helpful. Mine was certainly intended to be helpful.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:59 PM

Richard- What are you doin here? Aren't you supposed to be at Linda's party?

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:52 PM

Remember the great Rumpuscat!

And there are several Rum Tum Tuggers.

Shout back (but you know that).

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:39 PM

Theres an auld Scots proverb "Nippin an scartin's a Scots wooin"

Mind you occassionally a kitten needs a cloored lug or a skelped bahookie tae learn tae mind its manners.

Awra best
Meg

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Morticia
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:36 PM

There is no excuse for bad manners irrespective of how long someone has been here and you are as entitled to an opinion as anyone else. This site would fizzle out entirely if we didn't get new blood from time to time and it would become 'old timers' to remember that.

Having said that, the humour can get a little funky in here sometimes, are you sure whoever it was wasn't just teasing?

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:35 PM

Jim

I don't know how to put this any more kindly. I found your advice equivocal in that it was both positive (helpful) and negative (not helpful).

The last thing I want is for this thread to devolve into a finger pointing, name calling blame fest.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:29 PM

Oh Dear! I really did not mean for this thread to be an invitation to meet and welcome me.

Just that some of us new peeps have been wondering (in the background pms and emails) about some behaviours here.   We want to positively contribute, but feel perhaps there are somethings we need to know.

So if Old Deuteronomy, Demeter, Gus, Grizabella, and the others will please come forward and teach us how to be jellicle.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:22 PM

>>I am a relatively new cat in the yard. And I have met and welcomed a new kitten or two MC.

Something is perplexing us. Is it common for some oldtime Catters to wander into threads, leave a barbed (mean spirited) and sometimes personally directed comment then wander off again?

Just something us newbies have noticed, spats aside, that we sometimes get clobbered by a veteran Cat, for no apparent reason. <<

I've been a MudCatter for about 7 years, as far as I know it has always been thus. I like your analogy. It puts things in perspective for me. In real life, mother cats often take whacks at their playing kittens for no other apparent reason than their feline nature.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:12 PM

VirginiaTam: I don't get it. Are you trying to be ironic? What was equivocal about my advice?

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Alice
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:03 PM

Hey, Virginia, don't remember if I've said welcome to mudcat yet, but.... Welcome to Mudcat!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:00 PM

ummm... Thank you Jim. I just learned a very valuble lesson from that somewhat equivocal advice. I will try not to denegrate my host owner and not put down the forum in which I play, as I am as at least as responsible for what happens here as everyone else.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:52 PM

Some people are impolite. That will never change. The internet somehow brings out the worst in some people. Mudcat is worse than most discussion forums because the owner has decided that editing must be very light-handed and only the worst, most egregiously offensive messages will be deleted.

We have discussed this topic to death, and no matter what we say, the impolite people won't change their habits and won't go away. Arguing with them only makes them worse. The best thing to do is ignore them. Note who the impolite people are and don't respond to them at all.

Try not to let them discourage you. You will find plenty of other polite friendly people to discuss things with.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:14 PM

TY Mick for the advice and encouragement and especially for fixing the thread title.

I hope old cats come to this thread and offer constructive and welcoming comment. If not that they at least show a little of themselves so Kittens get to understand the personalities better without being threatend.

Claws are retracted or I would cross 'em. I will be a Siamese cat and cross my eyes for luck instead.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:13 PM

Consider yourself welcome. Feel to home.

Every single one of those "big" catters was once uncertain and wondering whether he/she was acceptable. Turned out they all were. In the whole history of this place there have been no more than five people out of thousands who were so adamantly anti-social that they were not acceptable. This community in general has a high tolerance of eccentricity.

If someone says something to you you feel is inordinately derogatory, you have the option of telling them to piss off, or you have the option of explaining yourself, or you have an even better option of coming up with some really funny and creative way of making their grumpiness appear as stupid as it is.

But you do not need to shut up or pull in your horns, especially if there is a real point to the conversation. If it's just playing the dozens, you have the choice of just saying "Pffffft" and walking off to some more interesting thread.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery
From: Becca72
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:09 PM

From time to time there is some hissing, spitting and back-arching but for the most part this is a pretty easy place to hang out. Don't let the snarky comments get to you.

Subject: RE: BS: RULES FOR KITTENS IN MUDCATTERY?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:09 PM

I guess whenever we join a new group.. there are those who will have been around a long time and have developed a certain persona of their own. When I first arrived here with my Christian views and attitudes I was attacked/criticised/hounded and could easily have made a fairly swift exit. I felt sort of new but unwanted.. even though I had been offered a welcome by some either by pm or in threads. Can I suggest that there are no 'rules' as such, for this sort of rift but that time and earning of respect in any group situation brings a kind of acceptance and even cohesion. Being new is not easy when joining a group but you either stick it out, learning as you go and accepting people for who they are on the 'cat'. or you make an exit with your tail between your legs.
Welcome to a wonderful site for learning and contributing to threads about about Folk music and a diversity of moods/attitudes/behaviours from the Folkies here and thought provoking text.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery?
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:04 PM

Don't EVER take anything I say seriously. Unless I am being serious.

(Trite? Moi?)

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery?
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:03 PM

Don't be scared would be the first rule.

I am not sure of the incidents you refer to, but sometimes us old timers forget that folks are new. And sometimes you little purrers forget that we have discussed damn near everything to be discussed several times over. And other times, a young'un or an old'un is just in an ornery mood, and says things they later regret. It is part of what makes Mudcat so spayshul, cause it is just a village on the www. Folks have good days and bad days.

I guess the best rule is to try to treat one another with respect, argue your points with passion, but remember that a real live person is on the other end. When (not if) you blow it and get mean spirited, and a few days later you realize it, do what decent folks do. Apologize and get back to the discussion.

Above all, make music.

I never said "welcome" to you btw. So welcome to our little village. Learn to use the search engine and filters, make purchases whenever possible through the links to Amazon et al so it helps support the place, and contribute.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery?
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 01:01 PM

Well, if and when I ever do that, feel free to PM me and give me a blast.

Subject: BS: Rules for Kittens in Mudcattery?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 12:53 PM

This thread will probably raise a huge fight but I am hoping it doesn't.

I am a relatively new cat in the yard. And I have met and welcomed a new kitten or two MC.

Something is perplexing us. Is it common for some oldtime Catters to wander into threads, leave a barbed (mean spirited) and sometimes personally directed comment then wander off again?

Just something us newbies have noticed, spats aside, that we sometimes get clobbered by a veteran Cat, for no apparent reason.

Are we sniffing around the wrong litterboxes (threads)? Are we being too cute/clever or not cute/clever enough?

Can anyone educate us little 'uns about the the rules, dangers, best practices, etc. of playing in Mudcat? We really do like it here, but some of the Big Cats are scary.