MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR

Subject: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Katcina
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 09:09 AM

I want to give my thanks to both Nathan for Mudcat Tavern and Nynia for Mudcat Snug Bar. I have enjoyed both and having both an open and a locked room should satisfy the desires of all Mudcatters. Should you be unable to find or enter either of these rooms please feel free to contact either of them for more information. It has been posted here in the forum but the threads tend to become lost if not posted to regularly. Also, thanks to Sandy and the volunteer concert singers for our Thursday evening concerets. Please remember to support and attend our Mudcat Concerts on Thursday evenings. The last one with Ivan singing was great even though he had some ISP problens. His singing well made up for the technical problems. Thanks to all of you who have made Mudcatting such an enjoyable experience for me and many others.

Katcina

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: carolee
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 10:26 AM

I don't understand any of this. What tavern? Locked rooms? Concerts? I am a new comer

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:01 AM

Carolee....It's a service called Paltalk and when loaded you can access a list of rooms. With a Microphone and speakers connected to your computer you can talk / sing / play in the various rooms. Mudcat has three...One for concerts...one open for just dropping and and singing or listening and one for a more cloistered atmosphere. I like them all and all have their qualities and My thanks too to the people who organise and run them.

Paltalk can be found at www.paltalk.com (sorry no clicky...no clicky skills)

Passwords are required for two of the rooms and if you refresh this thread and ask someone , I am sure , will supply them.

Hope this helps....

Spot.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Abby Sale
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:27 AM

I thoroughly agree with KatC that both were jus' fine. And that Nathan & Nynia did extremely All one would hope for. But I do strongly object to the two-room notion. I have to choose which room to be in and clearly I want to be in both. It may be that one might choose based on the actual idea of the thing - do I want to be in an open or closed room? But in reality, one has to mostly choose where the singing's best. And it seems it's best in both places.

I think one can largely Ignore harassers (although I admit I've never had the opportunity to enjoy a harasser) and the admin can always red-dot (turn off) an abuser. The single jerk I've heard sang a few lines with one "naughty" word and ran away. Frankly, I'd like to have heard the rest of the song!

Really, unless the group becomes too large or needs to specialize in types of music, I don't see the advantage in more than one room.

Go open or go closed. Please.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:35 AM

I agree with Abby two rooms are divisive. I prefer open and those that prefer closed exclude people I enjoy who are not Mudcatters. We dont appear to have a concensus but can try both. I will rarely open the closed one anyway. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: John Routledge
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:58 AM

I can see the initial logic in three rooms and hope the experiment continues. At some time however I feel that a decision as to two or three rooms should be made dependant on experience. Geordie Broon

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:59 AM

I enjoyed the 'locked' room last night- the benefits of feeling a part of the mudcat community were obvious. I like to make music with my friends from the mudcat, rather than lots of strangers who drop in and out...

I know there are differences of opinion on the subject, but with the easily remembered password (dt) the locked room is readily available to any mudcatters- another benefit of membership?

Give it a try- hope to see lots of new folks pulling up a comfy chair and making music together.

Noreen

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: IvanB
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 12:26 PM

I tend to agree that two rooms running simultaneously are superfluous. I can see the merits of both points of view, but maybe we should set up some sort of schedule so only one room is open at any one time (I'm not including the concert room in this equation). I have to believe that having a 'locked' room running alongside an 'open' one is going to cause divisiveness and frayed tempers. That's nothing but human nature. And, like Abby, I surely would want to be in both and resent having to make the choice.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Amergin
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 12:34 PM

What about alternating days? One day have the open room, the next the closed room, then the open one again....and so on....

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 12:41 PM

I agree with Amergin.

If there are people who want BOTH options, we should work toward creative solutions that achieve consensus, not settle for a majority vote. If all things Mudcat were decided by majority vote, it would be a far different place. Persisting to consensus builds community, opens minds to new approaches, and reflects how human beings actually think when the atmosphere is safe enough-- which is to keep problem-solving till solutions fit right for the whole group.

Democracy is a fine thing. But when consensus can be achieved, it's better.

~Susan

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Banjer
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 01:52 PM

I don't usually have much time to spend in either room, but the every other day idea sounds real nice. That way we could enjoy both, not be forced into making a decision!

