I'd have to disagree with that, Jerry; I don't think this site "caters" to anyone. It includes everyone – the academic as well as the riff-raff. The scholarly types are as welcome to post their thoughts here as the potty-mouths are to pooh-pooh those thoughts.

Seems as if "from Venus" wants a forum with more decorum and more respect, both admirable goals. Again, I agree that a higher level of decorum – a higher standard of adult behavior – would be nice to see here at Mudcat. But respect for one's elders? How is anyone to know the age or expertise of an unregistered GUEST? Only those members who have shared their life stories and the stories of their experience with music have any level of credence at all. Only those members have a reason to receive any higher level of respect for their knowledge than is offered anyone else here, IMO.

You'll notice I didn't say that they have a reason to expect more deference. It's my observation that those who don't expect to be treated differently than anyone else at Mudcat are the ones who are happy here, regardless of their level of expertise in the field of music or in any other field.

Sharon