Mudcat: just music, or a mix?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: LEJ
Date: 10 May 99 - 10:01 PM

"...it just IS!...can't really say any more about it..."

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 May 99 - 09:38 PM

Aaarrggghhhh! Leej, doesn't that belong in the WORST lines thread?*BG*

Sheesh, a gyrl tries to get all serious and go for a "Grasshopper and the Master" kinda thing and you jokers gotta come in a spoil the mood! ****BIG,BIG GRIN***

Just had to raz ya! I'm with you, Leej, on the Doors!

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: LEJ
Date: 10 May 99 - 09:32 PM

or as Van Morrison said... "it doesn't have to be, it just is, it just IS, IS, IS...that's all there is to it, it just is..and that's enough about it, it just IS!"

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 May 99 - 09:19 PM

Is no should, just what is.

Allan C.: how Zen**smile**

katlaughing, in a void of being?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Allan C.
Date: 10 May 99 - 04:47 PM

Dick Greenhaus has pointed out that all this isn't really necessary. The 'Cat is what it is. Nobody is going to turn a secret knob or install a magic folkseive which would separate out anything that isn't folk. I think it has been made obvious to any and all who spend time here that most of us enjoy "the mix".

Katlaughing and others have proposed a couple of ways to accommodate those who prefer the narrower path and I applaud that. Frankly there are times when I would like to have that option. But mostly, I just like hanging out here. The only problem I have is that I find far too many threads that interest me. So, I end up spending as much as three hours a day here. On Mondays, or any other time when I have been away from my computer for a couple of days, it takes me at least two hours just to catch up to the present day! I don't know what I will do when I take a couple of weeks of vacation!

I guess what I am trying to say is that I wonder at the need to analyse this. The Mudcat just IS. That's all.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 May 99 - 04:29 PM

Hi Annap, thanks for joining us. Lunch hour's just fine (as long as you leave time for lunch) You'll find lots of music here, and maybe it might inspire you to bend down and pick up that guitar. The "bull shit" that inspired terse one and two liners from three of our members (actually my guess is two, with one being an alias) has in recent times been comprised of: trying to make sense of Kosovo, grieving and questioning what happened in Colorado, and an outpouring of support for a mudcatter who was rushed to hospital. That ain't "BS" in my book!

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Bob Landry
Date: 10 May 99 - 04:22 PM

I vote for the mix. Bob

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: SeanM
Date: 10 May 99 - 04:07 PM

Very much love the mix...

I started out here about 2 years ago, as a resource for lyrics for songs at the renaissance faire that I work at but couldn't understand (dang wind messes up the acoustics... or maybe it was that 14th beer...). I didn't even look at the threads until about 8 months or so ago, but was almost immediately hooked.

It saddens me to know that we lose valuable members of our community over this issue, as I heartily support the right not to read (or watch, listen to, whatever) over censorship in no uncertain terms.

(This is where I disagree with Margarita). As far as I'm concerned, the only valid place for censorship is where lives are immediately endangered ('fire' in a theatre, reports of troop movements during war, whatever). Having been in the military and having been censored on occasion, it always amazes me how quickly and disastrously censorship has ALWAYS spiralled out of hand. While serving in our gulf, I had letters censored (and was reprimanded) for informing my family that I had a cold, that I would like my walkman mailed to me as there weren't any decent ones to be had, and for some unknown reason they censored my request to my mother for some of her chocolate-oatmeal cookies (!?!). There were more examples, but these were the strangest.

The only kind of censorship that has a place in my world view is the censorship of self. I view it as one of the basic precepts that Democracy is based on... It mentions in the USA's founding paperwork (filed in triplicate somewhere, no doubt) that the country relies on an "enlightened electorate" for decisions in votes. Sadly, through a bizzare twist over the years, the 'enlightened electorate' are becoming the 'enlightened few'. The last thing that this country needs is for censorship to take away even more of the meager information that is needed.

We live in a time of power. We (all of us) can easily acquire within a very short time the ability to destroy ourselves and quite a bit of those around us. The quote reads 'With great power comes great responsibility', and I believe in this wholeheartedly. Rather than restrict someone's right to know something or view something, it would be a much better world if we could enforce their responsibility to know the consequences and real effects of their actions. By way of example, given no other choices, would you rather be given a gun with a clear understanding of how to operate it along with the consequences of your use of it, or would you rather just be handed a gun and be told that you were not allowed to know how it operated?

