BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 05:25 PM

The great thing about that timewarp site is you can go back and confirm that things were much the same as they are now three whole years ago.Just by clicking here (and then probably spending hours reading or rereading the threads. Feels different to read a thgread you kno wyou aren't going to contribute to. (Though you always could of course by reviving it here.)

One difference today is that there are probably a lot more people from this side of the ocean participating and getting together off the internet as well.

And there is probably a bit more of our music up on the net.

I think, even if it's a bumpy sort of ride sometimes, we are on course. For God Know's Where - but who better?

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 04:44 PM

them genies are very clever...and very literal. We got JUST what Fortunato wished for....we did NOT get a guarantee that all would be sweetness & light forever in Paradise...that, we must work for everyday, knowing it is always a moving target.

Some days I get up and add a grumpy Bill D to the mix, and post something I wish I'd said differently...and so, it seems, do others. But I can always find something useful and happy here....I wish everyone could concentrate on the good parts...but.....we'll just keep on keeping on.

(how about a contest to figure out how to fool a genie and "put all your begs in one askit"?)

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 10:29 AM

Yeah you are anna.........you're posting three times, but they were all "good".......(:<))

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: annamill
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 10:08 AM

I didn't know we had a Mudcat john??? ..and we can read messages on it?? (Sorry John. Just playing ;-)

Chance, beautiful!

(aren't I being good 'spaw ?)

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 09:30 AM

For a dissenting version of the truth, see the archives of Mudcat posted in the "Mudcat Time Warp" link, and go back to 1998.

A bit more "truthful" than Fortunato's rosy, cozy view.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Fortunato
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 09:28 AM

Glad you like it. Truth has a certain ring doesn't it? Chance

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Night Owl
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 01:52 AM

Bravo Fortunato!!! THANK YOU!! I sure would like to see that Paragraph on our front page here somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Melani
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 12:02 AM

Cool!

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 11:51 PM

Hats off to Fortunato!
I wish I'd said that.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 08:10 PM

Fotuneato-That is one of the best messages I have read on Mudcat.john

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: 53
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 08:09 PM

Maybe a Muddog?

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 08:05 PM

Well damn Chance!!!!! WELL DONE!!!! I love it....a great way to put it!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 07:55 PM

Beautiful, Fortunato.

It appears to me that the more that Mudcat has changed, the more it is the same. Just about the only reason, imo, that people think that it used to be so much better was that the BS threads weren't marked as such. I love it. Then and now.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 03:11 PM

Fortunato, I love it! Well put.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Fortunato
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 03:01 PM

So this cat Fortunato was sauntering along the board walk over by the sea shore and what does he spy but a bottle floating up on the beach. So he thumps down the steps, jogs over and picks up the bottle. The bottle has cork in it, see? So he pops the cork and out comes a genie in blue silk underwear and a turban.

"Dang", says Fortunato.

"You got one wish, Mr. Guitarpicker", says the geni.

"How'd you know...wait a damn minute, here, I thought it was three wishes!"

Don't you know there's a recession, Fortunato? Do you want the wish or not?"

"Yeah, ok. Say you know what I'd like?"

What am I, a tv psychic?

"What I'd like is a place where I could go, whenever I want, without having to move from my home or office, where I could always meet with my friends and talk about music, blues, and folk stuff and all. And guitars and banjos and everything. And people from all over the world would come there and share music and friendship and ideas and knowledge. Man. Wouldn't that be great? And it'd be free for everybody who was poor but those who could would help support it. And a community would form from totally diverse people who share the common bond of blues and folk music. "

"That's what I wish for", said Fortunato.

"You are a dreamer. Get real. How about nubile blonds, immortality and a billion bucks?"

"Nah, give me the place, man."

"Alright," says the geni.

Poof, you're there.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 03:06 PM

I know two things aboutbteh horse

and both of them are rather coarse

Actually I know thgree things, the thing being that they can in fact sing.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Amos
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 02:19 PM

Horses singing folk songs? They can't! They're too horse!

