Getting fed up with 'guests'

Subject: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:04 PM

I completely understand why Max had to do something in an attempt to prevent another occurence of the "Mudcat Massacree week-end of silliness" from a few days ago, but some of this is getting tiresome. Is it possible to ask that folks coming in with folk music topics under the "guest" banner at least sign their names? Even a first name would make things a little more personal. When I reply to someone here, I have a picture in my mind (and sometimes an actual one courtesy of Bbc) of who I'm talking to, and a (semi) accurate profile of them from past postings. That is not only important to me but is proving crucial as a reason to be here.

I've been to several other folk-related websites where the conversations at times seem to be moronic in the extreme..but everyone's anonymous, so they don't care.

If someone's got a bee in their bonnet and really doesn't want to be identified then be my "GUEST", but for Pete's sake if you're not mad about something, can you identify yourself?

Send flames and burning pitch-forks to:

Rick

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: shep
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:21 PM

Yep

I kind of agree here. I do like to know where you are all from and its nice every so often to see someone sign their name and "general" locality. It helps the feel of the site and those who contribute.

Regards

Shep

Northwest

UK

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:26 PM

I am proud to be a guest.

Perhaps, after a year in exhile, and with time off for good behavior

Max will return my MudCatterenship which was abolished during the OrangeDay/Week Massacree of July 99.

A kitty's tail got caught in the automatic-clip-action of an Armalite, when she tried to "heal the hurting" of the Prods and Greens.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:28 PM

Dave Lever from Bedford Nova Scotia, I am definately not a nonny mouse...Yours, (always) Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: sheila
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:30 PM

Shep - Is that northwest _England_, or northwest _UK_ (Sutherland)?
Sheila
Sutherland
UK

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 03:16 PM

Amen to that Rick! I think "GUEST" has just afforded some the opportunity to be even more obnoxious.

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Banjer
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 03:21 PM

Rick has my backing, for what it's worth. I find myself logging on less and less it seems. Certainly posting less, but I won't let them run me out completely.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 03:38 PM

But then, I reply to an anonymous GUEST when I think the info might also be appreciated by others. It's much harder this way to carry on a conversation...it's really just talking to myself...not much fun.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 03:39 PM

Good point Rick, my dad told me never to talk to strangers.

BB

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 03:44 PM

Guests? I see no problem with them at all, provided they are contributing to Mudcat in a positive way, be it music or just fun sillyness...

Otherwise they are just another spammer...

Personal? Well nothing is more annony-mouse than the internet, and thats one of the up sides... You are offerd the chance to re-invent yourself everytime you connect to the net... Myself, my first instinct is to dissbelieve EVERYTHING I read in cyberspace... For that exact reason... it takes a lot of time to get to know a REAL person... to get to know someone through what their avatar presents takes much longer... And some would argue that because of the volitile nature of avatars, there is not point in trying to see past them...

Once again, my 0.02

Subject: Caballo diablo
From: GUEST,Rick Daniel
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 03:58 PM

I/m trying to find the lyrics to Caballo Diablo by the charlie Daniels band...

Can anybody help? If ou have them please send them to [e-mail]

thanks!

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Gary T
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:06 PM

Hi, Rick Daniel. I'm sorry I'm not familiar with that one. I suggest a "lyric request" post (start a new thread) with the song title in it as the most efficient way to get a helpful response.

And thanks for giving us a name. There have been so many posts very recently that say simply "GUEST" that it's been a bit bewildering/off-putting.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Lucius
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:06 PM

I don't much reckon to being a guest in these parts either, but that's the way that the cookie sometimes crumbles.

I was finally forced to reset my cookie, if only to remove the blasted "guest" from my name.

Point taken.

Lucius (AKA Bob Jovi)

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: The Shambles
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:09 PM

I don't hark back to a 'golden age of Mudcat', for I feel that is yet to come, with all the fresh new blood that is now contributing. It is up to all of us to rise to the challenge of these newer posters and not to JUST refer them back to a similar discussion "'We' had two years ago". One of those newer posters appears to have just left, unfortunately (see the 'I love Mudcat' thread').

The events that Rick refers to and subsequent silliness, does highlight a problem. When I first came to The Mudcat, what attracted me was the welcoming and helpful 'tone' and that I detected a feeling that, it was more important, what was being said than who was saying it.

That emphasis changed over time. Now though, with all this (temporary) 'guest' stuff, the identity of the poster is not now certain, we can now only respond (or not) to what is being said and the 'tone' in which it is worded. Which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise? 'Knowing', in a cyber-sense and recognising all these good folk's names is nice but there is a balance to be struck between the personal stuff (being made public) and the music/politics etc. I have always worried about the danger of the forum becoming, just another chat room, where who is saying something is more important than what is being said.