Sorry... freedom of speech is a sore point with me. I'll shut up now.

M

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: annamill
Date: 10 May 99 - 12:33 PM

I entered Mudcat first curious, then fascinated that there is a foram for talented, knowlegable, intelligent, warm, funny, witty, caring and diversified people. I can only get here on my lunch hour,Mon thru Fri, but I enjoy it totally. I'm not a musician, but music of all types permiates my life. (..and I'm trying to pick up guitar)

I love the B.S. and I love the music knowledge I've found here. I hope to stay for a while.

Mix for me, please.

Anna

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Margo
Date: 10 May 99 - 12:22 PM

Here's my take on cencorship:

When I was a kid I remember this angry justification some kids used for their actions: "It's a free country and I can do what I want."

Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Our forefathers, trying to "secure a more perfect union" put in place a govenmental structure with definite boundrys. They knew the importance of free speech.

Yet there are certain things you cannot say, like shouting "Fire" in a crowded theatre. I believe that the jury ruled wrongly (was it jury or court?) in the Oprah Winfrey vs. the beef association. She is a public figure and carries a heavy responsibility for what she says.

Ergo, I do not think that freedom of expression means you can say or do what you want. Shouting "Fire" in a crowded theater is dangerous. People could be killed. Saying a prayer in public school is not dangerous. I learned the lord's prayer in public grade school in Michigan. My family was raised with no religion. My folks didn't care that we were taught a prayer.

I think that the current censorship of prayer and permissiveness in blood and gut depicted in movies, video games, etc. is bassackwards. Censorship is not bad, it is just being used wrongly.

Hah! Let's see what can of worms I have opened up. Do we already have a thread on censorship? If not, maybe it will be a good one.

Margarita

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Ross
Date: 10 May 99 - 11:34 AM

Mix it up.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 May 99 - 11:32 AM

Joe, how long has this obsession with apostrophes been going on? Tell me your feelings about multiple exclamation marks. What about using every upper case symbol in the top row to denote swearing.

Seriously, I wish I had your resolve about censorship. I have vaccilated on that for so many years. Often I become so overcome with anger at what I perceive as mass stupidity (law court decisions, political pronouncements, seemingly motiveless violence) that I act like a censorship vigilante for a couple of days. When I see a phrase like "teach our childen critical thinking...." I wonder, what percentage of the population would even understand what you mean, let alone be able to put it into practice.
Other than that, it's a beautiful day here in Toronto. Duckboots and I will go move some earth around in the garden.

Rick

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 10 May 99 - 11:18 AM

I came looking for lyrics, discovered the good humour, bad jokes (and contributed my share since!) and strange threads (duct tape?). I've learned about artists and songs new to me, felt part of a diverse but real net community, marvelled at the range of musical and instrumental knowledge and expertise out there, most of it (all right , ALL of it!) over my head, but I still come back for more. As others have said, you don't have to read every thread, tho' sometimes the information you need crops up as an aside in an unlikely thread. Keep the mix, in short.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 May 99 - 10:54 AM

I put this on the original thread, but it is better here (not that it is very deep).
Apart from the obvious fact that Mudcatters have varied and uncompartmentalized lives, this all does raise the question of what role music plays in one's life. It seems to me that for some people music is the magnetic centre that orders most of the rest of what they do, and that includes conversation, community, and the rest. They are held together by music. Nothing can really be outside it. For others it is more of a subject, or something to listen to when you are tired, or an intellectual puzzle (How does Bach do that?). It is a space in your life, but not the ordering of all your space. It may be actually very important to you -- I had an uncle for whom Mozart was God, but I can't say that music was central to his life. It was a touchstone or a place he went to for solace or healing. But it wasn't what ordered his life, I think.
For some lucky people as well, their playing music or participating in making music has for a long time, maybe from the start, been interwoven with conversation and community. For other people music just does not play or has not played that role.
So I think that for some people Music automatically encompasses B.S. (B.S. meaning the known universe, obviously), and for others it doesn't.
This is separate from the argument about diversity, which I also support!
Yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: SueH
Date: 10 May 99 - 08:15 AM

I go for mix as well. sometimes there's nothing I want to read, sometimes lots. But even unlikely threads can turn out to be fascinating, or fun. And surely the responsiveness of most mudcatters to each other is what makes it all so enjoyable?