A

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 02:03 PM

If it is still about the nature and the singing of folksongs, the creature that it will elvove in to, will most probably be a horse? It's the only thing qualified.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 09:10 AM

The Last Roar

The last roar
Of the Dinosaur
As he marches to extinction
You say "what went wrong"?
But to survive for so long
Must be, a mark of distinction

For time had flown
And the world he'd known
The land and all the oceans
Where once he would fit
He now must admit
He was only, 'going through the motions'

Just running to stand still
'Over the hill'
He thinks he'll get there, but never will

Ready to 'give up the ghost'
Sound the 'last post'
Where are your friends, when you need them the most?

Put to the test
He was losing interest
But still going through, 'the usual channels'
He had to curse
When they got there first
"Damn, those upstart mammals"

For they had begun
To suckle their young
He prefers, to keep his distance
But it's efficient
And quite sufficient
To threaten, his existence

Just running to stand still
'Over the hill'
He thinks he'll get there, but never will

Ready to 'give up the ghost'
Sound the 'last post'
Where are your friends, when you need them the most?

Roger Gall.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: jeffp
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 04:17 PM

Beautifully stated, Shambles. When you gather a large number of creative people together, creativity is going to happen. This creativity cannot be stopped, and attempts to stop them will meet with dismal failure. Trying to channel this creativity will probably be only partially successful. I do appreciate those who step in and remind us that there is a primary focus here. They help keep things from degenerating into absolute anarchy.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the whole range of Catters are valuable here and the combination makes for one of the most incredible communities I've ever been priviledged to be a part of.

jeffp

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Mbo
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 03:57 PM

Yes Shamb! And thanks for the Beatles & Oasis references! --Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 03:45 PM

The best thing about this place, is also the thing that gives us a bumpy ride It, is evolving all the time. Mudcatter's are also learning how to cope and adapt with it. 'Catter's' tend to like the place to be exactly how it was when they were first attracted and made to feel comfortable here. We all, to some extent, quite naturally want to try to keep it that way. It is those that would fight the evolutionary process the most, and the reaction to those attempts that cause most of the (avoidable) unpleasantness.

'The old curmudgeons' found a sanctuary here and I came a little later and I too liked the forum as it was then. This is the period in Mudcat History that will be known as Mudcat B.C. or Before (the) Condom (thread).

It was not a 'golden age', for the folk had already overtaken the blues. It is to Max's credit that he just 'rolled with it' and set the very best example to us all.

I think that the forum it is 'getting better all the time' (to steal the words from an old folksong), with every new poster that feels welcome to stay and ask ,"what is folk?

I did make the mistake of trying to keep the place the same as I initially found it and have some bruises to show for it. It is part of the learning process and this is all pretty new. I now just enjoy what I enjoy and pretty much leave others to enjoy what they enjoy. If, I were to consider that someone is inhibiting posters in any way, I may be tempted to contact them personally but trying to impose our model of the forum, on others publicly, is counter productive. Just………………….'Roll With It'

Yes some of the names you see as regular posters on the older threads are not here now but the remarkable thing to me is how many of them are still here (or still lurking) and how many good new ones are being gathered on the way.

It is the example set that will eventually determine 'the nature of the beast' and it is yet, a 'baby'.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 11:50 AM

and the last lines to the joke as I heard it...

"well, it didn't ALL grow in the firms time"

"weeel, I'm not goona have it ALL cut off"

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 11:41 AM

Looking at some of the contributors to the old threads that have been revived recently, it's clear how much the Mudcat is a shifting population. People who were posting before I joined are no longer here, some who started posting in the last couple of years have gone, lots of newbies have come on board. Mudcat will continue to change as people drop off or join for whatever reason. If anyone feels the need to steer it in a particular direction they can stay and post. [Gawd, Roger, wot no jokes? OK then:
Aynok sees Ayli walking out of the factory: "Weer yo a-gooin'?"
"I'm a-gooin' ter get me 'air cut"
Wot, in the firm's time?"
"Well it grew in the firm's time, dain't it?"
(apply to Steve Parkes for translations!)]
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Amos
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 04:38 PM

My badge says "Normally DIfferent". Norms (sociological ones) are insidious creatures invented by the bitter-hearted who think it would be really cool if they could make these whacky, dynamic and passionate humans act as predictably as falling masses or accelerating ball bearings or chemical sublimations. It isn't going to happen, not now, not ever, because there isn't any law of gravity where we come from and trying to pretend there is is not only bitter-minded, but heart-broken and tragically delusory. Rant off...

