Donuel, many Mudcat members who have a music-related business work out something with Max so that business that comes their way via Mudcat benefits Mudcat in some small way. (See the box at the top of the Forum page with the banjo and jumping fish, "Help Support the Mudcat." Since it's an all-volunteer, ad-free place, it's always in need of support to keep doing what it does. I hope if you make Mudcat one of your homes you will consider this.

As far as the people here, you will have to see for yourself, of course, as we all have, but I would have to agree with what has been said so far. I would just add that folkies can be REALLY sensitive about feeling like anyone is trying to control them-- it's a highly-individualistic bunch, anarchistic, and somtimes outright iconclastic. I think most of us expect a degree of freedom here far above that we experience IRL... and we bristle when we feel it's not being enthusiastically appreciated and respected, even when no control is comtemplated.

We do have a few flamers from time to time, but I have heard that what wounds and grieves us most deeply in our Mudcat skirmishes is nothing compared to the usual Net experience. It's mere MudSlinging.

To see Mudcat at its best, I recommend outr FAQ thread-- top of the thread list. It is a marvel itself, and it has links to "Memorable Mudcat Threads" too. Or just reset the Age filter at the top of the thread list to the last year's threads, and browse-- you will see this community in action.

~Susan