"Send flames and burning pitch-forks to:"

The Shambles.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Gary T
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:40 PM

Shambles (or is it The Shambles?), apparently you have no idea how much UPS and Fed-Ex charge to ship a burning pitchfork (still burning, of course). I can't afford to comply! (ROFLMAO, just playing around and hoping others think it's humorous)

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: wildlone
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:48 PM

how many of they pitchforks do ee want then, I could get a few by end of week if ee want
dave of Dorset, pioneer.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 05:46 PM

We've had anonymous posters before, and personally I found the blank spaces before THE DAY much more annoying than the GUEST designation. I certainly wouldn't give up checking and contributing to the Mudcat for such a reason. However, if others find it grates then why don't we ask Max to replace the GUEST by a less obvious sign such as @ or $ or &, so that members know this is a guest? Might that provide a solution? - Susanne

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,sharon
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:25 PM

And how do I reset my cookie, so that I am not a guest. I used to be a regular Mudcatter, and hadn't been here in quite sometime, and now I find that I am a guest! KInd of like going back to your old home church and the minister says, Oh, I see we have some "visitors" here!

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Amos
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:34 PM

It's under Quicklinks, Sharon, at the top of the page--"Reset Cookie". You resupply your user name and password and it restores the cookie it needs to recognize you.

A

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,sharon
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:47 PM

Just checking to see if I'm still a guest. I tried to fix it.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Sharon
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:50 PM

s'cuse me. I'm trying once more.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Micca
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:51 PM

i occasionally turn up with the Guest label but thats because I somtimes post from work where I do not have a cookie( and I suspect I can not because of the set up they use) so if I show as a GUEST thats why.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 07:24 PM

The problem isn't the GUEST prefix, which is there for a very good reason (to stop the situation where it was possible to post messages using someone else's name, thus sowing confusion. It seems that is how some people get their jollies.

But if two people or more sign in as GUEST, without adding a name, it becomes very difficult to respond to what they are saying. And that arouses the suspicion that they are doing this on purpose to make life difficulty for other people.

If people want to us a pseudonym, fair enough, it doesn't involve that kind of confusion. The only confusion is that, for example one "GUEST, gargoyle" might not be the same as the next "GUEST gargoyle". But that's life. (Incidentally, what good behaviour was that? I could put one of those emoticons in here, I suppose, but I can't think of one that's fitting.)

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: paddymac
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 07:41 PM

Guess I might be the contrarian on this thread. The "Guest" business doesn't bother me at all. Although I personally despise those damnable banner ads, perhaps some such device might be appropriate at the mudcat homepage to draw attention to the membership option. As suggested above, some members may enter from other than their home computer and thus appear as a guest. It's nice (and courteous) when "Guest" posters do identify themselves, but it's hardly essential if they are making a relevant or sentient post. I think the content of their idea is more important than knowing their alias or nomme de plume.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Callie
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 07:42 PM

Also, it does not seem possible to send 'personal messages' to GUESTs, as I've just discovered. But this may be due to my lack of capability rather than the system's! Callie

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 09:45 PM

I'm completely lost with all this GUEST shit.

If you're not prepared to identify yourself and register properly - piss off!

It's like standing outside someones party, shouting through the window and expecting people to answer you.

Cheers

Bugsy

whoisusuallyveryeasygoingandlovesthefolkmusicculturebutgettingmoredisenchantedwiththemudcatbytheminute.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:06 PM

...and now its my turn to join you Bugsy, if you don't mind being seen with a moron. I'm about fed up with the whole thing myself.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:14 PM

Well if Bugsy doesn't mine being seen with a moron and Catspaw doesn't mind being seen with a flirt, then I would like to join you guys.

Disenchanted BB

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: bbelle
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:19 PM

I've always enjoyed being in the midst of good company, so I'll join Bugsy, 'spaw, and banjo bonnie ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Escamillo
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:24 PM

90% of the GUEST postings come from the same person, whose purpose is to force all of us to discuss exclusively musical matters. For example, he/she posts requests for lyrics by the dozen, thus pushing all other threads down, out of the 1-day list. When he/she runs out of songs to request, he/she refreshes 30 or 40 old unanswered requests. I think it's a kind of musical policeman (with due respect to policemen). However, this place is an island of intelligence and kindness in the net, and worth bearing this situations and much more.
Un abrazo, also for the GUEST - Andrés

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:37 PM

Andres, those have been my thoughts exactly.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:41 PM

Hey 'Spaw, BB, My darling Moonchild, Bugsy Boy.........can a grouchy, overworked, left wing, broken down union organizer/singer jump in with you miscreants?????? It looks like pretty good company to me. I only have a few minutes but I can't think of a better place to spend it.