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: MMario
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 02:14 PM

I can see the benefit of the "locked" private room for some things. I doubt if I would have had the courage to sing in hearme the first time if it had been wide open to the public. It was tough enogh singing to people I know. An the other hand, I like the openness of the public room and the fact that we meet new people and hear different people we might not get a chance to if it was only "us"

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 02:45 PM

I think we should let it breathe for a while and see what happens. Talking of letting it breathe..Is the new room smoking or non smoking ;-)

(Naughty) Spot.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 03:00 PM

I'm all in favour of letting things breathe, Spot- even dogs who pant at my feet... The room is definitely non-smoking for dogs.

Noreen

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 03:03 PM

Me, too, Noreen.

Good idea to alternate. Also, the closed one is no secret to non-Mudcatters who may come in here and see the password OR ask just ask as they used to have to do for HearMe.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 03:59 PM

Another benefit from alternating each night is that after a week it won't be on the same night so anyone who enjoys a closed room but can only make Fridays for example will be able to visit the room of their choice at least once a fortnight. I am happy with either set up but do think its a shame to miss out on the droppers in who on occasions have ended up as members. They were unaware of the mudcat site until then so would never have found us if they hadn't just happened to be passing. A lot of people think they don't like folk music because they have no real concept of what it is and are agreeably surprised when they hear what goes on.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Midchuck
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 04:30 PM

Are the two rooms "owned" by the same person?

P.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 04:30 PM

The Hearme thing again!!!! Hearme was never "secure" many people came in who were not Mudcatters. I would like to point out that anyone reading the threads in Mudcat now has the password to the room and can come in whenever its open.... Security is a figment of your imagination people, it doesnt exist! The admin function is there to protect you from annoying people. They can be,and are, removed or silenced in a flash which could not be done in Hearme. That only happens if you inform the room admin you are being annoyed. A closed room means no-one will invite new people to join in and learn to enjoy the music; which is a stupid way to protect yourselves from potential future members. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From:
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 04:51 PM

I'm with Dave..Mike

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 05:40 PM

It certainly does NOT mean I won't invite poeple in to meet all of us and to play for us, Dave, the same as I did with HearMe.

I also pointed out the obvious fact that the password is here for anyone to see, so it is never truly closed at all.

Do we really have to hash this out, again? A couple of people decided to set up another room and try this. Why not give it a chance, so we can see how it feels, to any of us, and quit picking about it!

kat

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 06:06 PM

Perhaps we should have a string of rooms on the go. There could be one for singers (the mudcat snug), another for Irish music (the diddly-diddly downstairs), one for melodeons (kiss me quick - squeeze me slow?), perhaps a banjo room (the clawhammer kitchen), bodhrans (beaters' bathroom), fiddlers' foyer........ Any good suggestions?
I don't have any problem with the open room. We have had some very enjoyable late nights (nobody joins until almost midnight GMT, 7pm Mudcat time) but have to get up at 5.00am when the twins wake up and start crying, so can't often stay up that late.
We wuld like something to continue - please try to resolve the dispute without too much blood on the carpet.
Quack
GtD.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 06:30 PM

Yes katL we do have to hash this out... Jon Freeman and I worked hard to set this up.... Has anyone thought why Jon washed his hands of the room??? Because all people do is whine and complain and critises everything done for them. Mudcatters can open their own rooms....I dont need any more stress either. Fuck it people, open as many goddamned rooms as you like... I like the one I'm in. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: alison
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 06:31 PM

I'm sorry..... I know it was me brought up the subject of stalkers and problems......... but I'd rather put up with that than have a locked room where you don't get to meet those rare talents out there who are delighted to stumble across the mudcat room... and find somewhere nice, and friendly and comfortable........

I have no problem with a locked room for the concerts... but for a sing-a-round....... how would you feel if someone locked the door on your local folk club? You would never have met anyone new....... I'd never have got in.......

there are a lot of good folkies out there who don't have anywhere to go... they don't fit into the guitar rooms.... but they sure fitted into the mudcat room.... and I don't like the idea of them being kept out because "we" don't recognise them......

maybe I haven't been in thhere when people have had trouble with mic hogs / troublemakers (I'm in a way different time zone so that is highly likely)...... I don't like the idea of having 2 rooms set up against each other.. and that is what will happen...... its easy I won't choose between them, I'll be elsewhere....... I don't want a "them and us" situation........