SueH

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Margo
Date: 10 May 99 - 08:04 AM

Oh heavens! MIX. Music is a reflection of life. We are the living. Take away the "BS" and you take away the life of the party! I love this place. I love you guys. It's wierd, I can't say why, but I come here frequently.

Oh, and by the way, Joe, I for one, appreciate, with great zeal, your tenacity, and, wonderful technical abilities, where our site, our beloved site, is concerned,,,,,,,,

Margarita!, :>)

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Mudjack
Date: 09 May 99 - 07:27 PM

MIX
Mudjack

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 09 May 99 - 05:59 PM

Jeez, Joe. I wish misplaced or unnecessary apostrophes were all you had to correct in my postings (see the "country of origin" thread, where I really screwed up again). I do think, however, that we would lose something remarkable if you were to use your cookie to correct some of the highly creative spelling we find in occasional postings (and I ain't talking about the dialect contributions, which are often great fun, too). I'll bet ol' GBS would have loved 'em!

Sandy

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 May 99 - 04:28 PM

Joe

Can I have my apostrophes back please?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 May 99 - 04:11 PM

...although I usually use my edit button only to add links, correct HTML, and delete duplicate messages, I have to confess something. I really hate misplaced apostrophes, and I have been known to delete the one's [grin] I find particularly offensive....
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 May 99 - 04:06 PM

I kinda think Brouce O. won't stay away for long. I think he likes us. He's made a great contribution here. He's really a nice person to meet in person, too.

And Tucker, my opinion of censorship is that it makes me nervous. They always seem to censor out the wrong things. I think it's better to teach our kids critical thinking so they can sort things out for themselves.
As for censorship of Mudcat, I think we do that quite well ourselves, just by the fact that most of us treat each other with affection and respect. Hatefulness and bullying can really make a mess out of a discussion forum like this, but that happens here very rarely and the rest of us seem to be able to take care of it quite nicely by ganging up on the offender.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 May 99 - 06:52 AM

It is very sad to hear that we are losing someone, but that is up to them but I hope that, maybe they will return.

The mixture is the direction that will and has enabled so many different views to be aired.

Maybe we all just have to try and ensure that the balance is right between all of the elements that make the Mudcat special?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 09 May 99 - 04:23 AM

Mix

regards Ted

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: BK
Date: 09 May 99 - 12:54 AM

From the (Unitarian??) Bible: "Man cannot live bread alone; he MUST have peanut butter!" ('n raspberry jam, maybe a scone or two w/a little clotted cream... Genuine Devonshire, of course...) ie, keep the mix; you could hardly stop it anyway, w/out destroying this very special place.

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 09 May 99 - 12:09 AM

Well, I came for the music, but I stayed for the comraderie and the music. I have wondered lately what in the world am I doing here? Lately I haven't had much to offer in the music end of things, but I still need my almost daily dose of the Mudcat. To me it is the mix that keeps it interesting. I was a bit sad to hear Bruce O. say he was parting ways with this strange place. But Bruce O. has rare interests so he has a rare songs site.

I would have thought it was easy for Bruce O. to pick out the threads where he might wish to contribute. But perhaps he was also looking to get something out of being here and that may be what is missing. I will miss him if he truly leaves.

And yet, I still vote for the mix!

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Tucker
Date: 08 May 99 - 10:55 PM

Glad to help Rick, Heather (Heddy) is my daughters name too. When she gets a puter I'm turning her on to this site. Ah a banty chicken she! I'd love to turn her loose in a closed room with Jerry Springer, anyway (see how side tracked I get, damned A.D.D. anyway)Glad to help Duckboots. Love that name, why didn't ye put that in my thread? I never heard that one before. Well Duckboots, don't be shy, join in. We don't eat our young here ( Until Catspaw gets back anyway).

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 May 99 - 10:46 PM

Ahhh Soooo. Well I don't know how Joe Offer feels about it but my big question always is: Who decides these things? How do they come up with a specific age? I'm afraid I break with a number of my friends on the "Hollywood" issue. I think pure unadulterated greed rules the mainstream entertainment industry. And I include the makers of "Killer" video games, recordings, and music videos in there. I think the old adage about someone who'd "kill their granny for a buck" is just "business as usual today.

