BS: Cultivating Pustules

Subject: Cultivating Pustules
From: GUEST,The Yank
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 09:51 PM

I cannot understand the spirit of masochism that seems to compel certain individuals to respond to postings by chancres of the TTCF type. You feed the fire & its gonna flame, folks!

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 10:11 PM

Amen Yank.

Rick (the agnostic)

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 01:06 AM

Yes they itch, we scratch 'em.... And they just get worse.

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 01:16 AM

I'm not experiencing it that way at all!

~Susan~

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 09:55 AM

I'm on the fence about this issue butI would like to point out some things.

I find it kind of refreshing in a way. Older members are getting their knickers in more of a twist because they're remembering worse flames from gargoyle but, honestly, TTCM and Another Conscience haven't actually been particularly vicious. They have stated an unpopular view about the Mudcat fairly clearly and are sticking around to argue their points.

No, its not pleasant to have somebody say "I want the Mudcat to be like THIS instead of like THAT" when you want the Mudcat to stay the way it is, but what are those who aren't happy with the way things are at the moment to do? Leave? Bear it in silence? Or run the risk that when they say something people will react the way that they have by calling their comments "Flames" and "trolls"?

Many people on this forum discuss things and don't reveal their identities, simple anonymity is not an indicator of a flame. (There is also a sense of humour mingled with the arrogance about somebody calling themselves The True Conscience of Mudcat, but few seem to see it.)

Certainly TTCM's methods are not conciliatory but perhaps he or she is pissed off! Others on this forum have been publicly pissed off and ranted and lashed out at times, generally people have reacted cautiously and politely and addressed the concerns. With this issue more people seem to be getting dismissive and are trying to immediately brush it off. Yes it is a debate that rages as periodically as arguments about the meaning of folk but that doesn't make it any less important to the people involved, or for those who feel that they are not heard or attended to. Women's Lib is an old argument too but the age of the argument doesn't affect the fact that women still get paid less than men do, that equity and equality have not been achieved. The reactions to TTCM seem to indicate as clearly as TTCM suggests him/herself that there is a hierarchy or clique at work and that the status quo does not like to be challenged. This is one topic which is not allowed and those who post frequently and who have an affection for the Mudcat as it is are pulling out all the stops in their efforts to crush it rather than engage in it seriously.

Sophocleese

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: JedMarum
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 10:27 AM

I've been away for a few days ... obviously I've been missing some stuff; wassup?

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 10:46 AM

Thing that I like about Mudcat is the positive tolerant approach and the positive tolerant people that are attracted. Even the youngest are ADULT in their consideration for others. Those that find this to be a problem are quite welcome to find a place that is to their liking.

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: The Beanster
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 11:30 AM

Guest Sophocleese, I'm not an old member but a newbie and would just like to make one, short point. The way to address any grievance one has with this forum is to do it in the civil manner which you just employed. I, for one, do not take seriously a singular sole who pompously refers to him/herself as "we" and takes random sniper shots at people here. It's undeserving of respect or response.

Aside from that, people generally, don't like change. It's one thing to lament and discuss the evolution that occurs in any situation in a mature, non-aggressive way but it's another thing to attack blindly out of fear, frustration or anger. It's similar to an adolescent's "acting out" behavior, but adolescents have a good excuse since they lack the insight and adult perspective to address their problems in a mature way. There is no excuse for adults in an arrested state of emotional development to act out in this selfish, inappropriate way. (An adult who is p...d off tells you so and explains why. A child who is p...d off will sneak up on his little brother and smack him in the face).

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: Bud Savoie
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 09:59 PM

I read the title and I thought that some Mudcatters were encouraging zits. As I can remember from my adolescent days, the little buggers need no encouragement. Maybe the "pustules" in question don't either.

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 10:38 PM

I would like to see more music threads.
So I read the music threads that are available and I start some other music threads myself.
If I focus more time and energy I spend on the Mudcat in the music topics, then I can say I have contributed as best I could to see more music topics thrive.
My feelings about this place have change somewhat. Before I was just thrilled to find this folk community and I loved all aspects of this forum. I still do to a certain extent. I have met wonderful people here and built some close friendships.
But as I realize how much I do want to become a better musician, I am beginning to appreciate the music threads on a level I never could before when I was an itsy bitsy little neophyte.
If the music threads and the knowledgable people who contribute to them are that important to me, than I have to do my best to participate in making that aspect of the Mudcat prosper.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: Duane D.
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 10:42 PM

I take it all with a grain of salt....Some folks here remind me of a painful rectal itch, but that doesn't bother me. If things get totally out of control, I'll just pick up what few marbles I have left and go home...and lurk...

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: Caitrin
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 12:37 AM

Very well said, Bonnie.

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: ceitagh
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 12:55 AM

I gotta say (tho i wasn't planning to post on this topic, but what the heck!)......Sophocleese, I can certainly see where you're coming from, and I've read some of your objections to where the Mudcat is now. You were polite and concise. Your conduct generally backs up what you say...you post to music threads, and rarely show up on the BS threads, which is fine. You do not insult particular members (at least that i've seen), you do not post repeatedly on the same topic without at least trying to say something new, you so not arrogantly refer to yourself as 'we', or try to stir up muck by twisting a thread to your own purpose. I can respect that.

I cannot however respect TTCM. However hard I try. Praise has much more patience than I do, in her interactions. I just become angry reading what TTCM writes. Why? Not because I have bad memories of Garg, 'cause I don't. Not 'cause I'm scared of change (tho I think it would be a shame if the forum became facts only....for one thing, there are only so many questions in the world, and eventually all threads would be only 2 entries long...one for the question, one for the thread/FAQ/DT reference).
No, I become angry at TTCM because his/her posts don't conform to what I've come to expect from the Mudcat. The reactions to TTCM's posts are....a variety of reactions, one or two immediatly hostile, the majority considerate and extremely patient, and another few flippant or TTCM-inspired. I am amazed at how calm several of the attacked 'catters have stayed, Praise in particular, tho there are others who are notably placid.
That is the reason I will be staying around. Not because of Tradition, or BS, or any of those things. But because despite a few efforts, the 'cat has not descended into all out flame war, and the thought and consideration remains. I am sorry if some 'catters have left due to change in the 'cat. I've not seen the old 'cat, i don't know what it was like. But I am the new 'cat, in a way, and i should hope that I and other newcomers could feel welcome in a forum that allows for free exchange of ideas....and tunes and knowledge. Not ignorance.

Pax!
Kate

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 04:52 AM

Kate, you are indeed wise beyond your years. Thanks for the clear and concise comments.

Subject: RE: BS: Cultivating Pustules
From: JedMarum
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 11:20 AM

maybe if we can't just ignore the nasty comments from the trolls, a simple IGNORE button added to the screen would allow Mudcatters to automatically ignore the Trolls and flamers ... but maybe this has been suggested. Actually, I guess I've been gone so much that I've missed it. I can teel from this and other threads that a good bit of nastiness has occured - but I haven't seen it yet. That's kinda funny, because I saw very little of the Gargoyle irritation, except for the reaction to it.