Fascinating post Willie. Lots to think about.

Hi Jon. 'Fraid I disagree with you about the various flamers' motives here. These are obviously the same folks who've made prior appearences in threads that had nothing to do with alcohol, or AA, or anything related. I think his/her/their buttons get pushed by "sentimentality, plain and simple". The profanity and scatalogical content just strike me as one of the excesses that being anonymous fosters.

My own highly selfish best case scenario for Mudcat would be one where discussions like this (alcoholism) could take place without interruptions. I'm aware though that some find them absolutely out of place in a music site. Others here get VERY upset when things turn political, and are forever telling the rest to "stop posting here, at once!(personally, I think those discussions/arguements are usually fascinating) I'd love to see the music chats reflect what "I" consider folk music, and the opinions given based on some "investment". T'aint gonna happen the way I want it though, so I'll go with the flow til I find it doesn't interest me enough to stay.

Flaming is simply the price of of doing business on the net. I know some would like to think that folkies are too nice to "lose it" and take pot shots at others, but they're wrong. IN GENERAL, I've found the folk community pretty damned tolerant...but even folkies go ballistic at times.

Monitored (and paid) membership here would eliminate 90% of it. AND be WORTH it!

Rick