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What has happened here?

Whistleworks 21 Sep 01 - 08:45 AM
GUEST,What happened to free will 21 Sep 01 - 08:50 AM
ard mhacha 21 Sep 01 - 08:52 AM
The Shambles 21 Sep 01 - 08:55 AM
Marymac90 21 Sep 01 - 08:57 AM
Maryrrf 21 Sep 01 - 09:20 AM
Jim Dixon 21 Sep 01 - 09:21 AM
Jeri 21 Sep 01 - 09:31 AM
Pseudolus 21 Sep 01 - 09:33 AM
GUEST,What happened to free will 21 Sep 01 - 09:39 AM
GUEST,.gargoyle 21 Sep 01 - 09:43 AM
McGrath of Harlow 21 Sep 01 - 09:43 AM
catspaw49 21 Sep 01 - 10:06 AM
katlaughing 21 Sep 01 - 10:14 AM
Jack the Sailor 21 Sep 01 - 10:31 AM
Clifton53 21 Sep 01 - 10:41 AM
Steve in Idaho 21 Sep 01 - 10:57 AM
The Shambles 21 Sep 01 - 11:04 AM
Mrrzy 21 Sep 01 - 11:08 AM
Jeri 21 Sep 01 - 11:24 AM
InOBU 21 Sep 01 - 11:44 AM
McGrath of Harlow 21 Sep 01 - 11:56 AM
wysiwyg 21 Sep 01 - 12:44 PM
Greyeyes 21 Sep 01 - 01:07 PM
Greyeyes 21 Sep 01 - 01:12 PM
Jon Freeman 21 Sep 01 - 01:40 PM
McGrath of Harlow 21 Sep 01 - 02:24 PM
Peter T. 21 Sep 01 - 02:41 PM
The Shambles 21 Sep 01 - 02:41 PM
steve in ottawa 21 Sep 01 - 04:43 PM
McGrath of Harlow 21 Sep 01 - 05:07 PM
The Shambles 22 Sep 01 - 06:00 AM
InOBU 22 Sep 01 - 08:28 AM
John Hardly 22 Sep 01 - 09:26 AM
Jeri 22 Sep 01 - 09:44 AM
GUEST,mgarvey@pacifier.com 22 Sep 01 - 10:01 AM
Jeri 22 Sep 01 - 10:13 AM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 10:25 AM
John Hardly 22 Sep 01 - 10:38 AM
John Hardly 22 Sep 01 - 10:44 AM
Peter T. 22 Sep 01 - 01:02 PM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 01:13 PM
Jeri 22 Sep 01 - 01:19 PM
wysiwyg 22 Sep 01 - 01:30 PM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 01:31 PM
Big Mick 22 Sep 01 - 01:39 PM
Jeri 22 Sep 01 - 02:46 PM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 03:09 PM
Amos 22 Sep 01 - 03:38 PM
Peter T. 22 Sep 01 - 04:02 PM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 04:46 PM
GUEST,CLETUS 22 Sep 01 - 04:54 PM
Amos 22 Sep 01 - 04:58 PM
GUEST,Matt_R 22 Sep 01 - 05:10 PM
Jeri 22 Sep 01 - 05:11 PM
Amos 22 Sep 01 - 05:13 PM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 05:21 PM
GUEST,CLETUS 22 Sep 01 - 05:24 PM
Jeri 22 Sep 01 - 05:26 PM
GUEST 22 Sep 01 - 05:33 PM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 05:41 PM
Pseudolus 22 Sep 01 - 05:43 PM
Amos 22 Sep 01 - 07:26 PM
Jon Freeman 22 Sep 01 - 07:48 PM
Jeri 22 Sep 01 - 07:53 PM
catspaw49 22 Sep 01 - 08:06 PM
Pseudolus 22 Sep 01 - 08:58 PM
Art Thieme 22 Sep 01 - 11:55 PM
Amos 23 Sep 01 - 01:03 AM
wysiwyg 23 Sep 01 - 01:08 AM
John Hardly 23 Sep 01 - 01:32 AM
Blackcatter 23 Sep 01 - 01:44 AM
The Shambles 23 Sep 01 - 05:52 AM
Jeri 23 Sep 01 - 08:29 AM
kendall 23 Sep 01 - 09:10 AM
Amos 23 Sep 01 - 10:26 AM
Firecat 23 Sep 01 - 10:39 AM
Whistleworks 23 Sep 01 - 10:47 AM
The Shambles 23 Sep 01 - 11:31 AM
Peter T. 23 Sep 01 - 11:32 AM
Art Thieme 23 Sep 01 - 11:43 AM
McGrath of Harlow 23 Sep 01 - 11:51 AM
catspaw49 23 Sep 01 - 12:09 PM
Big Mick 23 Sep 01 - 12:42 PM
Jon Freeman 23 Sep 01 - 12:45 PM
The Shambles 23 Sep 01 - 01:01 PM
Pseudolus 24 Sep 01 - 08:18 AM
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Subject: What has happened here?
From: Whistleworks
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:45 AM

My dear friends,

In the past several weeks, I have noted that more and more threads in this discussion group have severely drifted off the course of folk music. To me, this is sad. There are most likely hundreds if not thousands of discussion groups on the internet that deal with politics and current events. I would never attempt to play down recent events, nor am I saying that folk music does not often involve politics and events, but quite honestly, the discussions here are so off topic that I am forcing myself to log ON to Mudcat these days. Therefore, I will bid farewell to this group for a while and come back some time when the threads get closer to the music and the hatred, anger, and just unkind expressions on many of the threads become a thing of the past.

My very best regards to you all,

Bob Pegritz


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST,What happened to free will
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:50 AM

Bobby,

1.It is pretty easy to discern the topic of each thread.

2.There are no rules that require you to open/read those not related to music. Did you think otherwise?

3.Start taking your medication again.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:52 AM

Whistleworks, I have to agree, no problem if you can find the odd Folk song query. Slan Ard Mhacha.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:55 AM

I think that there are many of us that share your view.

Many of those, like myself who do not think that the forum should be exclusivly musical.

These are exceptional times but I think that we should try to resist the temptation to start yet another thread on this important subject.

There is a long-running series of theads that will quite easily keep all possible views on the subject in one place. Then we will all know where to look, rather than turning the forum into something it is not.

For just the titles of many of them are enough to make you go elsewhere.

Just a bit of common sense please?


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Marymac90
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:57 AM

Whistleworks, check back soon. People will always come back to folk music. Or start a thread with a folk music topic you'd like to discuss.

