Some years ago I knew a young (very young) chap who got told at his local session by a bombastic concertina player (not that all of them are like that but this one was / is) that he should get back home and stay there till he was able to play out, In a lot of cases, I'd even agree in principal but not this time. Ten years on, this erstwhile pre-teenager is a member of a top band and was a Young Folk Award finalist a couple of years ago. Said concertina player is nowhere, though probably still throwing his weight about. Is he genuinely "ill" or just a jealous, frustrated no-mark? Actually, I don't care. People's sicknesses, mental and physical, whether chemically-fuelled or not, are principally their concern alone (and that of professionals should they choose to involve them) and interfering (or "trying to help" as it is sometimes termed, is generally spectacularly unproductive and prone to backfire.

Speaking personally, there's no-one who could possibly "help" cure my damaged finger which prevents me from playing accurately or my vocal problem (finally diagnosed as dysphonia) so I don't want a thread about it but you can be thankful I remain unable to perform if you like. If I choose to feel down about it, for fuck's sake leave me alone.

Those who behave inappropriately in public (not just in "clubs") are just being a pain. Analysing and sympathising ain't gonna help. Probably the opposite. Then there are those cyber nutters with sod all to contribute but nothing better to do who launch into threads like this to air their paranoid, delusionary grievances. If some of you believe a "community" should be caring for them, let it not be mine.