I think this has the power to be very devisive...... but if it has to be open them night about.. not both together....... but I think its a shame for those good friends and wonderful musicians who many of us have met.... who don't happen to be mudcatters.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 07:25 PM

Well Dave you are right in that I can't be bothered with the hassle that tends to be involved in these things butI was always going to pass the room over to someone else at some point in the future. The reason for my timing though was precisely over this open/ closed room business as it had become obvious to me that the issue was not going to settle after several discussions.

For my part, as most people know, I am strongly in favour of the open room. I have always believed in free folk music for all and the closed room goes against those beliefs (as far as I was concerned, the only reason for keeping Hearme reasonably quiet was because it was so insecure and we did not have any means of dealing with trouble).

I also believe that Mudcat is a free and open forum to Guests and Members and I find it hard reconciling this with a closed room - the 2 seem inconsistent to me. Perhaps this Mudcat Inner Circle or Clique that some talk about does exist after all.

Jon

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 08:11 PM

oh for goodness' sake...

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:10 PM

Fuck it, indeed. It is not worth it, have it any way that you like. Obviously we are just a bunch of snobby, paranoids who don't belong in there anyway! Of course if someone just wanted to have a quiet night with a few close friends they'd be just as snobby and paranoid, eh?

Elitist Cliquey Bytch

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Amergin
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:17 PM

I wish all of you would step back and take a few breaths....then get back and hug and kiss and whatever...the only way to do this is to make compromise...bloody hell...

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:46 PM

For us morons who haven't been to either of these rooms, locked or otherwise, is there a more specific web address? The www.paltalk.com just takes me to very general screen. And could somebody PM me with the password? And stop quarreling. It's very disturbing to my sensitive nature when folkies fight.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:59 PM

Kat.. can I state the obvious? You can open a room for your clique anytime you want to... there is nothing stopping you from doing that. You can open a room just for Mudcat women... You can open a room for Mudcat Bodhran players and one for Mudcat elitist groupies... Nothing stopping you at all; and I dont care... But Mudcat Song Circle has been very interesting and refreshing and open....now we have another room, a closed room, and I dont want to open it and not the other; or try to be an admin for both sides. Its bad enough trying to look after one room never mind three.. Thank God for Bigchuck running the concerts....Step up to the mike please and run your own shows in your own rooms....I dont care anymore. Honest!

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 12:19 AM

Lonesome EJ which password do you want? The closed room? the open room? the Concert room? or the many others that are needed... I'm sorry LEJ just send me your email and I'll invite you to the Tavern next time I'm on .. That way you just click on my message and join paltalk. It should be fairly easy from there mate.. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 12:20 AM

Key-riced, Dave! I'da thought you knew me better than that by now! I do not have a gawddamned clique nor do I want one.

I honestly don't give a damn, either, as it is unbelievably rancorous just because some of us voiced an opposing view.

I can tell you one thing for sure, had I not been in the closed room, last night, among friends I know and trust, I would never have tried out my new dulcimer. Oh well, guess that's my problem.

kat

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 12:23 AM

LeeJ, when you get to PalTal.com you have to donwload the program, then install and register. It is usually very simple.

Then whenever you want to go to the Main Song circle room, or any of the others, just open up Paltalk, click on Groups, then Music, the look for a room which says "Mudcat" whatever. For the Concert Room the password is "marmot"; for the closed on, if it is still exists, it is "dt" for digitrad; if it is the Main one, you don't need a password. Be sure yu have your paltalk ticked to show Adult groups when the group thing opens, as these are R rated and won't show if you don't.

kat

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: alison
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 12:30 AM

LEJ go to that big paltalk page.. and select download..... it'll tell you what to do....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Amergin
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 12:46 AM

Jesus bloody goddamn Christ! Do I have to seperate you children? Ok, that's it! Kat, You go stick your nose in that corner and, Dave, go stand in that one over there. I don't want you two to talk to each other, I don't even want you two to look at each other. When can you come out of the corner? When you both are ready to play nice with each other! Then when I let you out, I want you both to write on a piece of paper, "I will not argue about PalTalk." about 300 times. Then, I want you two to go clean your rooms....they're both very bloody messy. And one more peep out of either one of you, you'll be grounded for the rest of the school year.