All the best,

Marymac


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:20 AM

Personally I only read threads that I'm interested in, judging by the titles. If I open a thread and it's not what I thought it was I just go on to the next one. For example, I haven't read any of the "American Attacks" threads. I get enough of that listening to the radio and watching TV! The good thing about an on-line situation is that you can ignore the people/topics you don't care for without being rude!


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:21 AM

I have felt the same way you do. I have spent some fretful hours trying to figure out how to change things, and I conclude that the situation is hopeless. Trying to change Mudcat is like pushing on a rope. But it needn't spoil your day.

After a while, you can learn to recognize the threads that are not about music. Ignore them. If you can't see enough music threads to interest you, set the age filter to, say, 7 days, and then click "refresh" to see more threads. Or plug the name of any interesting musician, band, song, or style into the "DigiTrad and Forum Search" and click "Go." You will find lots of interesting stuff to read.

If you find some good stuff in an old thread, and you have a comment to make, go ahead and post the comment, no matter how old the thread is. That will pop it to the top of the current list. Maybe someone else will find it interesting, too.

I think this is what my parents were trying to get across to me when I was a kid and I complained of being bored: "If you're bored, it's your own fault. The world does not have a responsibility to entertain you. Use some creativity. Entertain yourself. When the world sees that you're having a good time, they will join you."


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:31 AM

Some folks think "free will" around here implies responsibility only on the part of the reader. Sometimes it means keeping your mouth shut for the greater good. (When what you say doesn't add anything or could better be said elsewhere.) Now, I can understand a political thread or several, but it seems like one thread is started after another, and the same folks are involved in all of them, saying pretty much the same things.

Hardly anyone around here is willing to keep their mouth shut about anything, no matter who it might hurt.

This is just one person's view, of course, but the message I'm getting from the overall tone of the forum is "Fuck the music, this is an opportunity to discuss politics, and I don't give a shit about the music. I don't give a shit what you think either."


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Pseudolus
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:33 AM

My take on this is somewhat different. I view mudcat kinda like my local Pub. Many of my friends are there each with a different subject going on at their table. I can join or avoid any of the discussions I'd like to because my friends are not the jealous type and although I'm welcome at their table, no one's mad if I don't join them.

The events of September 11th have thrown us for quite a loop around here as it has across the country. We are all dealing as best we can. Yeah, more tables around the Pub are discussing the tragedy and may still for quite a while, but there are still plenty of tables with other conversations and the best part, at Mudcat, there are ALWAYS empty tables for you to sit down, start a discussion, and see who shows up. So Mudcat is what you make of it, no more, no less.......

Frank


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST,What happened to free will
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:39 AM

Gee Jeri, you just gave an excellent demonstration of why the first amendment was created.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:43 AM

WhistleWorks...I agree with you...and have felt this was for years.

The "mission statement" for this site is CLEARLY posted as the TOP header to EVERY page.

A Magazine Dedicated to the Blues and Folk Music

To "correct" and "redirect" the mistaken.... several 'New' elements have been added.... unfortunately, too many folk who are "regulars" and "Know Better" elect to air their life's own personal daily "blues" in a public forum....rather than the private e-mail and chat areas specifically set up for that purpose.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:43 AM

Well this last week has been a bit extraordinary - if we hadn't been exchanging views and feelings about what's happened, we'd have been a pretty peculiar lot.

And I think some of the stuff that's been in the discussion threads this week have been a lot more thoughtful and thought-provoking than you get in most of the mass media. I think I've learnt far more about what it feels like to be an American at this time than I ever would from the TV or papers.

Generally speaking I have always found that if you turn your back for a bit when the Mudcat seems overwhelmed with non-music discussions, by the time you turn back kit's all music. That will happen again in time - but these are odd times.

And aside from the discussion the last week has thrown up some unique music related threads - see the one Song for NYC Firefighters... especially. And also New Songs for 9-11-01

Most music threads are quite short, because they are people asking for words or information, and someone normally come sup with that pretty quickly. Only sometimes do they turn into discussions about the background of the song or the meaning and so forth, and they are the best threads of all maybe.

If you count the number of threads you normally find that music related ones are in a majority. But they intend to be down the bottom of the page, because people don't use them in the same way they do discussion threads and so forth. But they are still here, and I've started a good few even this week.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 10:06 AM

It's natural that these times will produce more conversation and arguments. I think some of the threads over the past week have well reflected the feelings around the world. The American Attacks threads were running along pretty well with a few offshoot threads, giving everyone a chance and a place to voice their opinions, as Frank says, "Pub Style."

The past few days though seem to have drastically increased the number of treads with many of them being damn near identical. I figured the Series thread would be pretty much the place we continued the discussion and the numbers would decrease, but exactly the opposite happened. Another series would be better to keep all the info confined to fewer threads. A number of the threads have been deliberate trolls as well and once again Mudcat bit in most cases.

Yeah, I'm an inveterate BS'er but I have also actively participated in many types of music threads.........But this mass of same topic threads that have come up the past few days is getting to be ridiculous....even for me.

Spaw


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 10:14 AM

When I compiled the list of initial threads on last week's evens, I was shocked at how many there were. They were all important and I think represented a microcosm of what most of the world was going through.

Since then, however, there have been so many more started. I would prefer to see people add to the ones we already have rather than start so many others.

Just as when we've had other crises, they take over for a week or two, but the music always comes back or, even intertwines as was the case when Columbine happened.

BTW, I am still waiting to hear if anyone knows what "Dakota's Cross" refers to in a Lyr Add I did a couple of weeks ago. I'll refresh it in hopes someone can answer that.

Thanks,

kat


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 10:31 AM

Whistleworks,

Here is my 2 cents.

Going back to way before Woody Guthrie, folk music has always been at least partially about topical things and people's feelings on issues. With that in mind it is difficult for me at least to imagine a topic that is not at least tangently related to folk music.

Also the forum has the potential at least to be a community of people with a common interest. I want to know what other folk musicians think about the issues. I write my own songs so I rarely asks for tabs etc. But I do incorporate a lot of the ideas generated here into my songs.

Last night when I logged in there were a lot of music related threads. I am even tempted to speculate that recent events have brought us closer to our music.

All that being said I want to thank you for the good manners of starting your own thread rather that polluting another thread with your criticisms.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Clifton53
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 10:41 AM

Whistleworks, I like the way you started this thread,"my dear friends". It reminded me of why I joined in the first place. I'm guilty for wading in like a drunken brute when a bit more thought and compassion was called for. Stick around, we need you.

