BS: We Are A Family

Subject: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 12:29 AM

For the last couple of days I have been reading a fascinating book by James Hall entitled "Sangoma, My Odyssey Into The Spirit World Of Africa {G.P.Putnam's Songs, 1994}.

This book tells the story of a White man from Chicago who travels to Swaziland and eventually becomes a traditional sangoma {healer}.

One passage of the book struck a chord with me:

[the traditional beliefs and practices of the sangoma] were real...
they concerned life involved with other life-people with people, people with nature, people with spirits, the old and the young together, the sick and the well together, humankind living with the knowledge that in the end we were all we had as support against powerful nature and indifferent time: men holding hands not out of love but out of reassurance that they were there for each other, women carrying the babies of other women on their backs as if they were their own, and a nation, Swaziland, that might hve been humankind in microcosm, acting like a giant family, sometimes squabbling but with its members always aware that they were part of a whole that added dignity and significance to their personal lives, and who did not act like fragmented interest groups in a zero-sum game where one person prospered only if another perished.
[pp. 220-221]

-end of quote-

With some slight modifications, I feel that this description fits my sense of the Mudcat concept. And most times, that excerpt fits my actual experiences with Mudcatters.

I'm interested in reading what others feel about Mudcat.

What does Mudcat mean to you?




Azizi

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Amos
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 12:32 AM

A farflung family, with some occasional raunchy and poorly-washed cousins in it, but it takes all types, doesn't it? I like the metaphor -- it communicates something of the spark that still passes along some of these threads when they are at their best. (After all, what else is a metaphor?)

A

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Peace
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 12:36 AM

It's a nice thought. However, I have no family--just the odd friend here and there, and that'll have to do, IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 12:48 AM

Brucie, I take it by 'odd' you mean 'a few'..
Sometimes one or two good friends is all you need.

It seems to me that Mudcatters are like family and you are part of Mudcat..therefore you could say you have family.

I have one birth daughter, one 'step-daughter', and 3 adopted sons. So blood ties don't define for me what makes a family.

I think that's the case on Mudcat too.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: open mike
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:02 AM

perhaps a dysfunctional family....
but i think of mudcats (most of them, anyway)
as more friends than family..
you can choose friends,
but family is not always a decision or yours...
jsut decided by the famliy tree!

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: dianavan
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 02:21 AM

Its a cyber-family of folkies. I've only ever met one other Mudcatter. It was a pleasant surprise. I am getting to know others, including yourself, over time but a family in cyber-space doesn't really have much of a history.

Of course the 'real Mudcats' have been here alot longer than me and they probably consider themselves family.

Interesting topic!

I see it as visit to the therapist. A good chance to vent safely! I can rant or I can get as personal as cyberspace allows.   

I just saw my family and none of us discussed any of the topics presented on Mudcat. I just hope somebody out there is writing some songs. I think politics has always been a part of the folk tradition.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 05:36 AM

For a long time I've thought of my folkie friends as 'family'. They're different sort of family from my blood family, but 'friends' doesn't go far enough in saying what they are. I know with certainty, that if I had a crisis or needed anyone there would be not just one or two, but lots of them who would, without hesitation, drop what they were doing and come. I know with certainty that they support and love me and I, in turn would do almost anything for them. I know they would love, protect and look after my children if anything happened to me and that that would be fine because most of them have the same basic values and beliefs as me to pass on to them.

Since I discovered Mudcat, that feeling has intensified, and I never cease to be amazed at how much love and support one can get from people one has never actually met. If I have problems or feel really low, I can actually feel myself cushioned from it by knowing that they are all there and would send me caring messages if they knew how I felt.

Amos is right, there are a few renegade cousins among them, but mostly I feel that my life has been incredibly enriched, firstly by my involovement with the folk world generally, and secondly by my involvement on Mudcat.

This is getting horribly syrupy and sentimental!
I love you all...well...mostly all...

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: gnu
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 06:26 AM

Amos : "...occasional raunchy and poorly-washed cousins...". Aw, shucks. Yer makin me blush.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: jacqui.c
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 09:52 AM

I have found from experience that wherever there are Mudcatters I have received a warm welcome and unbelievable hospitality.

There are certain 'Catters that I don't take to but that applies to my family as well, and for the same sort of reason - bad behaviour.

As was quoted by KT at last year's Getaway, I have a lot of friends out there that I haven't met yet. Some of those I have met have become family, one in the real sense of the word!

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 10:06 AM

I've several facets of my life where people have become more then just friends - "chosen family" is the term that gets bandied about when we discuss this in other venues.

Mudcat is more "community" to me then "family" - though I would say there are some who feel like family.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,Bill D
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 11:36 AM

Mudcat is like MMario says...a community-- with a major 'interest' and between 23 and 749 minor ones, depending on the moment you do the count. Lots of creativity, humor and much real 'connection' happens here.

