Can we have some Mudcat accounts?

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: Bert
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:34 PM

You said...As always, where my face, and tone of voice can't be seen, i've been misunderstood... You're bloody NAME can't be seen either. If you wan't any more information, tell us who you are.

I'm BERT!!!

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:33 PM

GUEST, take a pill or something. Your veneer is very thin, and it doesn't take a genius to figure you out. You seek to create an issue where there is none. Evidence of this does not lie in your request, which I understand, even if I don't share the concern. Evidence of your true intent lies in your reaction. No one has gotten "really up tight". One of two got mildly perturbed. Most just said, and I concur, that it isn't important to them. I believe you are seeking to create an issue where there is none. And your tactic is transparent. Just go back to posting on the music threads, and I look forward to seeing you there.

Mick

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: dwditty
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:29 PM

Ditto from Ditty. The end result is we have a really wonderful place to gather. The database, the forum, hearme, the radio show, and whatever else may be coming down the pike from Max, could easily stand on their own as fantastic sites. Put together, it's incredible, and I know I am not alone when I say that I love Mudcat. So, to reiterate, "Who cares where the money goes?" First of all, I doubt if more than a piddling has been donated compared to the cost. Anyone who has contributed is getting a terrific return. The rest, just say thank you and enjoy it.

dw

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:25 PM

Before you pour your vitriol on me, please refresh the lost Pete Seeger Banjo thread.

In that case, lots of you cursed the 'lowlife jerk' who'd apparently stolen the instrument, and if I remember correctly wanted to hang him. Guess what, you were all wrong...

All I was trying to ask by starting this thread, was to understand where my money might be going, and how any contribution might be used.

Jeeezzz, some of you people are really up tight

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: CarolC
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:17 PM

So don't contribute. There are plenty of us who get enough out of this site to not care whether or not we know exactly what "that man behind the curtain" is doing or not doing.

Respectfully,

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:15 PM

Guest, does it really matter to you whether your donation would buy/contibute towards a specific item or simply to contribute towards the daily running of this forum?

Surely Max can be trusted to allocate the money where it is most needed without having to account for where it was spent or do you want something like a park bench with your name on?

Jon

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:11 PM

Okay....so you're misunderstood.........I'm pissed and I don't get that way often!!!!!!!

Nobody demands you be here or give any money to be here do they? Max has made a lot of improvements in the past several years and the search stuff works fine if you use it properly.....Could it be better.....Sure and maybe down the road it will. But whatever goes on, its up to Max to do and whether or not you want to support is is your problem and anyone else's who demands to know where each dime is going.

GEEZIZ!!!!!! I bet you Sewer company loves you don't they? Are you down there checking where the shit is going too????

Have a Coke and a smile and shut the fuck up. This is ridiculous!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:05 PM

As always, where my face, and tone of voice can't be seen, i've been misunderstood.

All I'm trying to say is that i'd be far more likely to contribue if I knew what my money was going to buy - and I'm certain that i'm not alone in that

bert, if max has spent $45 000 of his own money on the upgrade (which i don't believe for a second) then more fool him

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:03 PM

Like Joe, if I look back at the money I've given, whether it was for a set of training wheels, matching bucks for the Moustache tuner thingy, of a few outright ones, I have coughed up a few hundred. And as far as I'm concerned, if Max wants to use it buy toilet paper, condoms, beer, or upgrade stuff, I could care less. its a drop in the bucket compared to the operating costs and as long as the joint is here, I'm satisfied. Mario has detailed some answers for you and if you are uncomfortable givig a few bucks here and there without a "proper accounting".....so be it. I don't ask my Gas or Electric companies or my ISP for that matter for an accounting.....I just expect service! Mudcat gives me far more than I could ever give in bucks.....so I figure I'm way ahead.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From:
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 04:55 PM

Guest, as far as I recall, the monies collected were towards upgrading the system, of which consists of at LEAST 3 complete systems. Any money contributes to the general operation and maintenance of this system.

The amounts, as Mmario points out, wouldn't maintain even the yearly connection costs, as I understand it. It's mostly a thankless job that Max keeps it going, for which I am eternally grateful.

There is other work in maintaining software, which seems to have a problem with SuperSearch right now. I know Joe Offer has been talking to Max on it, and I'm sure it would be rectified shortly.

Please elaborate on the "woefully poor" comment. I also would like to hear what you feel needs improvement. I feel the "SuperSearch" is quite useful since it searches the entire database, of roughly 5000? or more song lyrics, PLUS the hundreds of K-bytes of messages, of which an increasing number of them are the BS ones.

As for an account, certainly you can have an accounting, which is what I suspect you refer to. If you have contributed in the past, and aren't satisfied with how the money was spent, I sure we can find some way to refund you that amount.

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 04:50 PM

I suppose that's a legitimate request, but it all sounds so formal. I think I've given a couple hundred bucks to Mudcat in the three years I've been here. I figure it's just a drop in the bucket, something to help Max out with the expenses. I trust Max to use it wisely, and I don't care to ask him how he spent it. If he used it for beer money, that's OK with me. I've gotten more than two hundred bucks worth of pleasure out of Mudcat.
If it comes to the point where it appears that Mudcat is primarily supported by the contributions of members and others, then I think there should be some system of accounting. Right now, it's quite obvious to me that Mudcat is paid for by Max, with a bit of help from donors. That being the case, I don't see a need for setting up a system of accounting, with all the hassle and possible animosity connected with that.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: Bert
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 04:49 PM

It cost at least $50,000 for that last Mudcat upgrade alone. As far as I know, contributions ahave not yet reached a tenth of that figure.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: MMario
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 04:42 PM

1) I highly doubt that the contributions have come anywhere close to the operating costs of the mudcat RADIO show, let alone the MudCat.

2) to describe the online searching capabilities of the DT and Forum as "woefully poor" is ridiculous. They aren't as good as we woul;d like, but given familiarity with the various systems you can find just about anything. or god forbid, you could ask for help.

3) the answers to your questions are in the forum. They have been there for some time.

Subject: Can we have some Mudcat accounts?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 04:34 PM

Can we have some mudcat accounts please?

I am (for my own reasons) posting this thread as a 'guest'

If you have a problem with that, fair enough, don't read any further.

For those who are still reading, I'd like to ask a question, put forward a thought or whatever.

The 'mudcat' (aka Max) has occasionally asked for money, and lots of good people have contributed in various ways.

I've yet to hear how that money was spent.

I have never given any money to the mudcat.

Why not?

For the simple reason that I don't know what I'm paying for.

A while ago, there was a push to get enough money to reinstate the 'super search' and it happened. Great.

At the moment, the online searching capabilaties of the DT are, lets be honest, woefully poor.

I'd be more than happy to contribute anything that I could, if I knew that it'd make a difference. I don't.

Let me know what the mudcat needs, let me know how much it will cost to implement, give me some idea of how my money will be spent, and I'll contribute.

That's all