Bye the way, thanks for helping Heather ("duckboots" are the brand of "wellies" I got her to stomp around her garden in) She's had a rough year, and the garden means a lot to her. Although she was a bit scared at entering "mudcat" at first.

Rick

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Tucker
Date: 08 May 99 - 10:28 PM

Sorry Rick, we are in the middle of yet another witch hunt here in the lower 48. PG/13 means "parental guidance...not advised for children under 13. I am a carry over of the sardonic humor of the folkies of yore and sometimes I am misunderstood. Then again sometimes I am just twisted.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 May 99 - 10:22 PM

Hi Tucker, you got me on that one. Please explain. Don't think I even know what parental labels Music/PG 13 means. If I said something that indicated I was for or against it , it was probably by accident,(I do ramble on you know) I'm not sure that in Canada there is such a thing anyway. Lemme know a bit more so I can know if I support it. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Tucker
Date: 08 May 99 - 10:13 PM

You know what I am going to say. Here's for the Mix. I have found a community here. Ok, if I need to know about a song I KNOW I can find all the real words, backgroud, author, whatever. All I have to do is ask. In the meantime (I like that fence idea, anyone ever seen a catfish talkin' at a fence, hehe, love it)I have met some friends. We may not always agree, but who does? Geez, I often disagree with my mom, especially when she wants to drive a car. I like it here. If Joe and Rick want to put parental labels on MUSIC ONLY/PG13 that's fine but I'll be going to the threads too looking for the Allisons/Katlaughing/Catspaw/Helen's..................someone to chat and maybe rile with.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Chet W.
Date: 08 May 99 - 07:31 PM

Since people interested in traditional music are bound to be thoughtful folks, they're bound to have more than one kind of thought. Keep the mix!

Chet W.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From:
Date: 08 May 99 - 06:56 PM

Thank you, BSeed and Dick. You've said all that needed to be said. I don't follow every single thread, and if I find what I'm reading doesn't interest me that much I move on to the next one. But why should I deny others the pleasure of talking about what interests them - even if it does occasionally stray from the music theme? It's about people, and what people want! So - go on mixing! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katmuse (inactive)
Date: 08 May 99 - 02:10 PM

And a great service it is, too, Dick!

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Dani
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:18 PM

Allison said it so beautifully. I love that whenever I drop in, I feel welcome, whether it's a political discussion or a bad joke. But in between all my workaday worlds, I always come in for the music. And I never leave without having had a song.

Dani

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:08 PM

Hey Folks- Y'all are missing the point. Mudcat is an unmoderated site (i.e. the Mudcat Cafe doesn't have a bouncer). What's in it is what you---and you---and you--and, occasionally, me put into it. Nobody makes the rules (except for Joe and myself, who try to limit our interference to multiple postings and gross misspellings) Personally, I think it's rather neat. Otherwise, I wouldn't visit.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: bill\sables
Date: 08 May 99 - 07:55 AM

Keep The Mix Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: The Shambles
Date: 08 May 99 - 05:52 AM

Mix MAX mix!

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Banjer
Date: 08 May 99 - 05:03 AM

Definitely needs to remain a mix. Heck if we couldn't have a little fun now and again it would become just another one subject only web site, not the community that is is. Just think, how many of the traditional folk songs that we know and love today would not have been written if folks were restricted in their thinking?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: jets
Date: 08 May 99 - 03:21 AM

I vote for mix

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katmuse (inactive)
Date: 08 May 99 - 02:28 AM

Mix! What's music discussion without conversation, humor, and yes a bit of BS now and then. No such thing as a BS-free zone, even if earnestness hopes for one. Earnestness invites mocking. Mocking becomes BS. Don't take the fun out of a music site! Verbal jamming almost as delicious as sex almost as delicious as music. Nice turns of phrase everywhere in more than one genre.

Maybe all the votes in this here poll are for mix because the music-only guys are all on another thread, this one being too full of conversation and "non-music"?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 May 99 - 01:19 AM

And, I guess we would never have even thought about a Best of the Mudcat book, for what would the material have been?