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Caitrin
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 04:17 PM

Normal? Oh my. Wouldn't know it if it bit me on the nose.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Penny S.
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 03:08 PM

Conditionally Normal

Possibly

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 03:00 PM

Well I'm outta' here on this one..............I have no idea what normal is. Is there a badge which says "Normalcy Impaired?"

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:40 PM

Well put Amos mate... Yours,Aye.Dave

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:07 PM

Mine: Just Act Normal

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:06 PM

lordy, I think I need a badge that says.."Terminally Normal"

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Amos
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:01 PM

bbc's remarks, make me feel guilty, as I guess they were intended, because like many I wander from honoring the digital traditions of singers past into rollicking around in creativity Present.

Just for the record, I do not see any discontinuity here; instead, I feel that the flippant and irreverent spirit of folkies back through time, who had enough humor about events to come up with scansion and rhyme to commemorate them, is simply extended by the gibes and folderol of the frivolous side of the Mudcat. I grant you this is not scholarly, but I do not believe most folk songs were generated in a spirit of studious rectitude, but rather one of resilience and resurgence, irreverent boyancy and an impulse to outgrow the griefs of history.

A

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:42 PM

Badges next to names reminds me of some friends at a centre for people with learning disabilities, wherer there was a badge-making machine. Made a batch of badges marked:

Marginally Normal
Mildly Normal
Moderately Normal<>B Severely Normal
Profoundly Normal

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:02 PM

Oooo, Kevin, will you be our guru?? Huh, Huh? I love it: McGuru!!

Speaking of the little badges next to our names, reminds me of the senior citizen greeters Walmart et al employ. "Hello, welcome to the Mudcat. Here's where you will find...."

katlaughing

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 07:30 PM

"If you build it, they will come."

What generally happens with communities is that at some point they fragment, and a bunch of people go off and do something similar but marginally different somewhere else, so I imagine that'll happen some time. Not such a bad thing - that's why there are people living all over the planet.

The other thing that will happen is more sophistictated technology, and virtual reality and all that kind of stuff. And it won't be as much fun, and everyinbe will say it's not like the good old days.

Except that somewhere there's going to be a bunch of us still doing it this way. The same way you find us sitting in pubs and bars getting them to turn off the canned music so we can play the old stuff that we just made up this week.

Thinking about what kat wrote: It seems there are certain phases we go through as evolvoing Mudcatters which include some things in common with one another based on the length of time we've been here. Like the cycles of life, some general terms might be the Honeymoon, the Ardent Poster/Helper, the Pick Your Poison, the Elder WiseOne, and/or the Jaded Oldster.

Maybe we should get letters awarded after our names to mark the grades we've reached. Though I think it's more complicated - we aren't all going along the same path, but whatever path we follow has a series of stages we pass through. (Hmmm. That sounds like McGrath trying to be McGuru. But I'll leave it anyway, because it sounds quite neat, and I think it's probably true enough.)

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Osmium
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 06:24 PM

The wheel of life goes round and round and sometimes returns to whence it came; If it should be that Mudcat shall cease then so it will be
personally I doub't it whils't no-one tries to force the thing into any particular direction - there maybe times when every thread appears to be fatuous in the extreme but then there are the few that are not. And for those few who is to judge how far the ramifications of honest and benign opinion, however different, will spread. If it brings tolerence and respect it (Mudcat) will not die.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 06:23 PM

yeah, 'spaw...that's about what I wanted to say..*grin*...how come I can't say it simply like that?

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 05:21 PM

Was I naive? I thought I expressed doubt. And if I can't get that across, what price a group mind?

