Why are most mudcatters human?

Subject: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:20 PM

As long as we're trying to find out why most mudcatters are white and heterosexual, this is obviously a question worth asking, don't you think? I mean, it's really quite surprising that we don't have a solid contingent of felines, considering we are mudCATTERS, after all. Then too, my dog howls every time I play the harmonica. Why isn't he a mudcatter? Maybe if we changed the name to the "Muddog Cafe"... We don't have any Martians either. By golly, I think it's time we got to the bottom of this. Without delay.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:26 PM

Excuse me, Little Hawk (hawk?!), but how dare you assume that I'm a human? On another thread yesterday, they wanted to skin me. Today, I don't even exist... Racism! ;)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:32 PM

These humans should go back where they came from.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:34 PM

Dear Lepus, I assume nothing. Are you a rodent of some kind? If so, I would like to arrange a meeting ASAP.

Your friend,

Little Hawk

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: bbc
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:42 PM

From the trend in recent thread titles, I think a more appropriate question would be, "*Are* most mudcatters human?" And, if so, why aren't they using the gray matter they've been given? Unfortunately, these seem to be rhetorical questions. Those who need to hear don't hear or don't care. As a wise man said (and I paraphrase), "Let it go; read a good book."

bbc--gave up--reading less & posting still less

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:49 PM

To quote Buffy Sainte-Marie..."laughter is the grease of growth, support your local clown"

I don't know about you, but I'm thoroughly enjoying myself here.

Besides, there is a certain satirical humour and a point being made in asking the question "Why are most mudcatters human?" Do you not get it? Think it over.

Little Hawk

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:50 PM

Rodent?! No, I'm a lagomorph. I think you owe me an apolgy for even thinking that I might be related to those lowly testes-behind-the-penis beasts! I guess you can apologise at this meeting you talked about, Little Hawk. Hey, waiiiit a minute...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:57 PM

Hey Lepus, my encyclopedia indicates that lagomorphs are quite closely related to rodents. European zoologists in fact do classify lagomorphs as rodents, while North American zoologists do not. In other words, it's a matter of opinion. Interesting... I will accept your assertion that you are not a rodent. You are clearly some kind of rabbit. Sounds good to me. I am well acquainted with rabbits. We really must get together some time...

Cheers,

Little Hawk

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 04:59 PM

what I thought of doing was to go out, come in under an assumed name, and post an angry reply about 'anti-alienism' in Klingon script....but it would likely fall flat. For those who LIKE that sort of joke, consider it done.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 05:05 PM

Oh, my ~~ I think we have reached the bottom of the barrel. Consider me on semi-permanent vacation from Mudcat. I'll see you in August, September, whenever all these really worthless threads abate. If they don't . . .

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 05:06 PM

Bill D, you are onto something there. Anti-alienism is a big problem for not only Klingons, but even Canadians (among the world's most moderate and harmless people, on the whole). I was once turned away from the US border by some extremely nasty border officials (probably because I had long hair). I can only imagine what a Klingon must go through! Canada, by the way, has some very nasty border officials as well...it seems to go with the job. Any musicians out there will probably concur with me on this.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 05:08 PM

Well, it's STILL a seperate order in the USA. Hey, all mudcatters are American, right? Muaha...

Hey, what are those furry pellets you keep coughing up, LH?

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 05:19 PM

Hey Lepus, always good to hear from a lagomorph such as yourself. We seem to be driving the more "serious-minded" chatters to distraction for some reason. I meet people like this in the folk music field now and then. They tend to be rather stuffy and self-important, I find, but I am not without flaws myself. They generally do not care for Bob Dylan...or for anyone else who has achieved a really notable measure of success. Could it be just a touch of envy at work here? Or is it a certain form of elitism? Or both? Maybe they are just feeling a little insecure. Ah well... The furry pellets? I find that subject a little embarrassing. Let's not go there.

Cheers,

LH

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Alimouse
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 07:36 PM

Lepus Rex You have it a bit wrong not all mudcatters are American there are Brits too. I'll bet theres quite a few of us.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 07:45 PM

Oh... I give up. hehe.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 07:58 PM

"I think we have reached the bottom of the barrel" - I wouldn't bet on it.

"Brits"? There are people from England and Scotland and Wales and all parts of Ireland, true enough. But "Brits" -I reckon that word is just insulting rhyming slang...

As for the question in the thread title - I think there are a few semi-rational computers posting to the Mudcat along with the humans. You can spot them because they don't have names, just come in as GUEST...

