Charlie, thanks for the explanation, much appreciated. I always thought it was just the polite thing to do, signing one's post, esp. a long one, so that people didn't have to scroll back up to remind themselves of whom they just read. Also, I have done it since I came here, because I saw those who'd been here longer did it.

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It was someone who stole my identity which prompted Max to add the GUEST tag to anyone posting without a cookie. Since then, the guest appellation has been abused mightily, including by Bruce Olson, who used it in some really nasty flaming before he decided to leave.

This discussion reminds me of a group of musicologists we met once in Hartford, CT. They were the biggest bunch of elitist snobs I'd ever met, even to one who was much more knowledgable and credentialed than themselves.

Everyone who comes to the Mudcat comes first and foremost for the music. For anyone who wants to define it more narrowly, I think their own forum would be a good solution.

If I had the time, I would research just how many of these threads we have had, started by so-called music-only folks; why don't they start the kinds of threads they want to see, instead of contributing more of what they claim to hate?

Another thing some seem to have conveniently forgotten. Use of the BS tag was supposed to solve a lot of the problem, but it hasn't, mainly, imo, because the only-music folks come in to bitch about them. The new filter options will alleviate a lot of what people complain about. Max had already offered a no BS filtered Mudcat before. Has anyone used it?

Also, threads are not hijacked...we have thread drift...terrorists hijack...raconteurs/musicians drift...

Pterry, welcome to the Mudcat!! If you have any questions or need any help, please feel free to holler!

kat