Penny S.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Banjer
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 05:13 AM

Well thank you once again, Mr 'Spaw....I am honored that you agree with me on this matter. I am also deeply moved (the e-lax finally worked!) that you would have me join the Steering Committee Unifying Mudcat By Analyzing Gross Stupidity. The suggestion of 'taking a few days off and clearing my mind' is well received but uneccesary as like most of the other folks on the steering committee I do not have a mind to clear! Thanks again for the huge honor bestowed upon me....Banjer, General (4 star) F***Up, IA (with cluster)

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 11:04 PM

Well Banj, once again you have proven yourself deserving of the coveted 4 star rank of General F****P. The very fact that I agree with you should bear witness to the honor and I suggest you take a few days off and clear your mind so you can join the "Steering Committee Unifying Mudcat By Analyzing Gross Stupidity."

Bill, I understand your point and agree that this is a folk and blues site.......and I can readily see how a lot of other stuff can trample the turf. Its great to have folks with knowledge of other forms to reference to, but Schubert and Snoop Doggy aren't the focus, just rounding out sidelights......Is that about what you mean???

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:04 PM

Max posted in a another thread.."this place is what YOU make it...my job is just to make it happen.." a wise man, Max

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Banjer
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 07:42 PM

All this reminds me of a song, remember the words....

QUE SERA, SERA, SERA, WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE, THE FUTURE'S NOT OURS TO SEE, QUE SERA, SERA....?

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 04:32 PM

and, you know, those of us with 'HearMe' and such could even talk 'live' about some of these issues and perhaps avoid some of the mis-understandings that these posting can lead to....just a thought

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 02:07 PM

Mbo,,,see my last post in the 'Guilty Pleasures' thread for an attempt to express to Peg a different viewpoint. I KNOW you have wide, eclectic musical tastes...and I really am NOT knocking that, no matter what some teasing remarks may sound like...*smile*...you may choose to agree, disagree..or simply ignore, but please try to understand why I and others feel that way, as I try to understand and make allowances for your need to express your self in a wide variety of ways...This IS a great place, and we need to find ways to gently get along....

Bill...old codger, reprobate, and certified curmudgeon...

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Mbo
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:14 AM

I'd certainly like to think of Mudcat as the Borg...though not so creepy and evil. You know their catchline "Your individuality will be added to our own"? That's how I like to think of The 'Cat. A large collective of people--though we are certainly not soulless drones--who come together in our quest for musical knowledge, with each member adding his or her own thoughts, feelings, likes, dislikes, and experiences to the overall Mudcat consciousness, so that we all may benefit from them. Yes even if it has to do with "morose rock song lyrics" or sticky political and philosophical issues. Even huge discourses on copyrights, which really has to do with all music, and not just "folk/blues". Limiting one's self to only one frame of mind leads to stagnation. I know most of the Catters are brought here for the folk/blues stuff, and I'm sorry if some are offended by my choice to present other types of music...I only want people to learn from my musical tastes, just as I have learned from other member's tastes. So--as most of you probably won't understand--Queen says "The time will come, then you will see how we can all be friends..."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: GUEST,The Beanster
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 01:31 AM

Perhaps, it's the Mudcat/Borg.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: Max
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 01:09 AM

Gargoyle, that is really out of character for you. I question here whether that really you. Are you the same gargoyle that preaches, no, bitches and moans about my supposed efforts to shape this community? Or are you simply showing your argumentative and contradictory self with this banter? Your need for conflict no doubt. Is it my job to even try to establish the future of The Mudcat? Could or should any one person do that? What are you actually asking for here?

The Mudcat is what you make it. My only job is to make it happen.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: ddw
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 12:56 AM

Seems to me that if man ever overcame his inhumanity to man, stopped killing each other and that brought on the Messiah, that would probably piss SOMEBODY off enough for him to thy to kill the Messiah — and probably anybody else who believed he was the Messiah.

Just a passing observation....

david

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 11:44 PM

Alas, sweet naive Penny S., man's inhumanity to his fellow man, can ONLY be cured on a level of genetic manipulation.

Perhaps when we stop trying to kill each other and have renounced all violence on a global scale....

The Messiah will come, and, so will the aliens.

Subject: RE: BS: The evolving Mudcat?What will it become?
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 11:30 PM

Notice....

Mr. MAX.....doesn't have a clue.....

"Without a vision....a nation will perish...."