Clifton


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 10:57 AM

Jack the Sailor - Here here!!

Clifton53 - me too. But my opinion is stated in the LyrAdd post of Poem - How to treat friends. Peace - Steve


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 11:04 AM

The world has been knocked off balance.

It is hardly surprising that the forum has been too.

These are indeed 'odd' times.

We can only do what we can to try and help restore the balance, on Mudcat and elsewhere.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 11:08 AM

I think that our reality check has just been deposited...


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 11:24 AM

Here are some of the most recent ones, in case anyone's missed any. (I may have missed some myself):

The Key to All US war strategy - started by Donuel 21 Sep 8:12AM
BS: Bush's speech DougR 20 Sep 10:36PM
To heck with the Prez we need a Czar Donuel, 20 Sep 6:33PM
Where I stand DonMeixner, 20 Sep 5:35PM
Infinite Justice outsilent but deadly in Donuel, 20 Sep 2:47PM
BS:Mohammed Ali Speaks Out started by Donuel, 20 Sep 2:37PM
America has LOST THE WAR Donuel, 20 Sep 8:27
Is this the WTC? started by GUEST,Rasputin II, 19 Sep 8:35PM
OBIT:INFINITE JUSTICE Donuel, 19 Sep 7:01PM
Infinite Justice... started by GUEST 19 Sep 6:48PM


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: InOBU
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 11:44 AM

Hi Jim Dixon: Pushing rope is not really that hard... soak it in fresh water, (not salt water,) freeze it and bingo! - Larry
PS Rope also pushes real well if it is coiled not flemished. Hmmm, think I may write a song about that.... had a great great grand mum, Sara Dixon, wonder if we are related... what time is it anyway... Anyone know if it is raining in New York? Was eariler, well, I sould get back to recording... Is that the telipone or the tea kettle...


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 11:56 AM

And here are a batch of music thread currently on the page:

Lyr Req: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)

Lyr Req: Blackthorn

'We'll Meet Again' - who wrote it?

Lyr Req:I'm Troubled

Gospel Sing 9/11

ADD: We Shall Walk Through the Valley

Help: The Hanged Man

False true love(r)? Help: Mummer play info?

And that's just a start, readingup from the bottom of the page. See what I mean?


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 12:44 PM

I think part of the problem is that not many have felt like it was right to use the BS prefix to talk about 9/11. So it does make it hard to sort what's what. I liked it when we used POL for a while, but a certain troller/flamer's posting name gave that one a pretty bad taste and it never really caught on.

If I hadn't had the project on spirituals to focus on around here in the last few weeks, I think I'd be feeling a lot like WW...

But in a time like this, I don't think it makes any sense to try to figure out what the heck people are doing... or why... we are all just doing the best we can. Thread-starters and Whistleworks, too.

~S~


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Greyeyes
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:07 PM

I think Kat is right, people are unwilling to use the BS prefix for these threads , understandably. Perhaps "Non-music" would be acceptable.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Greyeyes
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:12 PM

Sorry, I meant Praise, not Kat, it's been a long day.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:40 PM

I think the BS tag is a separate issue to the volume of posts mentioned by others but there are problems with it:

1. It's meaning is unfortunate and is therfore deemed inappropriate (by some) for certain types of threads.

2. There is no requirement for the use of any tags. Although many users are co-operative, there are some who for what ever reason (including bieng new) do not use them.

3. There is no easy automatic way for those not wanting to read non-music threads to skip them. There is of coure an alternative form somewhere in the system that will exclude any threads with a chosen pattern of letters such as BS in but the user has to enter that each time.

Refering to 3, When I started the Annexe, it displayed as a typical multi-forum system but users seemed to want it to list in "all lumped together" format. I changed it that way but I also built in a feature that allows a member to choose which of the forums they want to see posts from in that listing.

The situation at Mudcat seems to be far simpler than mine as it is much less structured and there is only Music and Non Music to consider.

It should be easy to allow a user to indicate a preference to read or omit BS in the Membership and list the threads based on that, and I wouldn't have thought it would be too much hassle for a person creating a thread to indicate whether it was on topic or not.

I guess it gets to close to splitting the forum or whatever to be considered here though.

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:24 PM

Most of the time the music related ones are pretty easy to spot. If you don't want non-music, and accidentally open one up, you just shut it down. Even if it's along thread, you can just open it up in another window, and let it load, and you don't lose any time that way if, when you look at it after its loaded, and it turns out to be non-music.

And if you scroll down to the bottom of the page there is never any shortage of music thread. It's just that the ones with the rapid discussions rise to the top, and can make it look as if they are the only ones there, but that is never the case, so far as I have seen.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:41 PM

The reason why there are so many different threads is the same reason why Union Square in New York is filled with thousands of different pictures, scribbles, candles whatever. We are in an era when people want to express their need to mourn and respond in their own way. They want to create their own space in the larger public space. These are threads in a quilt of anger, stupidity, love, nonsense, music, personal testimony, etc. It will subside. Have some grace, some compassion, let it happen, for pity's sake.

yours, Peter T.

P.S. If a blues and folk music site is not centrally concerned about a tragedy of this kind it is completely and utterly worthless. This is the biggest goddamn blues you could ever not want.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:41 PM

This is not the same old problem. It just makes the same old problems look worse.

Nearly all the non music threads are currently quite understandably all on one subject. There is little real need to start new ones.

It is also very frustrating if you want to go back and find a particular post, as you have so many similar threads to choose from.

If all the posts on the subject were posted in one, or one series of threads, the balance of the forum could be restored quite easily.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: steve in ottawa
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:43 PM

I was browsing through a "Need For Speed" game site's forum. Nothing there except talk about games and cars and car games. Until September 11th. Suddenly there was no more talk about cars or games for a few days.

The topic shift at Mudcat is hardly unique...but our posts are a lot longer :-)


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 05:07 PM

As Steve says - I'm on a mailing list of people who like talking about a series of Nonsense books about an elephant called Uncle (great books, I could tell you more) - the last week it's all been about the Towers and about war and so forth.

And I don't think I've had a conversation with anyone in the 3D world where it hasn't come in.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 06:00 AM

What has happened here?

The same as what has happened everywhere else.

People just like you and me have killed themselves and hi-jacked and killed plane loads of people just like you and me, whilst crashing into the heart of two crowded cities, and killing more people just like you and me.

People just like you and me have risked and lost their lives to try and save people just like you and me.

The world is not the same as it was and may never be again.

I don't think anyone is saying that we should not discuss this on the forum, for how could we not?

