Thanks for Mudcat, Max.

The one I inhabit I still enjoy as I have since I started using it.

The Mudcat I enjoy seems to be a different one than a lot of the people in this thread (or are there very few people posting in this thread?)

The one I use does all of the following and more -

* It is a great resource for finding out the things that Google & co don't find for me
* It's friendly, positive and helpful
* People have always been helpful whatever I have needed and have tried to help - whether it be a lyric - a chord - a view on running folkclubs - whatever
* I have encountered people here who I have subsequently met in real life - and (no real surprises here folks) they are pretty much as they appear here; the 'I'm only a virtual person here not a real one, this isn't real life' syndrome is an internet myth
* I, in turn, have tried to offer back anything that I can in return and people have been really nice in return
* As a result of this place people have visited our singaround (we're in North Yorkshire on a Wednesday and you are of course all welcome as long as you behave as you would expect to be behaved towards if we came to visit you) and we have ventured out and met others
* The BS bits don't interest me so I don't go there
* The local bits are useful day to day - the national/international general music tings are too
* If I travel anywhere I ask and get a response. I could, of course, go elsewhere but how much nicer is it to walk into a room and ask who is and feel a bit more at home than just walking into X folk club?

ET CETERA

Forums (fora - both are acceptable) just reflect life. You reap what you sow. Anger finds anger. Help finds help. etc etc etc Add your homily on the end...

Still a good place though