It also reminds me of the idea of using large numbers of individuals to analyze, predict and explain...sort of a "Delphic Oracle" in a modern setting. There such a breadth of experience, knowlege and backgrounds congregating here that people ask questions about everything from plumbing to psychology, and usually get valuable answers. One thing "folkies" commonly have is a wide set of interests, and fairly high educational background, and I have learned amazing things from reading their combined opinions. (yeah, yeah..even with all necessary disclaimers...)

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,catspaw49
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 11:48 AM

I think we've referred to the place as a "village" for an awful long time and that analogy fits pretty well. Various neighborhoods and all that........However you want to see it, it's still a pretty good place to be.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,WYS
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 11:56 AM

Azizi, perhaps you are starting to see what I tried to tell you about Mudcat awhile back? Does it put some things I said, into a different context?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,CAH
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 12:00 PM

"You got your family... you got your friends... and you got yer band.... If you're really f#ckin' lucky, all 3 are the same!"
-Gina Gershon as 'Jacki' in Alex Steyermark's "Pray For Rock And Roll "-

If you haven't seen the movie, you NEED to!

Mudcat is whatever YOU want to make it into... for some it's a 'family'... for others it's just another buggy crashy web site and message board...

One interpretation is not better than the other...

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,CarolC
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 12:49 PM

I tend to resist trying to put a name on what the the Mudcat is to me, although if I were to try to find an analogy, it would be that the Mudcat is a lot like the high school I went to.

It was (during the time I was there) an experimental high school. It was fairly loosely structured, and without very many rules. There were all kinds of people imaginable there from all socio-economic strata, from all races, ethnic groups and religions, as well as immigrants and exchange students from countries all over the world.

Because of the way it was structured, it attracted quite a lot of transfer students from other schools. And the people it tended to attract were some of the most intelligent, creative, articulate, imaginative and talented people I've ever encountered. I learned so much from those people... far more than I would ever have learned in a more "normal", or traditional setting, and it was an incredibly enriching and enriched environment and experience for me.

It had a "hall culture", in which students would be hanging out in the halls (or in some of the teacher's offices) playing music, or reading, or playing cards or doing just about anything else they could think up. They would do this in between classes or during a free period or while skipping a class. Nobody got into any trouble for this... it was tacitly allowed. The hall culture was every bit as much of a learning environment as the regular classes were. Sometimes more. I think of the BS section in the Mudcat in the same way I think of the hall culture at my high school.

It was an incredibly musical place. In the halls one could hear people playing and singing folk music ("folkie folk" and traditional), classical music... especially early music (Renaissance, Medieval, early Baroque), and people were singing Gilbert and Sullivan, madrigals, songs from musicals, and some times there was a bit of rock and roll, and country here and there. Ochestra instruments, baroque recorders, and guitars were laying all over the place, just about everywhere one looked.

That's pretty much exactly how I experience the Mudcat, in a virtual sense.

Having said all of that, however, whenever I have actually met a Mudcatter face to face (several dozen at last count), it has pretty much always felt like I was meeting family.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,Rapaire
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:16 PM

Well, yeah. All of the above. Especially that raunchy, unwashed, part.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,PoppaGator
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:27 PM

A prominent NYC rock 'n' roll disk jockey of the 1960s, Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow, promoted himself with the catchphrase "You can choose your friends but never your relatives."

The loose community we know as Mudcat has some characteristics of a family, but one way in which it's better is that we all "belong" by choice. (We can also leave, temporarily or permanently, by choice).

I think that the semi-anonymous and text-only nature of how we relate to each other here defines the experience at least as much as does our shared interest in music (music that each of us defines differently as "folk"). I will write damn near anything that occurs to me in these discussions ~ including stuff that I would hesitate to say out loud to strangers and/or to my nearest and dearest ~ and it feels quite liberating.

I would hope that I read everyone else's ramblings sympathetically, always conscious that each of you is extemporizing just like I do, but I know I'm occasionally guilty of judging too harshly. Experiencing this type of regret once in a while, more than anything else, has forced me to feel increasing commonality with the rest of the group.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,brucie
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:29 PM

PG, that is one of the more beautiful sentiments I have ever read on the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST, heric
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:34 PM

But you have your relatives institutionalized. Not so, here.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST, heric
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:36 PM

can have. typo.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,Amos
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:42 PM

I dunno; Garg and MG are sort of institution material aroound here, not to say icons! :D


A

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 01:55 PM

....and we even have our own institution!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 02:53 PM

Hey, Azizi: You bein' from Pittsburgh and all, how come you didn't sing "We are famileeeeee?" :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 03:16 PM

Could "Azizi" be Sister Sledge's pseudonym? (Just kiddin')

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: mandoleer
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 03:30 PM

Definitely a family. Only in a family can you have bitter arguments, recriminations and hatred and still stay together...... Only kidding. I think. As to knowing other Mudcatters, I know three but they may not yet realise they know me....