All that is being requested is that we show a little common sense.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 08:28 AM

I agree with all that has been said here, and for more advice about pushing rope, do read my doctoral thesis, rejected I am afraid, Pushing Rope Up Hill on Hot Afternoons when World War is Imminant... A copy can be found in the trash behind NYU's graduate pol. sci. dept. Cheers, Larry


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: John Hardly
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 09:26 AM

I agree with Peter T's assessment, but I would add that (and I've made the point before) there are inherent differences between this forum format and the "pub" analogy.

At a pub you can actually know (or not) that you are being ignored, snubbed, thought ignorant, or had a thought assimilated and accepted. The other folks will acknowledge you or not----but you know either way.

as this is the norm for conversational type communication---it is easy to forget that this isn't (and can't be) the way a forum works.

As shambles has pointed out to me, it should be obvious but it's easily forgetable that just because nobody responds to your post doesn't mean it wasn't read...or even agreed with.

But...

What many of you have found (learned), as evidenced by your posting style, is that you CAN"T post with the goal of getting a response. You will almost certainly be disappointed.


Still, as this format so closely approximates conversation, and since conversation is often (almost always?) entered into for its "fellowship" aspects, it is easy to fall prey to the hope that you will be deemed significant by a response...

...especially when you grow to respect the personalities, talents and intellect represented in this forum. The desire for "Significance" is one of the two major driving forces in human existance.

Anyway, I would be willing to bet that the excessive number of extra, duplicate in concept threads are started by a needy soul, craving that he be found significant by having his post responded to (even if negatively). (S)he probably has had sufficient experience trying to participate in an existing thread---only to have his post "ignored".

Sadly, I see no solution. I agree that the music threads will come around again.....the problem I see there though?

It seems to me that with each successive cycle of gluts of religious/political thread finally giving way to the return of the music threads......the discourse in the music threads becomes more and more curt. Dammit, I WANT bullshit in the MUSIC threads. I WANT to be entertained in the music threads. I WANT to sit around with a few beers and talk guitars, songs, chords, theory ,history........and yet these are the threads that garner the goddam one word answers!


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 09:44 AM

The main thing that bothered me was that multiple threads were being started to express a thought that might have fit in some other threads, and folks were replying in all of them. Let's face it - we've probably lost most of the folks who come here for serious music discussion anyway. We're down to folks who don't mind some, or all non-music discussion, and of the folks who like "some" I guess there will be a few who think we've gone over the line into "most." I hope they come back, but I don't think many people here care. Slowly but surely, the nature of the forum is weeding them out.

I do understand the need to talk about this, but most of the threads I've seen started in the last couple of days have been about "should we kick ass, who's ass should we kick, how should we kick it, and George W Bush." The focus is on anger and retribution, or it's simply another liberal vs. conservative smack-down.

I still think of the victims. I've read what Larry (InOBU) has posted about the courage of the firefighters. I imagine what someone might think, if they've lost a loved one and come here looking for some comfort. I suspect they wouldn't hang around long.

I watched the musical tribute that was on most US TV channels last night. They sang of love and courage and faith. In between the songs, they told the stories of individuals: A firefighter that was to retire that day, went to the site anyway and was killed. A man who chose to stay behind with his paraplegic friend, and both were killed, a man with a light who grasped the hand of a fallen firefighter, who in turn grasped a hand until a human chain was formed - all were led to safety and the man with the light was never identified. He just walked off. The program was something to be proud of.

I know I can't change anyone's mind about what they post here. I know my voice is a small one, easily ignored. Folks who hate are going to go on hating, folks who are angry will remain angry, and folks who see opportunity for political debates will continue debate until whatever ideas were originally present lie in an unrecognisable, bleeding heap. I'm doing nothing more than adding my point of view to all the rest...at least the rest of those who are still around and willing to say what they think.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST,mgarvey@pacifier.com
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 10:01 AM

thank heavens you have the option of worrying about something so trivial and get on with it. mg


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 10:13 AM

John Hardly, I agree with most of what you've said. Another difference in the pub analogy is you can only be involved in one conversation at a time. (Well, exceptionally skilled individuals could probably be in 2 or 3 if they're going on in close proximity.)

It's interesting to note that at least in the political debates, people have to read what another person has written in order to disagree with them. Folks in the music threads often seem to post their own opinion/information and aren't interested in a discussion. Therefore, you get the one-liners such as "it's at my web page" or "it's in the DT" or "it was recorded by ____." I enjoy it when someone can come up stories about the music, but it doesn't happen very often.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 10:25 AM

John, I think the main reason for the multiple treads is that a person or group of people get so absorbed with their own other interests or need a need to voice thier own opinions on a subject that interests them that they don't stop and think about what they are doing. At it's worst, it gets like a loud night in a session where the chatters just talk louder, totaly oblivious of what effect they are having on the music.

Jeri, I hope they come back, but I don't think many people here care. Slowly but surely, the nature of the forum is weeding them out.

I just wish more people would realise that and care about it. Having said that, and I could be wrong on this, I did get the feeling before the exceptional circumstances of 9/11 that there was more willingness from some to try to compromise a little and help try to make it as good as it can be for all.

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: John Hardly
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 10:38 AM

Mary,

It's and interesting concept to assume that music and art are "trivial"...but I don't accept it.

I actually think that music and art are at least as powerful, and as much a need in the human soul as politics/science/religion.

In my mind, when this kind of "perspective check" is suggested, I remember a few instances where my point of view is validated.
I remember the story of a jewish violinist, saved from execution during WW2 because of a German officer's need for music.
A few years ago there was a Glenn Close movie about a group of POW's who transcended their conditions with music.
Our own history is rich with people finding significant and worthwhile ways of interacting with their fellow man because of music.
When Bill Clinton invited James Taylor to give him a personal concert (while visiting on Martha's vineyard)---In my mind I couldn't help but feel as though James Taylor was the more powerful of the two men---he certainly has done more to bless the human condition.
Finally, on this forum in the last few days, a story was shared of music being used in NY as a "Balm in Gilead"

I think it's an easy thing to fall into thinking that what we talk about here is of relative unimportance when compared to socio/political events that seem to shape our history.......but give me art any day and I'll shape the human soul.

Jeri,
Yeah, I want> to hear stories of, "Oh I remember when I first heard..." or "I find that when I play an A chord, if I..." or ".......

And I do want people to take as much care to respond (that means READ, as well as POST), to the music threads.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: John Hardly
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 10:44 AM

...Oh, and Jon and Jeri,

I agree they're either gone or in hiding.