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: bbelle
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 08:08 PM

Don't you guys get it? They're communicating with each other via flamespeak. Same trolls ... different names ... and they "joined" so people will think they're actually sincere. Not everyone who comes in as GUEST or with the "guest" description before their name, is a troll. It's headgames they are playing ... pure and simple ...

Don't succumb ...

moonchild

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 09:01 PM

Who and what is a 'troll'? Besides the original meaning, of course. Just curious:)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 09:04 PM

Little Hawk, I would bet

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 10:13 PM

Okay moonchild, I have seen enough and I must respond. I am Little Hawk, also known as George Coventry (my real name). I am no troll. I am a folksinger, and am very seriously interested in folk music in just about every respect you could care to mention. I originally logged on looking for some Spanish lyrics to a well-known folksong (We Shall Not Be Moved, aka No Nos Moveran), and got some help from Joe Offer on that. So far so good. See our thread about No Nos Moveran. I then started looking around at the site (my first time on it)and noticed the following threads..."Why are most mudcatters heterosexual?", "Why are most mudcatters white?", "Why aren't most mudcatters musicians?" and so on. That is the approximate wording of those threads, it may not be exactly right, but it's close. Take a look. I then investigated said threads, to some extent. I couldn't help but wonder why anyone would ask such questions in the first place....had they been bitten by the "political correctness" bug...or were they just genuinely wondering...or what? I responded to those threads, not to play mindgames, but simply to offer my own honest reaction. My feeling was that it all deserved a certain satirical response, again not to play a mindgame with anyone, but to stimulate some serious thought about the matter. Accordingly, I launched a thread asking the question "Why are most mudcatters human?". My point is, it makes about as much sense to worry about that as it does to worry about how many blacks, whites, Native Americans, lesbians, gays or whatever are contained in a given group of people. It doesn't matter. All humanity is of one spirit. In fact, all creation is of one spirit. The cultural notions that divide us are arbitrary. To realize this is to seek peace and unity...unity in diversity. My sense of humour is not a mindgame, it is an effort to stimulate serious thought, while doing it in an entirely harmless way. "Flamespeak"? "Trolls"? I never even heard of those terms with regard to computer stuff until today. My experience of chat rooms has been almost nil in the past. I think I know what those words "troll" and "flamespeak" mean, however. I am guilty of neither practice. I am a folksinger. If you ever get a chance to listen to my songs you will find that some of them are quite satirical as well, and they all have a meaningful point of some kind.

As I am very inexperienced regarding both chatrooms and Mudcat Cafe I am learning as I go along. I appeared as GUEST the first couple of times because I hadn't joined yet, having just discovered the site, and not knowing how it worked yet. I then did join, not to fool somebody into thinking I am sincere (I am in fact absolutely sincere), but because it looks like a place I would like to visit frequently, being a folksinger. That pretty well covers it.

Other than that, humour is its own justification, and is as much at home in the arena of folk music as it is anywhere else...and humour can be very enlightening. If you sing a lot of very serious social comment songs (as I do) you will find that tempering your performance with humour gets the point across far better than burying people under an endless barrage of heavy messages. Laughter releases the audience's tension and opens them up to creative thought, and it shows them that the performer is human, not just someone with a big serious ax to grind.

Regards,

Little Hawk (George Coventry)

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 10:34 PM

Can my pet tortoise join?

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 10:37 PM

Of course it can.

Maybe it could mate with Cleigh O'Possum

What about it Spaw?

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: bbelle
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 10:47 PM

Little Hawk ... please accept my apology. But, in my own defense, take a look around and you will see why you were mistaken for a troll. These individuals have caused a fair amount of paranoia, and I am no exception, having been stalked into my personal space by a troll.

The mudcat has always welcomed anyone who wanted to join and bring their own particular niche of knowledge, and you are no exception. This is a community and, because of different issues and happenings, we tend to be somewhat protective. I hope you will feel that way after a while.

moonchild

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 10:51 PM

Hate to ask again, but what IS a troll?

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 10:51 PM

Hi moonchild, thanks for responding. Yeah, I can see your point. I'm so inexperienced at this that I didn't realize how it might be taken. Like I said in some of my other messages, I'll be out of town for a bit, but I look forward to future visits. Check out my info about Don's Coffeehouse at the end of the Big Bad John string.

