Greetings allI just checked - the first time I posted (as Blackcat2) was on Oct, 21, 1999. So, I've been in and out of the Mudcat for around 3 years.
I am a limited musician - often times made to feel that way at local jam sessions and open-mikes - but around here I've rarely, if ever, been made to feel that way. Everytime I have asked a question about music is is answered. The answer isn't always helpful, but the answerer always is. (does that make sense?)
One time I asked for Irish lyrics to "Jingle Bells" and got a response from someone in Ireland who asked a friend while attending a play that night.
I engage in some of the "serious" discussions, but I'm no expert and rarely contribute much, but I do learn a lot.
I engage in some of the "BS" discussions too - and fairly often contribute. I doubt that I've ever started more that 2 BS threads (and maybe 5 or 6 "serious" ones)
Do I think there are too many "BS" threads? - Yes, but I don't really care - those threads are easy to ignore if I chose to do so - even the ones without "BS" in the title. I also find it easy to ignore "serious" threads that are likely to be outside of my areas of interest.
I remember that soon after discovering the Mudcat I began to see regular discussions of how Mudcat is changing that are identical to this one. I really don't get it. Unless someone goes back and checks the files - how does anyone know if it really has changed. As long as I've been here there have been flamers and other idiots. There have been song challenges. There have been any number of non-music threads at any time. And there have been people who have said they are leaving the Mudcat because it has changed. Yet when I look at the posters, many people that were regular posters when I discovered the Mudcat continue to post today.
To me it is simple -
1) - the longer any webpage exists, the more people will discover it and get involved.
2) - The longer sites like Mudcat exist, the more questions they answer and the less "serious" discussions probably occur (how many times have we seen - "check out this previous thread for the anwer to your question.")
3) - if you think there are too many "BS" threads, why not start even more "serious" threads?
Pax, yall