Norton, if you're referring to Max's "No BS: The Mudcat is Shutting Down" thread, his request was made at 12:28 pm EST, 15 minutes after "Former Bodyguard" 's post on this thread (the one immediately preceding yours). Max's point is well taken, however. Here is a reprint of his request:

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Subject: No BS: The Mudcat Is Shutting Down
From: Max
Date: 02-Nov-01 - 12:28 PM

"Get your attention? Good.

"I am very displeased with our community of late. The GUESTS have a tone I'm all too familiar with... I am going through a divorce you know. The members are disappointing me too. Please everyone, show tolerance and patience, love and empathy. I strive to have no negative emotions in my life, especially hate. I don't even allow my daughter use the word, and can't remember the last time I have, even casually about a food I don't like. I must admit that something that I am so closely associated with (Mudcat) contains so much of it.

"....I've been through a lot in the last couple of weeks, taking extraordinary efforts to keep Mudcat alive. I have shown tolerance and respect for it and all of you. Do me the same and help me clean up our imaginary town here at Mudcat, and fill it with love. My life changes come Monday. Another chapter down, many more to go. When life deals me like this, I take it as an opportunity to make changes for the better. Perhaps you can all join me this time.

"Remember, this site is about Traditional Music. It is for musicians, educators and appreciaters to share stories, techniques, songs, etc. It also facilitates our real friendships and get-togethers. I've witnessed incredible acts of kindness, I've seen people cross an ocean and nary spend a dime besides the plane ticket, and I've met some of the finest people in the world, from 4 continents. These are our core principles and should be protected. If the spite in this forum inhibits the quest for knowledge or a real meeting of folks, we are defeating the very purpose.

"I do not want another thread of Thank You's like always happens when I post one of these updates and pep talks. Don't tell me, show me. I don't need cheered up, I don't need to feel appreciated, I need to look upon the Mudcat pages and see beautiful people being happy, because that is why I do this. It's not my work that makes this such a great place (though it don't hurt), its all of you. I feel like I am rising to a challenge right now, with this move, and now I challenge you. We are a group, a whole. We are together because we share at least some common interest. We may not all see eye to eye on everything, but the Mudcat IS the sum of all its parts. I challenge you to make it work.

"Get your attention? Good."

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For the purposes of this particular thread, let me repeat this excerpt: Remember, this site...also facilitates our real friendships and get-togethers.... If the spite in this forum inhibits...a real meeting of folks, we are defeating the very purpose.