BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: Davetnova
Date: 16 May 05 - 03:28 AM

100 you missed.

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 16 May 05 - 03:54 AM

Even as we write these posts we are censored, simply by having Times Roman as the default font and having to go into HTML - like learning the secret language of the Powers That Be - if we want to post in a font that truly expresses our personal feelings. The oppression is stifling.

Thankfully there are people out there who are willing to spend grey matter and time for the common good, and who will champion our cause. But one thing at a time.

Let's save the 100th posts first.

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: The Shambles
Date: 16 May 05 - 04:36 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Censorship on Mudcat
From: GUEST,Joe Offer - PM
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 11:28 AM

Well, I can't log in, either, so I don't have access to proof one way or another. Generally, the 100th/200th claims are a no-no in music threads and in many serious discussions. People have come to think of them as obnoxious. I don't know why, but that's what they think.
I don't bother with them, but they're fair game for the Clones.
-Joe Offer-

Are they still - officially "fair game" for our anonymous volunteers? Or has something changed?

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 16 May 05 - 06:04 AM

I believe "100thpost-ism" has been largely eradicated thanks to the incessant lobbing (or is it lobbying?) of the Protectors Of Our Freedom (POOF for short) and now Ted and others can enjoy the numerical race unmolested.

Folk music, Mudcat and the Internet has been saved from the scourge of the "100thpost-ist" anonymous self-appointed clones.

All together now : Let's hear it for our eponymous self-appointed drones!

The air is somehow fresher this morning...

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: Jeri
Date: 16 May 05 - 10:34 AM

Regarding those in the Count Catula Club, first Joe said the posts were fair game, then he said the one referred to above should not have been deleted. Pick the opinion which is most appropriate to your need.

Brought to you by A.D.D.^[1]: Anybody remember those children's things you could buy with the shiny black cardboard and the flat plastic images that would stick to the board and each other? Did they have them in the UK? I had 101 Dalmations. There were oodles of plastic puppies, and Cruella DeVille and other characters, and their clothes (not the puppies, which were nude (except for spots)). Do they still make these things? I used to like the way the plastic bits smelled.

Regarding the original subject which has been largely forsaken in favor of following where Shambles leads, I think people have a right to know about incidents that may affect them directly.^[2] I do NOT think Mudcat has an obligation to provide a place to do that. I definitely don't think it's the place for people to engage in malicious and potentially career wrecking gossip or trial by public opinion. If folks need to talk about how much they hate a person or how big of an asshole/idiot/witchfinder general he/she is, they should at LEAST do so using the same sort of polite language Shambles uses when discussing Joe.

^[1]Be the first to figure out what made me think of this and win a prize.
^[2]Personally, a drunk guy popping an obnoxious guy in a club somewhere far away from me doesn't seem like it's going to be something I really need to know about or talk about. I enjoy a tabloid as much as the next person, but the people gossiped about in them have money for lawyers and lawsuits. I don't think it's fair to folk musicians who can't afford to sue and wouldn't get any blood from this stone anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: JennyO
Date: 16 May 05 - 10:50 AM

I don't know if this was what you were thinking of Jeri, but what came to my mind was The Count in Sesame Street ("They call me The Count because I looove to count things") - especially when you mentioned the little plastic images. My kids had the Sesame Street characters, but they were probably not exactly what you were describing - these were fridge magnets.

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: The Shambles
Date: 16 May 05 - 11:00 AM

Has anything else changed (for the better) - as result of recent mistakes on our forum by our volunteers? Mistakes that were thought necessary to be corrected?

The future of the 100th post itself - was never in danger. All that was in question is/was - who decided the content of it.

If this content is/was not judged by our anonymous volunteers to be to their personal taste - the volunteer now referred to now as our Chief Administrator - considered that although such judgement was not important enough for them - it was "fair game" for their underlings to impose their judgement upon the contributions of their fellow posters as a matter of routine in these cases - without the originator's knowledge or permission.

This was before our Chief Administrator later thought it important enough to reverse such an imposition by an anonymous volunteer.

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: The Shambles
Date: 16 May 05 - 11:41 AM

I do NOT think Mudcat has an obligation to provide a place to do that. I definitely don't think it's the place for people to engage in malicious and potentially career wrecking gossip or trial by public opinion.

In my opinion - I may judge the above to be a perfectly valid opinion or not. However, my judgement in this does not matter - as I have always understood all opinions on our forum are equally valid. So the only interest is whether I wish to respond or not - to what is said.

But before I do - there must remain some confusion in other areas now - in that does the above become official Mudcat policy when strongly expressed like this - by a (known) volunteer - or have any more weight than an opinion expressed by an ordinary poster?

Perhaps not but folk may follow any example set by a known volunteer - thinking this is acceptable posting. Perhaps all of us and our volunteers especially should always try to ensure that their posting is setting an acceptable example?


All folk like to gossip (even those like me who are not very good at it). But few of us like the idea of being gossiped about publicly. A bad habit has developed on our forum of posting publicly to address another poster and to make comments and personal judgements in these posts about other named posters.

This practice can only lead to more problems and the strength of opinion and the language used - have directly led to the idea that it is also OK to do exacly the same with well-known public figures and performers. This mudslinging is problematic.

There is the option of PMs and email where IF the convention is followed - of not making these exchanges public - it is possible to be as defamatory and as bitchy as you wish and about whoever you wish.

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: jacqui.c
Date: 16 May 05 - 11:48 AM

I can't remember the plastic stuff but do remember the felt pieces - I think they are still available today. I hope whoever thought up those simple ideas made their money out of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Complaints versus Mudslinging
From: Jeri
Date: 16 May 05 - 12:42 PM

JennyO, no, but it makes sense. Actually the link is so obvious that most people probably would think "Uh...yeah. So what?"

I think the things were called ColorForms or something like it. Hang on a minute...

Hot Diggity Dalmation!. I can't find the dalmations, but it seems Colorforms have been resurrected since there's a Squarebob Spongepants version out.

Maybe the next fundraiser could be something similar with Mudcat as the theme. Mudcat action figures might be fun but once you rip the heads off, that's it. Little sticky plastic things would be better. Also, in addition to clothes one could change, there could be bodies - maybe the Star Wars™ characters and Mudcatter faces you could stick on them. Imagine who would be whom. It could be fun, and every time one got frustrated at threads like this, one could stick somebody's face on Jabba-the-Hut, add a pink tutu and Carmen Miranda fruit hat, and suddenly you're not so mad anymore.