"Let's face it - we've probably lost most of the folks who come here for serious music discussion anyway. We're down to folks who don't mind some, or all non-music discussion" --Jeri

"I hope they come back, but I don't think many people here care. Slowly but surely, the nature of the forum is weeding them out." --Jon Freeman


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 01:02 PM

I hate to disagree with Jeri, the truth is that many people here are interested in both. I also cannot see how anyone can separate, especially in blues and folk music, "serious" music from "serious" concerns about life and death. This music does not exist in a Platonic realm, nor, except at the most esoteric level, in mathematics textbooks. I want to know who these mysterious serious music people are, and what they are interested in? Modes? What Bill Broonzy thought about Igor Stravinsky? Counterpoint in bluegrass? The provenance of handbills in early 19th century Dublin?

We seem to be able to chat about these, if they interest people. I note that we have had many discussions recently that would not disgrace a folk seminar.

yours, Peter T.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 01:13 PM

Opps John (Hardly). My post was misleading. The bit you quoted from me was from Jeri - somehow I ommited to use any method of indicating it was a quote. Sorry.

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 01:19 PM

Peter, you aren't disagreeing with me. If you read what I wrote, I wasn't saying there should be no political debate.

I believe in my case, the WTC attacks and especially the responses have affected me more than I'd realised. What has bothered me more than anything is a strong, but non-specific feeling about the focus on divisive issues. Not the divisive issues, but the seemingly single-minded and relentless focus. I know I have no say in what other people post, and I don't want any. I would only wish people to think about readers' feelings as well as their own, as posters.

I understand other people don't see things the way I do, but we all can express our own opinions. This is mine. I think, in order to disagree with my main point, you'd have to tell me I don't have a right to feel this way.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 01:30 PM

I guess I think that if we don't like how things are, we should do our part to change them, and that action is best taken on the individual level. And there is a lot an individual can do. Look at the spirituals project-- it's just hitting critical mass now as people with different angles and research resources climb on board to study, share, discuss.

I get the sense that those of us working on it, as an informal work group, are all tremendously excited. And all it took for it to hit critical mass (IMO) was one more new member wandering in, who happens to be all the way across the globe from Mudcat Central, and who has an interest, a collection, and skill in searching and creating links. That one person (Masato Sakurai), and his participation, has made it possible to hang all the rest of our resources in Spirituals together.

We also had a good example of proactivity recently when Uli, a maker and wise man on Aeolian harps, was found during a search done for a member's help-request. Uli was invited to come share here, and he did, and he came back multiple times to do it because the thread link had been provided and he was welcomed here immediately.

Also recently a new member, with limited understanding of Net searching, came along. She was helped not only to find things, but to know how to post from her excellent collection of songs, and is now starting to search to help on the spirituals, because she was shown how and was aksed to help.

These things are not so hard to do.

There are other things we can do.

So--

If you grieve the loss of those who have left, and you know them well enough to send e-mail, start a topic that will interest them (or spot one in progress), and invite them to come discuss that.

Or bring new people in-- for example once I have the Spirituals info a little better organized I am going to invite people doing websites on spirituals to choose Mudcat as their forum of choice for discussing and sharing what is known. We do a great job of searching-- but how often do you drop a person a line to say, "Thanks for your stuff, we posted it here, please come discuss"?

How often, when you search, do you ask the site owner if they know about Mudcat, or check to see if they already have a link to the forum posted? Did you know that most of the sites that include links here, link it as DIGITAL TRADITION and do not even mention the forum? The link takes you to the main Mudcat page, and I wonder how many people even see that the forum is available in their rush to get to the DT. I love DT too, but we have an incredible resouce of reseach and commentary in the threads, as well as a bazillion songs in them not in DT.

Any of us can choose to shift our attention back to music. The BS filter Pene gave in another thread helps do that. And if BS is ignored more often by more people it will fade, too. One could choose to treat them as we treat trolls and flames (on a good day).

But I think I will always wonder about people here, after 9/11-- were they here posting madly away, or out singing somewhere? How many of us turned to mmusic, ourselves, for healing, and how many were frozen at the screen?

~S~


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 01:31 PM

Peter T, the fact is that it is separated in many places. The recent events have spilled over into a few but not all of the folk related forums and newsgoups I read but the response was rather more limited than in Mudcat.

With regards to your view on serious concerns about life and death, believe it or not, I happen to agree with you but I still think a little restraint and moderation should be applied.

I don't agree with your apparently unchanged view that anyone who doesn't see things your way ("Modes? What Bill Broonzy thought about Igor Stravinsky? Counterpoint in bluegrass? The provenance of handbills in early 19th century Dublin?") must be some form of wierdo. They are not, they are just different to you.

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 01:39 PM

Music and art, historically, ARE the prime shapers of thought. Television and all the various forms of media certainly portray events, but when they want to create a mood or an effect (WHAT????? You don't mean to tell the networks are trying to shape our opinions????) they use a musical sound track. Nothing affects the human soul and moves it to act like music. Don't believe it? What about the Warpipes? What about the protest songs? The parodies? As I have been saying for the years I have been here; to discuss folk music or blues music without discussions of politics and events is ridiculous. Mudcat has never been a music forum. It is a community of musicians and fans. Our glue is music, but our community is a discussion forum on virtually any topic.

I will say this, and it might surprise some. While I wouldn't advocate any form of censorship, I grew weary of the discussion re: 9/11/01. I grew weary of the redundancy of the threads. And I grew weary of the flamers/trollers who started horseshit threads just to show they could manipulate. And I especially grew weary of those who fed these miscreants. So I just did what we all can do. I ignored them. But I would have given anything for a discussion of the definition of folk music, or the merits of a Seagull guitar.

Mick


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 02:46 PM

Jon, Peter said "I want to know who these mysterious serious music people are, and what they are interested in?" I don't see how that says anything about other people being weirdos. In light of Peter's adventures with the Wayon Heron, I can't see him throwing the first stone, anyway.

I think we're in danger of responding to what we think we read instead of what is actually on the screen.

Last night, on that telethon, Pink Floyd (or members thereof) sang a re-write of "I Wish You Were Here" that was incredible. There was a line about looking for someone to blame. I think it's possible a lot of us are mad and need to fight against an enemy. Without having one conveniently standing in front of us, maybe we fight with anyone who's willing. Maybe I just have a problem with anger, and people lashing out because of it, and it really is just my own problem. Maybe some form of kindness will be more evident here, and maybe it won't. Who knows, maybe I'll even quit griping about it all...


