Hi, Joe and everyone. This is a tough subject, and I think we covered some of it already in past discussions of censorship. I have to say that I must have been feeling some of the "vibes" that Joe describes, but like Joe, I can't really desribe a remedy EXCEPT for this one... It would be, in my opinion, good for those who are posting to ask themselves "does this belong in the chat room, personal message, or on the forum, and how does it relate to music"?

I have not posted much lately, since the lyrics threads I added and the compilation of singing threads. (Did anyone even read those? The lyrics mostly fell off the page with no comment.) I have been busy with other things, but I also have not read too many threads that held my interest, the way many had in the past. Maybe we all go in cycles in our involvement, too, being really excited when we first get the addiction to Mudcat. I did enjoy the fun of the Blake Madison story, the teasing that goes on reminds me of the kind of bonding people do when they share the same experiences.

BUT, I do miss the threads about music, instruments, songs, tunes, singing, playing. There just aren't as many on the topic of music as there used to be. Hopefully, it is just a cycle, and the music threads will thrive again. If members recall what brought them to the forum and think of that when they start threads, maybe the music focus will be sustained. If members enjoy the fun and banter, but remember this is a music forum, hopefully, the threads about lyrics and tunes will not disappear.

By the way, I mentioned TRAD TV being what would happen if folk music ever became commercially popular. I think it was last year when we were talking about 'what if' trad music became as popular as rock. My comment was we would all be here on the Mudcat, discussing how the videos just don't look like what we thought the song lyrics should be, and how TRAD TV would ruin folk music ;-) Just kidding... maybe.

Alice Flynn