**   I tell guests to f-off when they say something inflamatory towards someone else. Also, like other members around here, I have a short fuse when it comes to guests being negative. I have been attacked numerous times at Mudcat by guests and only a few times by members. It may be unfortunate that I don't give guests much rope, but that's the way it is.

****IT WAS A JOKE - IN NO WAY INFLAMMATORY. You have a SHORT fuse and if you brain was dynamite - it wouldn't blow your hat off!

If that is your idea of a "welcoming" comment then I don't know what you would consider to be a disheartening word.

**   Once again - I don't attack those who don't say imflammatory things.

***** YES, You attack almost all "guest" postings that YOU disagree with. I invite anyone with the time to do a clicky on your "Blackcatter" posts to see what a narrow-minded and vindictive person you are.

On the Irish Whistle thread I subsequently offered a great deal of helpful advice on whistle tuning and even admitted that I play whistle.

**    I read that and thanks for doing so - that's why I only told you to f-off for your initial comment.

****Cool. But you still said F-off before any reasonable discussion was enterd. On the contrary, you DO take offence at jokes and you consistently attack those who post them.

**   When I consider them hurtful to me or someone else. I hardly consistantly attack jokesters. I'd be making hundreds of posts a day if that were the case.

**** When you yourself post such jokes you cannot maintain the high ground.

On the Blonde jokes thread, (you claim to be blond) you posted a bunch of Brunette jokes in response.

**   How is that a problem? I did so in order to say that living in a society that constantly calls blondes stupid is a pain. As a blonde I'm tired of hearing only blonde jokes. I'm also tired that most of the men on U.S. Sit-coms are idiots. When a group of people is targeted consistantly, I will often speak up.

**** You describe yourself as a BLONDE when the masculine is BLOND.

Your comments on gays show you to be a homophobe (although perhaps a closet case yourself?).

**    Sorry - not a homophobe. In fact I have officiated at over 100 gay commitment ceremonies (handfastings) as a Pagan priest. I am also a member of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Community Center of Orlando. I may not always say things that are politically correct. Certainly I'm not perfect, but neither is everyone who reads my comments.

**** OK Blackcatter, we are certainly getting a better idea of who you are. WHOA! You are a Pagan priest and marry gays? Cool!

You took strong offence at my whistle joke. How can a joke be anti-whistle any more than one can be anti-banjo.

**    I didn't object to your joke, just to the fact that it was the first response to a new person's honest question and you didn't bother to follow up IMMEDIATELY with the helpful advise you eventually provided. I'm sorry you have trouble seeing that.0

**** You did object to the joke because you are a whistle player. You have to get used to jokes about being a mere whisle-player.

Musicians simply enjoy giving a hard time to non-musicians such as drummers, bagpipers, banjoists and whistle players.

**    I object to you listing those as non-musician activities and I would think that many people here would agree with me.

**** You are so retentive to understand that it was also a witticism.

It's part of the game of life.

**    being bullied is "part of the game of life" for some people - should I accept that too?

**** It has nothing to do with bullying - it has to do with challenging those with whom you play music (and yourself) to do better.

I love them all and have played with them all, but that doesn't mean we have to give them respect. Respect has to be earned.

**    You must be very busy to play with them all. I agree to the respect thing, but calling someone who knows only 4 chords on the guitar a musician while someone who makes his (or her) living and has a recording contract playing the bagpipes, etc. is not, has nothing to do with respect - it is an incogruity what won't get you much respect at Mudcat.

**** I have played in Rock'n'Roll bands, Rock'n'Reel bands (with bagpiper) folk duos, folk trios, folk quartets, and solo stuff over the years and had a splendid time doing it. I play many instruments (some well, some average) including whistle and it is my experience that most whistle players have no idea of how to tune it, produce vibratto or slide on the instrument, which makes it really grinding on the ear of a real musician.   

You come across as a pompous ass (you must be a Brit)

**   Well I'm sure you now have the Brits on your side! Of course if you knew how to find my profile, you'd know what I am (but once again, you're not a member, so I'll just assume you have internet access in your prison library and aren't allowed to use cookies.

***** I certainly didn't intend to offend the Scots, Irish and Welsh in that comment! From my solitary prison cell I have enough access to know that you are Thomas Edward Cook of 1140 Audubon Pl, Olando FL, 32804-6712, Phone# (407) 841-6989 married to Deborah and your Email is blackcatter@yahoo.com or tcook@cvc.net
Isn't the internet a wonderful thing?

I can just see you mincing into those ersatz Irish pubs in Orlando with your carefully constructed little case full of whistles

**   There's an arguement for any Irish pub outside of Ireland to be "ersatz." And once again you're true colors are visible - do you think that insulting the pubs in Orlando has anything to do with me? Do you want me to attack you by saying "Your momma!"?   My whistles I carry in a drum stick bag - Someone in China put it together carefully, not I. It's also not typically full. And I'm not sure what mincing is, but I'm 6'2" and 200lbs so I'm pretty sure I don't mince. Oh - and I don't typically bring my whistles into the pubs - few of them here have any live music. I go there to drink and eat and watch football (soccer).

(with your equally padded little box of Jaw Harps

** It's not a box and it's actually much better padded. I also carry my spoons, bones and kubings in it, along with a 1961 vintage Humanatone.

**** Oh, No! Not just Jaws Harps in the very padded enclusure, but spoons and bones and kublings, Oh, My! We used to have a fellow show up to our sessions just like you! I'd bet when you show up, the local session says (under its collective breath) "Ach, here's fuckin' Thomas agin'"
(This is getting tedious - I gotta get to bed) More on Thomas next rebuttal!
But I think we are getting closer to the real Thomas in our inquiries! We may be able to out him soon.