Andres, for one so new to the place you are now judging the 'morally authorized'.

And Mick. You and I would probably agree on most things in the general run of things. However let's not put the cart before the horse here.
Nonsensical banter, and don't start thinking that I dont have a sense of humor, has gotten out of hand.

The point was made in the Honesty/compassion thread that this has invaded the threads where people who are looking for advice on whatever, find themselves trying to take on board some other discussion which really belonged in another thread.

This normally happens because two or more of the contributors to the chit-chat have come over to be of 'assistance' in the music one and have carried on in the new thread, therefore taking the subject matter in hand.

This kind of behavior; and it is far from rare, has got worse in the past year. There is no need to categorize the people who are perpetrating the counter-measures as 'gutless shitheads'. The self-seekers on this forum, the ones who's personalities take over on the Tavern, Song Challenge etc. spread their mediocrity over other threads which has a call for a little higher degree of knowledge. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"
I would much prefer to see a 'beginner' taught and coaxed by another 'beginner', than to leave them to the merciless devices of somone who is totally lacking not only in communication skills, but actual 'hands on' experience. We are talking of a small percentage of people here.

Perhaps I should expand a little on what Jon has said to further illustrate. Jon reckons that people tend to drift in and out. Absolutely. Such is the nature of this place. But they are doing it a lot less oftener than before. This place is famous. I don't think the Taverners, and Challengers realize how famous.

Consider, if you will, a concentric circle. On the inner one are the 'members'. Fully signed up 'members'
Surrounding that, by definition, must be the 'regular guests'. Surrounding that again are people who don't have the same 'Tie' to the Mudcat as the others, esp the inner circle. This could be because Folk and Blues, and associated material could be of only a passing interest, and sometimes they post, sometimes they don't.

Out here lie quite a lot of the people who the others are discussing. We pop in from time to time to enjoy the atmosphere and craic. Sometimes a personality as forwarded his own name, and has joined in the discussion about one of his songs. Only to be told that you must come back here 'cos I want to interrogate you about the reasons for so and so'

I , who am not the person I have just referred to, but I know of the incident, have seen discussions of songs where the writer has come in and qualified his song has ben told that he didn't write the song.

It is unfortunate that some of us can't use our name. The people who think that our names are important, in order to qualify ourselves as 'people' are mostly those who inhabit the inner sanctums, and while using (it's quite amusing, actually)the reason that if your not 'man' enough to post your name, then your opinion is of no worth.

It's a bit like the elections really. The percentage of people voting, compared to the registered voters, is in fact quite small. Add to that the 2 parties to split that vote. Add to that again the divisions in the various parties. And by the time the President is elected a very very small of the overall people vote.

The same analogy works here. Those who are on a 'side' in this forum are a small percentage of the people who hit these pages. Those who see themselves as being 'elder statespeople' and therefore 'guardians of the Mudcat in it's present form' are not actually seeing the whole picture. They haven't fathomed the outer circles that I have talked about, and unfortunately some of them don't think that any one except the inner circle should be allowed to exist.

That is arrogance, and when I have seen it in the past, I have shrugged it off, turned this computer off, turned the studio one on and jammed. Two weeks later, perhaps, I'd surf a bit (my start page on my browser is the Mudcat), check back on a few threads (technical, musical, whatever), and see that the top ten threads are about, lets be honest, nothing.

It is all very good to say "well why don't you go off and help somebody if you are that concerned."

That's exactly my point. The answerers are leaving. Bit by bit, but they are leaving.

That leaves the 'inner circle' who then become teacher, mentor, spiritual leader. The thing is very few people see the join, and in fact this 'evolvement' that is talked about is the 'morphing' of a totally different animal.

I was saddened to see a few of what I shall, for want of a better word, call good people, coming to a few threads yesterday and saying things like "...well, I don't like this and I think such and such..."

These people don't like what's going on, and remember there are people who have opinions, who don't post their grieviences, for fear of 'falling out' with someone.

That is only natural. That's not why I do it. Other factors rule my life, but names aren't really important. Some people at this forum know when I'm online, and I recognize one, at least, other old pal and storehouse of info, who has shown up after a long abscence.