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 03:09 PM

Well Jeri, that was the context I read it in and re-reading it has not altered my mind: If Peter had stopped where you stopped, I would have agreed with you. Personally I read it as Peter trying to trivailse matters (and in this case "serious music people") and be slightly outrageous in answer to comments or suggestions by others. This is the same was I read it when, in another similar thread he said:

... Some people think that the regulars are a dominating hierarchy that are stifling them. O.K. What can one propose? Propose away. Do you want certain people to only post on Tuesdays and Thursdays? I don't think so. Do you want people to always be nice? Great idea. Sure. That we set up a list of set topics, and only those can be addressed, and only in a certain style and tone? How do you ensure this, without bringing in the police?

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Amos
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 03:38 PM

The notion of getting sad because people of common interests are communicating strikes me as completely bass-ackwards.

The more you have to say about purely musical issues, the more threads you can be expected to start on those topics.

When you have something you want your friends to hear -- and I count all of the members of this forum friends -- why woudl you want to feel you could not communicate it here?

You want sad, start a survey of people in the world who have no means of exchanging ideas with many others in a courteous way. Count folks who are confused as hell about something and don't have any way to find out what others think. Count folks whose friends are in the single digits, remote and insulated and only occasional able to get together and share thoughts.

There's sad for you.

And I echo Peter's feeling that folk music divorced from the passions and times of human life is no folk music at all.

Amos


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 04:02 PM

Jon! Me trivialise matters?! I thought it was obvious that anyone who didn't agree with me was a weirdo. (I think it was Wittgenstein who said that they only stick in the world that couldn't be measured was the official metre stick in Paris). Me=normal. (joke, joke, joke, ask the heron). I am afraid I am an unrepentant believer in having people talk about what concerns them here and enjoy having lots of people disagree with me completely -- why this makes me dogmatic I can't figure, but I guess I must be.

Having said that, I am personally averse here to the continous sound of drumbeats calling to war, it is really tiresome -- and speaking of tiresome, every psychiatrist knows that people like to be part of a story bigger than they are: it relieves their internal struggles, but I am also openly prepared like some other people to say that wallowing around in the WTC stuff is getting tiresome and self-indulgent, especially for people who don't have a family member or close friend lost. It is turning into an emotional drug that people cannot get off -- turn the TV off and go and hug a tree for crumbs sake. Still, I think we have enough elastic here to let people be tiresome and self-indulgent from time to time (including pontificating tiresome and self-indulgent people like me). This is a big event in the world, and will take time for people to absorb and turn into real music here, elsewhere. Sometimes this place is like the raw material dump, and like all dumps, it isn't pretty: I think it will go into grass soon enough. The artistic optimist in me.

yours, Peter T.
P.S. I apologise for underreading Jeri's comments.
P.P.S. I bought a lousy Seagull guitar a few years ago, and it took all the craft of Rick Fielding to fix the damn thing so it was playable.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 04:46 PM

OK Peter, sorry for reacting the way I did. I think I understand you a bit better now.

The problem I have is that I see the same old things crop up over and over again and believe that there are always the same causes of friction.

My own position in terms of what I would like to see here is a balanced mixture of music and off topic stuff but I appreciate that there are many different views as to what should and shouldn't be here and of course what constitutes a balance. I also believe that we should always remember that the only guaranteed common ground we all have is music and for that reason give it some specail consideration.

It remains my view that the real troubles start here when a number of a certain type of non-music thread are running at the same time and although I do appreciate the "free to say what we like without feeling inhibited" arguement, I really do believe giving a little thought before starting a thread would prove to be a healthier approach for all of us. I also believe that a number of people do show this restraint.

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST,CLETUS
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 04:54 PM

Mizter Peter, Ime ritin ta letcha know the Waylon Heron dun servived hiz ordeel. Heez out with thet stupid possum and hiz new frend Artie the Armadilla an havin a gud time.

Iffen the rest uv ya doan know the Waylon Heron wuzza flyin down ta visit heer laz week befor the winter set in up there in Canneda an he got hissef hijackt by a beaver whut then tryed ta crash him inta Vinnie's Pizza Palace in downtown Ashtabula. Wif grate bravry an currage an remembrin whut Paw showt him, he flared off a heron fart and an blasted the beaver offen him an inta Lake Erie jes south of Long Point.

We jes wanted ta letcha know heez all rite.

CLETUS


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Amos
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 04:58 PM

Jon:

Thoughtful posts are infinitely preferable to kneejerk ones no matter WHAT the topic. Let me point out that there have been far more threads started on the subject of spirituals in the last ten days than there have been on the subject of war. And if you read the threads about the WTC event you will find that they range in persuasion from abhorring the thought of war, to trying to think of other solutions than war, to tring to understand the dynamics that have led us to its edge and where those dynamics might lead. Let me add that the notion of war was not brought up at all in this forum until a foreign community chose to kill a large number of citizens of this and other countries. It's not like we have obsessive warmongers among us!

Count the music versus non-music threads in any one-week period and you will probably find -- at least I did the last time I did this -- that music reigns by about 60-40.

A


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:10 PM

Actually, the reworking of Pink Floyd's classic "Wish You Were Here" was by Limp Bizkit and Johnny Rzeznik, the lead singer from Goo Goo Dolls.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:11 PM

Well, if anyone was arguing against a point of view I held, or something I actually said, I'd probably still drop it.

Cletus, I hate to be pedantic (right, sure), but I don't believe herons are capable of farting.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Amos
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:13 PM

Let's get specific, now. In the last 7-10 days, the following distribution of categories of threads appeared on the Mudcat:

Music related threads: 70 Politics related threads: 22 Personal threads: 5 Miscellaneous (technical, etc) threads: 8

Sample: 105 threads Percentage of musical threads: >70%

So obviously you are not complaining about the distribution of THREADS. You object to the number of POSTS in the different threads.

Here's an easy answer. If your attention is being hit by too many people posting to threads you don't care about, read only those threads you care about.

There are more musical threads than any other kind by a significant margin, so stop whinging.

A


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:21 PM

Amos, I'm not sure where you are coming from here or what you are suggesting. I am not under the impression that we are a group of war mongers. I have even acknowledged that 9/11 was exceptional - beleive me it shook me so badly I couldn't even attempt to get any remotely coherant thoughts on the subject together. I do, as others have done still question the need for the number of threads though.

Are you perahps missunderstanding my comment to Peter T which was a genuine OBSERVATION (in response to "I also cannot see how anyone can separate, especially in blues and folk music, "serious" music from "serious" concerns about life and death") as to what had happened in other folk groups I read and thinking that mean't I was suggesting no such discussion should take place here?

