These 'provocative' threads, it seems to me, are often started by someone called "guest -------". I have a sneaking suspicion that there are people who surf the net looking for places to post something provocative. I don't think it matters much what. As I define being 'provocative' this sort of person would properly be called a "provocateur"; as in "agent provocateur". In the pre-net days this sort showed up at "free forum" nights in local coffee houses. The difference being, of course, we knew who they were (more or less). I have said before (well if I haven't I'll say it now) the internet is a modern (and more socially acceptable) equivalant of the restroom wall. My grandfather had a saying about this sort of thing which I hereby share; "Fools names and fools faces are often seen in public places." Of course he wasn't being literal.

Someday, when I have time (unless Joe Offer can do it through archieve searching some how) I am going to go throuh a large selection of threads, say a years worth. I am going to see how many of these threads are provocative and not directly associated with folk music or blues. I am then gong to see how many were atarted by someone identified as Guest-------. I might be surprised but I will bet that identification will apply to the majority.

Hmmmm. Perhaps I should just forget the whole thing and go to bed. I don't know what such information would mean after all.

CB