Pauline commented on the idea that some nastiness on the Internet comes from the anonymity it provides. One of the wonderful things about Mudcat is that many of us actually do know each other in real life. Some of us use our real names, some of us use monikers but are known to our friends. In fact, the only people who tick me off here happen to be folks who remain anonymous--the anonymity is not the reason I'm bothered by them (there are lots of wonderful posts by people I don't know from Adam)--but most of the posts with harsh tones are made by posters who I don't know.

Through events like the FSGW Getaway or festivals like Old Songs, I get to know other Mudcatters, and the web of friendships is one of the things that keep me, and us all, civil. I keep thinking that posters who act uncivilly ought to be forced to come to the Getaway or some such--the experience of meeting other Mudcatters in real life would be the surest way to tame them. [Unless, of course, they subscribe to the Huck Finn ethos of not wanting to be civilized.]

--Charlie Baum