Re the number of threads on Sprituals I see it as part of a constructive music related project?

Seeing as you brought it up: Re balance of threads, I believe the thread count gives a distorted picture if you are looking to assess the music/non music post situation. I only tried a count of posts once. A majority for music in a thread count was easily overturned.

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST,CLETUS
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:24 PM

I dunno Miz Jeri, but I think thet beaver thet went flamin inta Lake Erie mite not agree wifya.

One thing I am purty neer shur uv iz thet a ded horse still perduces an awful lotta gas cuz I dun read thizeer thred.

CLETUS


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:26 PM

Thanks for caring, for taking the time to understand what I'd written, and for trying to understand what I was going through when I posted that, Amos. You are truly compassionate.

Matt R., thanks for the info. One remarkable thing about the program was they didn't announce performers. If you didn't know who they were, you really had no way of knowing. They did a great job on that song.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:33 PM

Oops, it was just Fred Durst, Bizkit's lead singer, not the whole band.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:41 PM

Amos, another thought, go back and read again from the start.

One problem seems to be getting very clouded yet again:

Forget yours, mine, or anyone elses opinion of what a balance is.

Do you agree or disagree that others have problems with the volume of non-music here?

Do you agree or disagree that the "serious musical people" seem to be dissappearing?

Do you see cause for concern if any group of people are diminishing in number?

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Pseudolus
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:43 PM

As the originator of the "pub" analogy may I just say that it was not meant to be a perfect likeness. Frankly to poke holes in the analogy is to have missed my point altogether. The point was that you are not forced into or out of any conversation. You don't have to go at all on any given day.....

The one thing that hasn't changed here is the constant discussions about what "belongs" here and what doesn't. That is the most difficult for me to take. It borderlines on telling people what to think. It amazes me that people go on and on about the lack of music threads and few of them will start a music thread themselves. I would never sit down with a group of friends and tell them that I don't like their choice of conversation topics, and that they should change it.

Don't get me wrong. I agree that it would be nice to have more music topics. It's the music that brought me here. But if I don't like a non-music topic, why do I care that others are participating in it......I don't. The answer to more music topics is to start them, not to complain about the ones that aren't.

Frank


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Amos
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:26 PM

1. Jon, a post count is not quite relevant -- the ambiance of the Forum is defined by the titles scrolling down the thread list. Conversations about music vice conversation about other things, with the predminat majority being conversations about music.

2. When I said stop whinging it was more in response to Frank, not you. Sorry.

3. I have no doubt you like ,ost of us were blown apart last week. My head is still reassembling itself!

4. My remarks about the spectrumn of views regarding the war that began on Spetember 11th were really addressed to my dear friend Peter T who bemoaned too many calls to war.

Sorry if I sounded terse.

Best regards,

Amos


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:48 PM

NP Amos, maybe we are all still a little blown up by things (not that I don't blow up anyway). I was thinking of a tune by Jeri just now: Farewell To Reason but things aren't that bad, there's still hope...

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:53 PM

Amos, the number of posts ARE relevant when one uses the "New Messages Since Last Visit" feature. When, out of the first 30 post of the day, one finds 27 are about politics, yeah - it seems like alot. It got worse later in the day. (This feature comes in handy to find duplicate messages, BTW)

Amos, the Frank who was more or less agreeing with you...?

I was mainly bitching about Wed/Thu, where there were a whole bunch of new threads started. This is getting to be the sort of thread I'd bitch about, so I guess I'll go find something that won't piss me off. They're showing Highlander II on TV. Mind you, it's crap, the way they had the nerve to re-write the histori...damn!


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 08:06 PM

Well TBS has "Ghosts of Mississippi" and a local has "Groundhog Day".......

The other day, about when this one started, we were all pretty fried with the past week and frankly, the postings had, up to that point been numerous, but well thought out or at least emotionally relevant. All of a sudden we started seeing thread after thread that could just as easily been posted to an existing thread. Partly this was frustration and partly owing to a newbie who wasn't used to the way Mudcat worked. With eevery new thread, everyone felt compelled to respond and the thing became a horrible mishmash to the point that it was impossible short of a trace (which I rarely do, to keep track of what was said where.

It's evening out again a bit and I think we too will return to some form of normalcy soon. And yes, we have lost people and it bothers me, but talking about this stuff ad infinitum gets old too.

Spaw


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Pseudolus
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 08:58 PM

Amos, was I whining? I musta missed it.....

Frank


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 11:55 PM

On the Mississippi River, when I was doing gigs there it was said by some that blue herons are in fact reincarnated steamboat captains. They fly in front of the boats to guide 'em to the deep water and away from the snags, sawyers and shallows.

And Jeri, they truly do fart. The sound of that is very much like the normal sound they make with their vocal apparatuses---not very pleasant at all.

Art Thieme


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 01:03 AM

Aw, hell, I was just being bad tempered. I apologize and withdraw my sardonic remarks.

Ya gotta know that finding us on the brink of war has me in a bad temper.

I hate war, deeply and absolutely, in case I have given anyone the impression I was promoting the idea. But I keep being forced to the notion that we have had it forcefully declared agin us, and it isn't really something we can skirt, as far as I see.

We've never tried bombing people with cookies and it might work, but it isn't one of those things that will find a lot of concensus behind it !!! :>)

A


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 01:08 AM

Cookie bombing is anti-Mudcat. One per person. We'd have to serve them with milk, one at a time.

The Office of Unholy Rants will be open in the morning (after 12 PM Mudcat Time) for people who already have my phone number and feel like getting it on. Panties unwadded, knickers untwisted, very cheap!

~S~


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: John Hardly
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 01:32 AM

Amos,

you just gotta have the gentlest bad temper I've seen in a long time.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 01:44 AM

What I found interesting was that in a list of non-music threads that was posted above - 6 of the 10 were started by one person.

pax yall


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 05:52 AM

On the Mississippi River, when I was doing gigs there it was said by some that blue herons are in fact reincarnated steamboat captains. They fly in front of the boats to guide 'em to the deep water and away from the snags, sawyers and shallows

I don't know the statistics of boats going aground on the Mississippi River but as herons are birds that nest in trees and feed in the shallows, following them in the mistaken belief that they will lead you to the deep water, may account for any occurences?

It is far more likely that captains steer away, when hearing herons farting, out of the mist and coming from the shallows. This acting like a lighthouse's audible warning.

More probably that herons are reincarnated flatulent lighthouse keepers and coastguards...............

