Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 03:14 PM

"If Max were to do this would the regulars get monthly divident checks???"

Heck, I'm real glad Max isn't going to sell us all off! :0)

I got sold once, to a Parliamentarian, in Kingsand village square, down in Cornwall. They'd captured us camp followers, after a long day's battle, and sold us off to the highest bidders. My best friend Kim went for a whole shilling, to Brigadier Peter Young, (who started up The Sealed Knot.) He had a very wicked gleam in his eye when he went up to claim his wench! I er...went for sixpence, to a drunken infantryman. Sigh...story of my life. ;0) Now, three decades later, I'd barely raise a farthing. LOL

(Shhhhh...just so don't tell Jeri I've gone off at a tangent, else I'll be in big trouble.) ;0)

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 01:31 PM

well. yes it did, if fact ;>)), I was just in a hurry.

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Newport Boy
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 12:26 PM

spell cheker

Didn't it underline that, too?

Phil

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 10:56 AM

spell cheker

I am posting this from the new (Alpha) version of Opera 10, which has a spell checker built in, much like Firefox. It will also have many other new features, like being able to specify fonts which others would download and use in Real Time, but for most of us. spell checking is enuf..(tsk...it underlined that in red!)

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Gervase
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 10:26 AM

Grey? Nonsense; if he's anything like me, it's ash blonde!

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 08:29 PM

Well, the "Mudcat Format" can't really be marketed because it is built on a very old version of the ColdFusion software package. ColdFusion is a database program that stores and indexes records (messages, digital tradition songs, and what-have-you). ColdFusion creates a Forum Menu of links, and clicking on one of those links queries the database and builds a page based on a query, like this page you are looking at now. The general appearance of this page came from ColdFusion, and then Max and Jeff have customized and personalized and perfected it over the years. There have been contributions from a few other people, but Mudcat is mostly the work of Max and Jeff, built on ColdFusion.

I used to be able to Google for thread.cfm and find other forums with the same format, but the results were a bit different this time. Maybe our version is so out-of-date that other places don't use it any more.

Yes, it's true that you can't edit Mudcat posts after you've clicked "submit," but you can use the preview function to double-check your post before you submit it. If there's still a mistake, post a complete, corrected message under the incorrect one - our volunteer editors are supposed to delete duplicate messages, leaving the most recent duplicate. I tend to grumble about the requests that ask us to change the third word of the fourth line of the sixteenth paragraph of a BS message. Better to post the message a second time, exactly as you want it. You can even add [corrected message] in the first line of the corrected message, so we'll be exactly clear on what you want.

If you need help with spellchecking, you can use Firefox or some other browser that has a spellchecker. Otherwise, you can type your message in a word processor and then paste it into Mudcat.

-Joe-


Has Max been changing his hair color again? I'm beginning to think there must be grey underneath.

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Monique
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 07:38 PM

Editing our own posts could be a bad good-idea. In real life we don't go back in the past to change what we said, we correct it if we see fit or explain if asked or challenged. Changing what has been written could bring more issues than it could solve.

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 05:45 PM

Nunh-UH! I get into enough trouble without trying!

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 05:37 PM

Jeri, put it in the auction! Heck everyone wore pink undies for my In the Pink on the Road to Wellville...think what dyed hair would do! Max in Pink...I can see it now!

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 03:26 PM

What works is telling Max what result you would like to see, not how to get there. In other words, if you want to be able to find things by a particular category, he can program that in, but telling him about features another forum has as their way to achieve that, is not usually helpful.

~S~

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 03:10 PM

"Only think I'd wish for would be an easy way to do sub-threads or second generation threads when a person's going to radically and intentionally lurch off-topic."

And I'd say that is just the kind of improvement that might sound like a good idea, but would wreck this strange online community.

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Richie
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 02:48 PM

Here are some things I'd like to see:

Some posts esp more recent posts cannot be found in DT searches.

The main change I'd like to see is the ability to edit our own posts. There's no spell check on mine and although I can spell and have a grasp of the English language, there are many mistakes that once posted, remain.

I'm not particularly worried about little errors but I'd like to fix them making my posts easier to understand and read.


Richie

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 02:20 PM

In its time, the Mudcat format was ahead of its time. It's now behind its time - for which we may be enternally grateful!

Regards

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:20 PM

I like Mudcat's forum better than others I've read. Only think I'd wish for would be an easy way to do sub-threads or second generation threads when a person's going to radically and intentionally lurch off-topic.

Other than that, I'd like to propose and vote on what color Max should dye his hair next week. Maybe we should just auction off the decision with the highest bidder getting to make the call. Max would be required to post a picture.

(I think I'm onto something here...)

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:16 PM

I am in favor of Mudcat retaining it's format as it stands and not spending
time marketing for new clients. Mudcat works now because it is unique
and valuable. If time is to be spent, then upgrading Mudcat is more
important in my opinion.

More Midi's for songs, more data on songs, (there should be a special
page devoted to this about the history of each song), more information
for people to hear others on YouTube, a discography made available for
various artists, a clearinghouse for every folk music organization in
the world (big project but doable) and a network for websites pertaining
to folk music.

Frank

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:13 PM

Folks, your excellent idea is pretty much were Max started, with Mudcat.

~S~

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:12 PM

...it's hopelessly out of date" - like the musical instruments we play.

Maybe we are atypical users. The Mudcat is the only online forum I have ever come across which I would consider has a user-friendy format.

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:02 PM

If Max were to do this would the regulars get monthly divident checks???

B~

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 12:56 PM

It's Traditional!

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: terrier
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 12:47 PM

Surely the simplicity and speed of response makes it user friendly? It may be quaint and hopelessly out of date, but it WORKS and may be that's why MUDCAT is so popular.

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Gervase
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 12:33 PM

Unfortunately the php form architecture is free, so it would be hard to compete. And, in my opinion, it makes for a better forum, with the ability to quote, revise and edit posts, attach files and generally be more creative. Joomla is also a good forum architecture.
The appeal of the Mudcat system, I suppose, is it's quaintness - it's hopelessly out of date and non-user-friendly, but it's what we're used to!

Subject: RE: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 11:45 AM

Seconded!

Subject: Max, why not market the Mudcat format ?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 11:38 AM

I am a member of more forums than I can count, and they are all the same, you probably know the kind, they always have

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at the bottom left. hand corner of the home page.

The Mudcat Forum architecture is so immeasurably superior, I believe it could be sold to almost any organisation which operates an interactive forum, with consequent big bucks for Max.

So Max, is there any reason why this couldn't be a plan of action ?

I thought this would be an appropriate topic for open debate, rather than sending it as a PM, which I considered doing.

Looking forward to hearing viewpoints on this one ...