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Alice
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:59 AM

If this didn't allow a mix, I would never have asked the question, "Where is Spancil Hill?".

alice

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:59 AM

Music threads are easy to identify (and easy to start) and there are vastly more of them than of non-music threads--perhaps not at the top of the threads list where it's usually about 50-50 music and conversation threads because people keep refreshing the latter. And if they are offended by the non music threads (or posts) all they have to do is avoid them. I've posted quite a few songs (some unnecessarily) and I've downloaded quite a few and followed them with awe and tears and laughter and love... I love having this music resource (I still have never heard the song "Spancil Hill," but I go back and read that thread over every now and then, along with many other music threads), but I also love communing with the people here. I'm for the mix (I'm thinking of changing my internet service, and when I do I'm gonna come back with a new name and vote again...and again..and again--early and often). --seed

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: puzzled
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:58 AM

It's not the music threads that get the most responses as far as i can tell. Music to me is as important as bread. but man does not live by bread alone.
mix gets my vote

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:51 AM

You know me, Rick. I'm a mixer all the way. I came for the music, stayed for the fun.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Paul Jay
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:50 AM

I know I don't say much on this site. Being a potter as well as a musician doesen't give me much time, but every time I get on her I find something interesting. I sounds like many of you are next door neighbors having a chat over the fence. I was truly surprised when I found out that many (most)? of you have never met outside of this virtual front porch/living room. Whenever I have needed some song help someone has always jumped right in there to help. Many thanks for that! I say KEEP THE MIX.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:37 AM

I really admire the vast knowledge of some of the folks that regularly check into Mudcat. Not just knowing the words to about any song on earth but also the background information on the songs. Until checking into Mudcat I wasn't even aware of all of the interesting tid bits concerning songs that I'd been singing and playing for years. If this was all there was to Mudcat it would be a great site.

However, adding all of the other items in the forum (whatever you call them) make it a fantastic web site. Most Mudcat folks have a great sense of humor as well as interesting opinions on such a wide variety of topics. KEEP THE MIX

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Frank of Toledo
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:30 AM

I'm kinda new to the computer age and this forum is a real treat for me. Sandy told me about it and I jumped in and I'm still getting my feet wet. Music is where it's at for me but in all honesty the mix is great and we do have that choice, one and all to stay in or get out anytime we need to. Mix all the way. Getting to know a few of you already and it's truly great...........

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:14 AM

Hello All,

The mix.

Don

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:04 AM

Uh, Anonymous in Colorado....kewt! Now, to clarify..I didn't mean the original subject int eh thread name. I meant in the BS threads or wherever, in individual postings. for more of an explanation, please go to the getting songs out of threads thread.

tks,

kat

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: bbc
Date: 08 May 99 - 12:02 AM

I love the mix. Thanks, Rick. Good to see you back, Joe!

bbc

Subject: ABOUT IMPORTANT SONG STUFF
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 May 99 - 11:51 PM

I posted this suggestion in the how to get songs out of the threads. I had suggested putting the "subject" in bold with the appropriate song info for easier spotting of important music stuff. Whaddaya think?

kat

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Anonymous in Colorado...
Date: 07 May 99 - 11:49 PM

Uh...I think I like the mix. I think I found the 'Cat within its first 6 to 8 weeks of life, way back at the end of 1996. Back then, there was a heated battle to keep all discussion on the topic of "traditional folk." Trouble is, the efforts to restrict the discussion just made the place unpleasant. Ideas develop best in freedom, and the unrestricted environment of this forum has brought forth some wonderful information. I'm glad the Folk Police lightened up on us. I think they have a good time here, too.
I do get a bit perturbed when somebody jumps in and interrupts the flow of a really serious musical discussion, but that doesn't happen very often. Most people seem to respect those who who have valuable information to share.
The only thing I don't like to see in the forum is nastiness, and there really isn't much of that around. We're all pretty nice to each other, and that's the way it should be. Everyone should be able to feel comfortable here, and I think we've created a nice, comfortable home here.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 May 99 - 11:37 PM

Actually Tucker, though I have been known to flick a bit of feces into the furrower at times, this wasn't one of them. It was suggested in other threads that "music ONLY" mudcatters were becoming an increasing minority, and a couple of folks sincerely thought that the other threads were making it difficult for some to find the music that they were looking for. I think the constant use of the abbreviation for "bullshit" was a bit intimidating as well. It was also suggested that a gathering of opinions "yea, or nay" might help. I agreed, so I posted it.
I've contributed mainly to music threads (still got to do the "adjustable autoharp one") but several of the non-music ones recently have helped me resolve troubling issues, so I value this aspect of the Mudcat. Besides if it weren't for some of those threads labelled "BS", I wouldn't have gotten to know some bloody nice people. So I gotta come down on the "mix" side, but I'll sure listen to folks with the other point of view. When they post anonymously, I just chuckle.