Mick

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:48 PM

Anytime Ace...and answer your e-mail occasionally....just so I know you're alive!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: bbelle
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:53 PM

Mick, hoping the "others" won't mind if I speak for them, you're most welcome in our group, though I suppose we should be careful about referring to us as a group. Let me reassure anyone who bristles at the word "group" that we are not setting ourselves apart from the rest, just simply showing support for a thought. For those who think everyone should think the same, except, of course, as regarding music, this is not the Mudcat Cafe - Stepfordville ... everyone here gets to think independantly. Mick, I'm glad to hear from your old grouchy, overworked, leftwing, broken down union organizer/singer self ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Mbo
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:58 PM

I'm not disillusioned yet! I love this place to much for that to happen, no matter how many GUESTs play crazy games with our heads. I'm here to stay and never want to leave--ever!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Brendy
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:00 PM

Innocent question.
What exactly are you doing? Setting up an alternative Mudcat?
And if so, why?
Breandán

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:00 PM

Thanks for the feedback folks.

Just in case there's any misunderstanding about my initial intent. I was asking folks with only the appellation "GUEST" to just sign your name to your post...or ANY NAME for that matter. Just makes it a bit more personal if you want a response. I know that a lot of folks are cookie-less at the moment, and obviously I don't mean them.

Andres, (how's the weather down there?) One of the misconceptions here seems to be that GG is the only disenter on this forum. He is of course the long time master of the title "keeper of the flame", but I assure you that writing styles over a period of time produce as much evidence as fingerprints or DNA. Along with Quentin Crisp and Pete Seeger, one of my all-time literary heroes was a man named Auguste Dupin. He had some great little tricks that work well today. Problem is that pinpointing someone using "another name" may be entertaining detective work, but it ain't gonna help this forum flourish.

Rick

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:01 PM

Interesting theory, Andrés. I don't think it's the case, but maybe I'm wrong. I think the person who came in yesterday and posted all those requests is just somebody who went a little overboard. If you're new here, it's easy to forget to fill in the name box when you're posting a message, and then the "from" part of your message shows up as GUEST with a blank. Before Max added the "Guest" designation, all you got was the blank. (So, Rick, I don't think it has anything to do with Max's changes - the box for entering the sender's name is just like it used to be, but now it registers "guest" and not just a blank).
But no, I don't think all those threads yesterday came from somebody who was trying to play "folk police." A person with those interests wouldn't be asking for pop songs and songs that are included in Rise Up Singing. I think it's more likely an overenthusiastic kid with a new guitar, who's trying to gather chords for songs to play. At least, the person did what we like and asked for the songs separately, instead of all in one message in one thread.
-Joe Offer-

P.S. If you're having cookie problems, leave a message for me in the help forum. I'll look up your registration and get you straightened out.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:02 PM

I'm, here to stay too. I'm just getting so pissed off with all the associated shit that seems to be taking over so much of the threads.

It's really pissing me off!

Cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:02 PM

Especially the Anonymous "Guest" shit!

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: paddymac
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:19 PM

Ah, Bugsy, dear friend and valued commentator on mudcat miscellany, remember old Confucious saying: it is much better to be pissed off than pissed on. :>) Also old paddymac saying: the fuckers only win if you let 'em!

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Bugsy
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:20 PM

Thank you Paddymac, I now feel soothed.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:31 PM

I will remain a "Guest". I have worked in IT for a long time and after it took years to put decent security on mainframe computers, along comes Bill Gates and security goes out of the window. "Windows" means that folks can look in as well as out! I therefore allow NO cookies to be placed on my computer by any site. I am careful to download only from reputable sites and do so to a file which can be virus scanned before running. The internet has enabled far too many crooks, assholes and idiots with an agenda to get into our personal lives and it is as a defense against this intrusion that I do not care to reveal much about myself. Those who do so may take that risk at their own peril and I feel that Rick Fielding does us all a disservice by encouraging personal revelations. Not everyone who may access the mudcat may be benign.

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:31 PM

...and better to be pissed on than pissed through, 'cause that'd make you a pr.......well, you know.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: bbelle
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:36 PM

Brendy ... if your comment was made to me, I will ignore it, and suggest you reread my post. If you have questions as to what I meant, please address it to me via personal message... moonchild

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Escamillo
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:39 PM

Rick, I'm trying to throw out one of the dogs (not disturbing wife and two sons) in order to get a place in the bath tub. But they grunt (the dogs)- what can I do ?

To be duly registered, that Rick asked me: "Andres, (how's the weather down there?) "

Warm (30 C degrees at 1:30 AM) hugs - Andrés

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:42 PM

GuestAl, I think Rick was suggesting that if you are a Guest it would be helpful for communication sake to identify the Guest. This doesn't mean you have to have a Cookie.
Al the Guest, just like you posted, is very helpful for others who wish to respond to your particular posting.

BB

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:55 PM

Now be nice "A1" or is it "AL"? You have to take SOME chances in life. I've been a part of an international folk community for 30 years and I've never had a single maniac follow me home....although I've met a few accordion players that I wouldn't lend a lot of money to.

Rick (happily spreading disservices, like johnny did Appleseeds)

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 11:58 PM

Rick, you are stuttering again

Subject: RE: Getting fed up with 'guests'
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 12:12 AM

It's that tired single digit -- it starts shaking late at night...--known as Mudcat's Forefinger. Which is odd because as far as I know real Mudcats don't have forefingers.

A