Mudcat: just music, or a mix?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: bbc
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:02 AM

I love the mix. Thanks, Rick. Good to see you back, Joe!

bbc

Subject: ABOUT IMPORTANT SONG STUFF
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 May 99 - 11:51 PM

I posted this suggestion in the how to get songs out of the threads. I had suggested putting the "subject" in bold with the appropriate song info for easier spotting of important music stuff. Whaddaya think?

kat

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Anonymous in Colorado...
Date: 07 May 99 - 11:49 PM

Uh...I think I like the mix. I think I found the 'Cat within its first 6 to 8 weeks of life, way back at the end of 1996. Back then, there was a heated battle to keep all discussion on the topic of "traditional folk." Trouble is, the efforts to restrict the discussion just made the place unpleasant. Ideas develop best in freedom, and the unrestricted environment of this forum has brought forth some wonderful information. I'm glad the Folk Police lightened up on us. I think they have a good time here, too.
I do get a bit perturbed when somebody jumps in and interrupts the flow of a really serious musical discussion, but that doesn't happen very often. Most people seem to respect those who who have valuable information to share.
The only thing I don't like to see in the forum is nastiness, and there really isn't much of that around. We're all pretty nice to each other, and that's the way it should be. Everyone should be able to feel comfortable here, and I think we've created a nice, comfortable home here.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 May 99 - 11:37 PM

Actually Tucker, though I have been known to flick a bit of feces into the furrower at times, this wasn't one of them. It was suggested in other threads that "music ONLY" mudcatters were becoming an increasing minority, and a couple of folks sincerely thought that the other threads were making it difficult for some to find the music that they were looking for. I think the constant use of the abbreviation for "bullshit" was a bit intimidating as well. It was also suggested that a gathering of opinions "yea, or nay" might help. I agreed, so I posted it.
I've contributed mainly to music threads (still got to do the "adjustable autoharp one") but several of the non-music ones recently have helped me resolve troubling issues, so I value this aspect of the Mudcat. Besides if it weren't for some of those threads labelled "BS", I wouldn't have gotten to know some bloody nice people. So I gotta come down on the "mix" side, but I'll sure listen to folks with the other point of view. When they post anonymously, I just chuckle.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:52 PM

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!

katlaughing, singing, fiddling, talking, listening, writing, crying, celebrating, communing, praying....where else can I do all of those without being judged an idiot or worse? Where else can I find so many who share so much, but

FIRST & FOREMOST THEIR LOVE OF MUSIC!?

Thanks, Rick, it had to be asked, to be fair.

Kat

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Tucker
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:46 PM

here here Helen, I like your comments Darlin"

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Susan A-R
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:45 PM

Mix please.

Susan

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Helen
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:43 PM

I agree with Allison. It just reminds me of the best folk festivals I've been to. The ones where if you just want music you go to the structured events like concerts and workshops, and if you want the full mix you sit around in the sessions, playing a bit of music, chatting a bit about life, the universe and everything, whether it relates *directly* to music or not. (I actually think that it all relates to folk music - emotions, thoughts, ideas, interests, social justice, politics, etc etc can all be expressed in music, words, or dance.)

Maybe we need a way for people who start threads and only want to stick to the topic to mark the threads in some way. like "Warning, this is intended to be a BS-free zone". You note, I said *intended to be* because there are just some times when the BS just has to break free and bring a bit of levity to the occasion. I'm thinking of a time in the last year when someone started a thread about sex sites for gay women or something, hoping that we'd get sidetracked into a pornographic/cyber-sex discussion. It took less than no time at all for the humour to cut in, and then after a very short time it developed into a serious discussion about gay and lesbian songs.

I like to think that folkies and blues people are lateral thinkers with a broad perspective on life. That's why I love the meandering way the threads go sometimes.

Helen

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Tucker
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:39 PM

Aye Allison! Rick is attempting to kick a wee bit of crap into the weedeater here! Everyone knows this is basically a music place but lads and lassies it's also a discussion place too. What is music about anyway? When we write music, it's usually from the heart. I might feel bad about a snaildarter in southbumfugue, but I feel REAL bad about a woman who ran off with my best friend. I feel bad about school shootings, DUI's,dorks,ship sinkings, tornadoes, earthquakes, stupid giznorks, whatever makes life unpleasant. But....that is what we write about, always has been, always will be, no offense Rick, love to argue, Tucker

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:31 PM

Leave it the way it is. Allison said it better than I could ever hope to.

Mick

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:04 PM

The mix is the whole point of the thing for me. Here we are, gathered in a circle so to speak- over there in the corner a coupla guitarists are comparing makes of guitars; over behind the curtains a heated political discussion; in the kitchen an impromptu verse or two of Shenandoah (all the original words, Rick!) - on the couch a mutual appreciation society; one of us is on the phone with Catspaw; there's a frisbee game going on out on the lawn- there's an intrepid group in the dining room having a heated discussion on the roots of particular lyrics of O'Carolan- it's a great party- may it never end!
Allison

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: campfire
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:02 PM

Since it was, I beleive, in a non-music thread that I learned the great word "flunderblunking" and the equally important "oomphologist" (sp?), I'd hate to lose the conversations. I agree with those who have said if it doesn't appeal to you, don't bother reading it.

But I also don't know how limited the "space" or whatever it would be called is - I'd also hate to have us run out of room. I've read complaints about how long it takes to do a forum search, because one gets "timed out" - is that because there's just too many threads now?

So, sorry Rick, I'm going to be a fence walker, only because I don't know the limitations.

campfire/Dawn

Subject: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 May 99 - 09:46 PM

It was suggested in another thread that perhaps there were more "catters" who'd prefer a "music period." Mudcat. Having a poll might give us an idea what the numbers are. Surely with condom threads et al. this would be equally informative. Any takers? Music or Mix?