What do you feed your herons on, over there?


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 08:29 AM

I'll have to take Art's word on heron farts. Apparently they're the inland albatross. They feed on high-mercury fish. I can watch them when I'm at work and go out for a break - great majestic birds who stand and feed in the shallows amid the brick and metal trash that's been thrown into the river.

Blackcatter, yeah - Catspaw mentioned that. New guy who just didn't understand, and I believe I saw Spaw gently explained to him. He got lots of responses though. In any case, that seems to be in the past.

Amos, we're all a bit crabby. I'm better when I express the crabbiness with a sense of humor, but the humor is coming very reluctantly these days.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 09:10 AM

While I must agree that there are too many threads on the same subject, I also will say that if the time ever comes that BS REPLACES music topics here, then I too will be gone. Until then, I will continue to ignore the threads that dont interest me.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 10:26 AM

Well Kendall, I am sure it will be reciprocal.

A


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Firecat
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 10:39 AM

Most of the time, I only flick up threads that either I'm interested in or that I might be able to help with. Sure, I enjoy BS threads cos a fair bit of the time, they're funny or interesting. Sometimes, however I do look at music threads, but personally, I don't think that there are too many BS threads. As far as I'm concerned, you occasionally need a bit of a break from music, and the BS threads provide that. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy music, but I enjoy light hearted stuff as well, so I need to get away from serious music. Even when I'm at a session, I'll sometines nip outside for a bit to get a break.

If people don't like what I've just put, fine, but everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and this is mine.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Whistleworks
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 10:47 AM

My dear friends,

It has been a week or so since I have visited this site. And, I see that almost 80 people now have had something to say. Some talked about the music. Others did not. Maybe this proves what I set out to say in my initial post.

I have always loved to talk about the music and how it impacts me and others. And instruments. And performing.

See you in six months or so.

Kindest regards to all,

Bob


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 11:31 AM

Is that not a little unfair? The post you started, this post, was not a music post. Why would you expect music to be discusssed in it?

It really proves nothing. Except that there are many views expressed here, all just as valid.

During the same week, as has been pointed out, there have many more than 80 posts, most of these exclusively about music, in the many other threads on the forum.

What you do is of course your decision. I hope we will all still be here in six months or so. If we are, I am sure you will be very welcome........


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 11:32 AM

An important question is raised here: how come there are many, many recordings of bird calls, but none of birds doing other things? They certainly must make sounds regurgitating (I have seen mother birds do this, and a revolting maternal spectacle it is), and engaging in other bodily activities. Where is the Folkways Recording of Bird Flatulence from Around the World? This is surely a lacuna (a red-breasted lacuna) in the sonic archives.

yours, Peter T.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 11:43 AM

My post was a tall tale---an eminent part of folklore. Still the sounds emitted by blue herons are simply an excruciating SCRAWWWWKKKKK (as are their farts--albeit at fewer decibels)!!!

Art Thieme


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 11:51 AM

On my PC the "messages since last visit" facility always freezes up, so I never use it. I'd sooner rely on the Tracer to keep track of threads I'm following.

So for me anyway it makes no difference how many posts there are to threads - except of course that threads which get lots of posts stay up the top of the page. If I feel like looking for a music thread, I just scroll to the bottom and start from there, and maybe save one that's been overlooked from vanishing of the page.

I think that 70% music threads in a time like last weeks is pretty incredible. What is often in short supply isn't music threads as such, it's music threads that turn into music discussions, but then that is always the case.

I think that more of us should use our imagination in crafting our posts sometimes - put in links to other relevant threads, especially music ones, and so forth. If we quote a song, stick a link to it, and so forth.

As for Bill Broonzy's view on Stravinsky, I'd actually be interested in knowing that, if he got round to expressing them. In fact all of Peter T's - Modes? What Bill Broonzy thought about Igor Stravinsky? Counterpoint in bluegrass? The provenance of handbills in early 19th century Dublin? struck me as interesting, if esoteric. What's wrong with esoteric anyway?

As I took his point, Peter was indicating scepticism at the assumption that there has been an exodus of all the people who might be interested in such topics. I'm sceptical about it too. There's a turnover of people from time to time, but that's not the same thing.

If "the serious music people" have moved on somewhere that is better for that kind of stuff, I'd be grateful to know where that might be, because I've never found it.


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 12:09 PM

Well, people have a way of going and coming and being replaced...........You know, like you lose a 'Bruce O.' and you gain a 'masato sakurai.' (:<))

Spaw


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 12:42 PM

Yep, Spaw, that is a spot on observation. In my heart of hearts, I wish that the place would somehow serve the needs of all of those that have been here. Some that have left have touched my music and my spirit in very special ways. I miss them. I miss Bruce O. But it is as I said when he announced his departure, if you just can't live with it the way it is, then it is best you leave. That wasn't a desire for him to leave. Just that you can't change the essential nature of the place to what you want it to be. But I really think that the "goings" miss what the real beauty of the place is. The Mudcat can be whatever you desire it to be. And it can be different things to the same person depending on where the old noggin is at the time. This past 10 days it has been an invaluable place for me to get a read on 9/11 from a variety of perspectives, including the perspectives of friends very close to Ground Hero. Other times it is, for me, a place to talk issues near and dear to me, that inspire the music I sing. At other times, such as now, when I am headed into a time of change and intense work on new instruments, it is a source of knowledge that I can find no where else. And sometimes it is a place where I can escape from the very serious work that I do and just be a smartass, or crabby, or very serious. But at all times it is an inspiring place, where I have made many friends. In the end, that is why I will never leave. Because I have made true friends of the heart here. And they know who they are.

Yeah, I wish they would all come back, because I miss their contributions. I wish they would come back and quit complaining about the parts they don't like. Instead, just use this incredible village in whatever way suits their needs best.

All the best,

Mick


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 12:45 PM

McGrath, 70% would be remarkable at any time here. What has been forgotton is that Susan posted 30+ Lyric adds for spirituals on the 20th. Discounting that batch, going by Amos' figures, there would have been <40 musical threads running - or a balance of somewhere than <53% musical threads.

Personally I believe that paints a more accurate picture over the period in question.

Jon


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 01:01 PM

Is it the main point that, the period in question was a very remarkable period....... In all our lives?


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Subject: RE: What has happened here?
From: Pseudolus
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 08:18 AM

I left for a while because or some of my own personal frustrations and aside from a couple PM's I didn't tell anyone I was leaving......and to be honest, I don't think that most people noticed!! LOL!!!

Frank


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