I don't see a problem with Mudcat the way it is, but when I first came here some years ago, a couple of times I did get a little excited about the way others treated my comments.

Later, I realised that what we do is have a conversation without vocal tone or facial expression, and to do that, you have to write clearly.

Since language is half of our 'thing,' the other half being music, I don't personally see it as a problem to have to express myself that way.
I now know, as I didn't when I first came, that just because my IDEAS were attacked, this was not a personal attack.

As for JohnInKansas, you will find he is about the most helpful person on the site, and has experience in a huge range of subjects. His opinions are backed up by a serious case of 'smarts.'

Just because (for instance)Bobert and Gnu and LittleHawk pull one-another's leg, it isn't vitriol, but mates teasing each other.