D' Cats--

I hope I'm not one of the gratuitously clever folks, but even if I am, I guess I've got to the point where I will go on a bit and hope that anyone I offend either cares enough to work it out with me or at least doesn't condemn the rest of you because of what they think I've said.

However. I do have a problem, and I think this is the place to air it. I was really upset with Max's April Fool's joke. Not offended, but I was really, sincerely concerned. I was prepared to consult attorneys and write to elected officials. I told almost all of my musical friends, some of whom use the DT regularly. They were all concerned. The whole problem was complicated by the fact that I do not have internet access at home, so when I left at 4 on Thursday, as far as I could tell, the 'cat wouldn't be around on Monday, except as maybe some kind of listserv created from all our email addresses.

Now, on Tuesday, I'm still feeling a little angry at having been "played with" so casually. I do have a sense of humor, and I was amused by a number of absurd goings on last Thursday, but for some reason, Max's prank affected me the way I imagine the original radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" affected the general public.

I guess what it boils down to is this: I care about this "place" and its people. I didn't realize how much until it was threatened. Nevertheless, I think there should be some kind of line we agree not to cross--sort of like not yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. If someone anonymous, or some of our other pranksters had pulled Max's stunt, I'd be laughing still. But Max is one of the Mudcat junto, and I'm just not amused.

Just my $0.02. I've returned the soapbox, and the talking stick, to whomever wants them.

V