Before I make my points (hopefully serious), I'd like to make a couple of things clear:

The more observant amongst you will have noticed that I'm posting as a 'GUEST'

I could quite easily have spent 2 seconds becoming a 'named' guest, or spent a couple of minutes registering in order to become a 'bona fide' mudcat member. The fact that the perception of any comments I have to make may be affected by such considerations strikes me as being so completely absurd, that I choose not to bother.

Those of you who have 'vowed' never to read or respond to anything posted by a 'GUEST' should stop reading now.

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To the rest of you,

I have been at Mudcat for a long time. Over 4 years.

Mudcat has changed a great deal since I first came here. Of course, things change. Of course things evolve. Only the dead want things to stay the same.

I'm not complaining about that.

Many people have left this forum in the last couple of years as the focus has drifted more and more away from traditional music. I don't blame them

I've stayed around, agreeing with the idea of letting things evolve.

I have to say that I'm really sad in what it's evolved into.

I don't want to pick on anyone - tell somebody about a great secluded beach, and it'll be full the next morning...

I am a little sad that this place has turned into a chat site, but that's progress I guess.

Anyway, I've posted long enough.

The people I care about here know who I am, and what I think, so I'll leave it at that.