Regards,

Little Hawk (George Coventry)

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:00 PM

George (Little Hawk), welcome to the Mudcat. We are glad you are here. I hope you have read the Permathread as it contains a lot of information that you will find useful. Please post and contribute and, once again, thanks for joining us.

Big Mick

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:03 PM

Welcome to the 'Cat George the Hawk......We're just going thru one of our dumb phases right now. Overall, this is a very knowledgable and fun community and I think you'll enjoy yourself here. Thereare lots of lyrics in the DT, links to others, a searchable forum, Mudcat Radio at 7PM Eastern on Wednesday, song sessions in HearMe, pictures of some at the Resource site (drop down menu above) and a lot of other things......take some time on your part to get to know us too. Search some old threads and read some of the older stuff to get a general idea of the "lay of the land." Anyway we can help, just say so. Ontario in general and Toronto specifically is a hotbed of 'Catters so you're far from alone. In any case, welcome. Read the teal colored FAQ thread to answer some other procedural questions (like why your email link didn't turn blue) and other good info. Skip some of the recent flaming crap...it happens, but there are plenty of great topics, music and otherwise.

Welcome.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Gary T
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:08 PM

Lepus, a "troll" is one who engages in trolling (as opposed to the mythological creature of the same name). Trolling on the internet is derived, I believed, from trolling as a fishing technique, wherein one casts one's hook/bait into the water from a (slow) moving boat. The idea, of course, is that said troll will throw out a provocative comment (the lure) in the hopes that one or more people (the fish) will rise to the bait and react. Typically it is done in such a way as to generate emotional responses, which are entertainment for the troll, akin to fireworks.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:13 PM

Ah, so that's what "troll" means...neat...I was picturing the mythological creature, so I didn't quite understand what it meant. Now I have got to turn this machine off and practive some songs, by gosh, before the night is totally gone. Bye-bye.

Little Hawk (George Coventry)

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:28 PM

Enjoying the islands, then, Little Hawk?

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:35 PM

Thank you, Gary. So I'm a fish! :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Gary T
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:37 PM

Fish, rabbit, whatever--we'll accept you as you are.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: IvanB
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:43 PM

Funny, I always thought the term 'troll' WAS derived from the mythological creature, in the sense of one who lives in a dark place and causes mischief whenever possible.

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: CamiSu
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:44 PM

Not only are most of us human, but (I think) most of us have a fairly well developed sense of humor. About the only thing one can say about all of us is that we're interested in being Mudcatters--even though it can be frustrating to have questions that go unresponded to. (I know. Poor grammar. My brain is mush right now.) So I will ask again. So many of you seem to know each other off line as well. How does one go about finding Mudcats in one's home area? (North of Hanover, NH for me)

Cami Su

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:46 PM

"Ils sont fous, ces humains." (Obelix)

:-D

Joerg

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: Gary T
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:56 PM

Cami Su, I would start a thread with a title like "Any Mudcatters North of Hanover, NH?". All normal cautions on meeting strangers would apply, but keep in mind you can send private (not here in the forum) messages to fellow members of Mudcat (not "Guests").

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Jul 00 - 12:13 AM

Well Camisu, I don't mean to lump all of New England together but........

The Patons are in Connecticut,as are Barb Shaw, Vixen and dwditty. Jeri,Barry Finn,and Animaterra are in NH, markf and Judy Predmore are in Mass. Kendall Morse is in Maine. There are others I'm leaving out I know, but that's off the top. Also check the Mudcat Resources site under the quick links and click on "Locator." Its not complete but its a start.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: CamiSu
Date: 16 Jul 00 - 12:49 AM

Thanks Spaw, I actually did know where Sandy, Caroline, and Kendall were....kindof. And I'd like to know why Judy's name is familiar... fuzzy brain here. I've been stage manager at the Story Stage for Clearwater's Hudson River Revival for years so that may be where I've heard some names. Wavestar is in this area, as well, when she isn't in Scotland at school. Actually last time I looked, she was in the kitchen, truly astonishing as she is rarely home at this time of night. I'd love to find others to sing with, so if anyone's interested in this area, holler. I know, thread creep, and I will try a new thread later.

Thanks!

Cami Su

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: GUEST,junebug
Date: 16 Jul 00 - 01:21 AM

Perhaps it's time we added cetacean songs to the database? I guess you could count "Farewell to Tarwaithee" (or at least, Judy Collins' version)

Subject: RE: Why are most mudcatters human?
From: The Shambles
Date: 16 Jul 00 - 05:02 AM

What is it with the world?