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Once Famous
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 03:44 PM

In no way do I ever consider this anything but a web message board. Above the line there are some musicians who I can share some things with and then there are others who are very boring.

Below the line there are some good people here and there who have their heads on pretty straight and then there are some total schmucks who I wouldn't even want in my country let alone be part of my family.

Family to me is something with more meaning than a web forum can offer.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 03:56 PM

Hey folks!
or I should say "Hey 'fam'!
{current African American vernacular for 'family'}

No, I'm not part of the Sister Sledge R&B/Pop singing group. Though I sing in public when I'm doing interactive sessions on children's game songs, rhymes, and cheers, by no stretch of the imagination would I consider myself a singer However, I have been known to sing in the shower and at other times at home when I'm in a good mood..

With regard to starting this thread with the words to Sister Sledge's theme song-that's so REGULAR!.

As you probably noticed by now, I like to be different. Besides Sister Sledge's song says
                   "We are family
                   I've got all my sisters with me"

And we wouldn't want to exclude the Mudcat men would we?

NAW!!

For those unfamiliar with Sister Sledge's signature song, click here:

We Are A Family


Enjoy!!

Sista Azizi

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Once Famous
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 04:18 PM

I remember when it was the theme song of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 04:48 PM

Hi Martin.

Yep. 'We are a family" was [is??] the theme song for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.

Jerry and you win the prize for knowing that piece of music trivia.

If Mudcat had a theme song I wonder what it would be....

And how would we ever agree on just one song?!


Azizi

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Once Famous
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 10:00 PM

If Mudcat had a theme song it would be "One Toke Over the Line." Clinton Hammond would be braying it.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 01:12 AM

HAHAHAHAHAHA... nice MG.
Yes, dysfunctional I would say.
Some friends, some "fam", and some who just don't give a damn...

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: MBSLynne
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 08:39 AM

I'm glad to say that I know probably going on for 100 Catters, and the number is growing all the time. I guess it's easier for us here in England.....Some of them were already friends before I discovered Mudcat, due to the folk scene, some I've met since.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: mack/misophist
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 10:01 AM

If you knew anything about my family, you might want to choose another word. Sometimes a family is something to live down.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 10:32 AM

"We are one, we are many,
And from all the lands on earth we come." ...

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: GUEST,davetnova
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 11:15 AM

Can I have my pocketmoney now then, please?

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Peace
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 11:18 AM

Here's a dollar. Don't spend it all in the same place.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 02:51 PM

In this family you have to earn your keep.

Did you finish all your chores?

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Davetnova
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 02:58 PM

Yup

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 03:12 PM

Well you can go out to play now, but be home before the street lights come on.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: jacqui.c
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 04:45 PM

And don't get into trouble with those bad kids along the road.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Peace
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 06:24 PM

And keep it zipped. The gun's loaded now.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Peace
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 06:27 PM

In fact, just stay indoors. Rotten kid!

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 01:21 AM

But Brucie, I've been good. I promise... ; )

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: dianavan
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 02:53 AM

If you're so damned good, take out the garbage.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: MBSLynne
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 05:26 AM

..and have you finished your homework?? You're not going anywhere until you have!

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: jacqui.c
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 07:57 AM

And if you think you're going out dressed like that.....

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 08:37 AM

you have another thought coming.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 08:48 AM

(Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton)

I came from the dream time, from the dusty red soil plains,
I am the ancient heart - the keeper of the flame,
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come,
For forty thousand years I'd been the first Australian.
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.

I came upon the prison ship bound down by iron chains
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian.
I'm the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I'm a child of the depression, I saw the good times come
I'm a bushy, I'm a battler, I am Australian.

We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.

I'm a teller of stories, I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira, and I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian.
I'm the hot wind from the desert, I'm the black soil of the plains
I'm the mountains and the valleys, I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land, I am Australian.

We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 09:30 AM

That's beautiful, Foolestroupe.

Thanks for posting it.

I respectfully paraphrase these words:

We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are 'Catters.


[though I don't know that the 'sing with one voice' part is true or even desirable]

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 12:34 PM

Oh, I've taken out plenty of garbage, and done my homework on it, believe me......

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Peace
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 03:55 PM

The dog ATE my homework. I had to force him, but he ate it.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 07:40 PM

There had been a push to make it the new national Anthem before an Airline Company pinched it for their TV Ads....

Subject: Maybe at one time in the good old days . . . .
From: Peace
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 08:00 PM

Subject: RE: BS: We Are A Family
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 03:00 AM

I haven't had a chance to really experience any warm, Mudcat Kodak moments but I hope to correct that soon when Joybell returns to LAX to catch a flight back home! Maybe I can meet up with her when they return the rental car and treat her to a meal near the airport!