The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #12450 Message #97976
Posted By: Angus McSweeney
22-Jul-99 - 09:41 AM
Thread Name: A warm goodbye, from The Shambles.
Subject: RE: A warm goodbye, from The Shambles.
I was a regular Mudcatter about 2 years ago and then again about a year ago. (I regularly go on hiatus for various reasons). And I have to admit that I was a little dismayed by what I found when I returned about two weeks ago. I haven't seen the really damaging threads - just their echo's. I intend to use this discussion forum as I believe it's intended - I scan down the subjects, click on the ones that interest me, answer the query if possible and move on. However, I have been involved in the past with trying to help bring a sense of community to this fascinating group - the original Fantasy Folk Circle threads pulled in over 200 responses (we had to start a new thread because, in those days it just took to long for the threads to post with so many responses attached). And we started a "musician humor" thread that allowed for some gentle rib poking at various instrumentalists (pity the poor banjo players!) So where am I going with this? We are in a large discussion with people coming in and out of the door all the time. Groups are assembled all around the hall - some are talking about early American folk music, some...well, you get the point. I visit the groups that interest me and I stay true to myself. Politics? Hmmm. I don't know why we want to bring that up. In the folk circle that I attend I would say most participants are left leaning folk like myself, but the songs stand for themselves. I cringe when someone chooses to make a spoken political point because 1) this is not a political circle, and 2) somone might respond. Don't get me wrong...I'm very politically minded, strong opinions, very verbal, and I love a rock'em sock'em politcal fight. But not in a folk circle and not on a folk and blues discussion forum. So what's to do? For me, it's simple. If it's at a folk circle I join in on the song and remain silent to the spoken editorial (even if I agree completely and strongly!) If it's a thread, I simply leave it alone and go to another thread.