Shambles, I think I understand what you are saying.
That the forum would be more inclusive to all the readers if we kept our personal endearments for one another off the threads and expressed them elsewhere like in personal messages and email.
When I first came to the Mudcat one of the attractive features of this forum was the open affection members expressed to one another. I thought, now isn't that beautiful. People here are able to express their love and appreciation for one another.
I think offering another human being love and affection can be more essential than food.
If someone feels uncomfortable around that, maybe they should look at why it bothers them so much.
When you die and pass away from this earth what will your friends remember about you? That you told them when playing Irish ballads to use the I-IV-I-II-V-I-IV-I-V-I chord progression? Not that this information is not important, it is; we are on a Folk Music Forum. But honestly, when you pass away the only thing your friends will remember about you is the kindness, love and affection you offered them.

Little Neo