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:52 PM

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!

katlaughing, singing, fiddling, talking, listening, writing, crying, celebrating, communing, praying....where else can I do all of those without being judged an idiot or worse? Where else can I find so many who share so much, but

FIRST & FOREMOST THEIR LOVE OF MUSIC!?

Thanks, Rick, it had to be asked, to be fair.

Kat

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Tucker
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:46 PM

here here Helen, I like your comments Darlin"

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Susan A-R
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:45 PM

Mix please.

Susan

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Helen
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:43 PM

I agree with Allison. It just reminds me of the best folk festivals I've been to. The ones where if you just want music you go to the structured events like concerts and workshops, and if you want the full mix you sit around in the sessions, playing a bit of music, chatting a bit about life, the universe and everything, whether it relates *directly* to music or not. (I actually think that it all relates to folk music - emotions, thoughts, ideas, interests, social justice, politics, etc etc can all be expressed in music, words, or dance.)

Maybe we need a way for people who start threads and only want to stick to the topic to mark the threads in some way. like "Warning, this is intended to be a BS-free zone". You note, I said *intended to be* because there are just some times when the BS just has to break free and bring a bit of levity to the occasion. I'm thinking of a time in the last year when someone started a thread about sex sites for gay women or something, hoping that we'd get sidetracked into a pornographic/cyber-sex discussion. It took less than no time at all for the humour to cut in, and then after a very short time it developed into a serious discussion about gay and lesbian songs.

I like to think that folkies and blues people are lateral thinkers with a broad perspective on life. That's why I love the meandering way the threads go sometimes.

Helen

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Tucker
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:39 PM

Aye Allison! Rick is attempting to kick a wee bit of crap into the weedeater here! Everyone knows this is basically a music place but lads and lassies it's also a discussion place too. What is music about anyway? When we write music, it's usually from the heart. I might feel bad about a snaildarter in southbumfugue, but I feel REAL bad about a woman who ran off with my best friend. I feel bad about school shootings, DUI's,dorks,ship sinkings, tornadoes, earthquakes, stupid giznorks, whatever makes life unpleasant. But....that is what we write about, always has been, always will be, no offense Rick, love to argue, Tucker

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:31 PM

Leave it the way it is. Allison said it better than I could ever hope to.

Mick

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:04 PM

The mix is the whole point of the thing for me. Here we are, gathered in a circle so to speak- over there in the corner a coupla guitarists are comparing makes of guitars; over behind the curtains a heated political discussion; in the kitchen an impromptu verse or two of Shenandoah (all the original words, Rick!) - on the couch a mutual appreciation society; one of us is on the phone with Catspaw; there's a frisbee game going on out on the lawn- there's an intrepid group in the dining room having a heated discussion on the roots of particular lyrics of O'Carolan- it's a great party- may it never end!
Allison

Subject: RE: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: campfire
Date: 07 May 99 - 10:02 PM

Since it was, I beleive, in a non-music thread that I learned the great word "flunderblunking" and the equally important "oomphologist" (sp?), I'd hate to lose the conversations. I agree with those who have said if it doesn't appeal to you, don't bother reading it.

But I also don't know how limited the "space" or whatever it would be called is - I'd also hate to have us run out of room. I've read complaints about how long it takes to do a forum search, because one gets "timed out" - is that because there's just too many threads now?

So, sorry Rick, I'm going to be a fence walker, only because I don't know the limitations.

campfire/Dawn

Subject: Mudcat: just music, or a mix?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 May 99 - 09:46 PM

It was suggested in another thread that perhaps there were more "catters" who'd prefer a "music period." Mudcat. Having a poll might give us an idea what the numbers are. Surely with condom threads et al. this would be equally informative. Any takers? Music or Mix?