Nathan

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: wdyat12
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 01:06 AM

This sounds like a cozy place to land for awhile. wdyat12

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 02:22 AM

Thank you, Nathan. I have something to say, and they aren't going to like it. Yeah-- sit on 'em a minnit. They'll live!

Do you people realize that most of what was said here was about the past, and that the new people here want to be in the RIGHT NOW time with you?

To solve a problem, LOOK FORWARD. If whatever you hashed out before had been hashed out effectively, it would not be so touchy NOW. You don't have THEN to deal with NOW. You have NOW. NOW includes limitless possibilities, fresh approaches, new people to play with... the world!! Look out there! See? It's all BRAND NEW!!

"Veteran" Mudcatters, please, try to represent the BEST of Mudcat, not unhealed wounds ready to break open at the drop of a hat. It's like walking into a flashback of your pasts every time something gets hot. WE WERE NOT THERE. We have NO idea what you are so nuts over!

And you know, I for one don't want to know!

I don't need any more "tactful" and vague, worried-sounding PM's cautioning me about all the terrible stuff just under the surface! This walking on tippytoes around all your old hurts-- I'm done with it! None of you are the scared little victims you portray each OTHER to be! If you want the respect of the newer members... and for things to grow in a healthy way... find a way to heal and deal.

HEAL AND DEAL. No one can do it for you. But YOU CAN DO IT.

~S~

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:56 AM

kat, if I had wanted a "quiet night with a few close friends", I would have created a temporary private room and quietly invited those I wanted in and kept it between us not continually moan about an existing setup that was working and was, overall, enjoyed by those that went there - they kept coming back and that should say something. You have worked harder than any to get this current situation and make it into a Mudcat issue rather than the simple desire to have a quiet night with your chosen friends - now the job is done, don't moan - enjoy it.

Jon

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: mkebenn
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 06:14 AM

I have been to the "open" room three times now, and each night I came away with a treasure. Once a song called "Surrender" that I'd never heard, once the only other male {besides myself} I've ever heard sing "Mary Hamilton", and last night a compleatly different version of "Williow Garden" I have no idea what the squabble is here, but I see people I have come to respect a great deal in a short time acting {IMHO} like children. Who do you want the room closed to? Tempers flaring and personal digs seem so out of place here. What am I missing? Mike Bennett

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: nutty
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 07:19 AM

That's my question as well Mike - who is the room being closed to?

We appear to have aquired three kinds of human beings:-
1.FRIENDS - as in those of Noreen and Kat - I certainly don't fit into that catagory - I have never met or conversed with either
2.MUDCATTERS which I presume I am having registered and gained a 'mudcat'name but I was not aware that this gave me extra-ordinary privileges
3.OUTSIDERS - which I once was and would still be if the site had been locked, as I would never have had the courage to force my way in and I can't remember ever having had a special invitation.

Open rooms are more difficult to manage - they have to be 'run' in the same way as you would 'run' a folk club'( they are not a place to have a half hour chat with your mates ) but unless you teach people the rules they will always behave in a way that is not acceptable
I am saddened by this division and hope that the matter is resolved very quickly

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 08:18 AM

There sure are a lot of purty women in that there Mudcat Tavern/ Snug Room!

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Iarf
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 08:38 AM

This is really making me unhappy. I wish I could help.

Iarf.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Pondering It All
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 10:07 AM

The closed room may be just fine for those that need that false security blanket.
I have and will always continue to support the open forum room where all can come without feeling like they are intruding and enjoy an evening of great music and fun people.
If it weren't for the open roon that was originally at Pal Talk I would have never found such a great group of people to spend time with.
I agree with Alison and Dave completely.
TWC

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 10:16 AM

Jon, I have not moaned. I expressed an opinion, a very few times, in support of others or because others were too shy to bring it up themselves. To gawddamned bad I had an opinion. I will not be in either room.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Noreen
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 10:33 AM

Don't do that, kat, please.

I felt odd last night, looking at the paltalk screen- there were six catters logged on to paltalk but no rooms were open, I imagine because of all of this... it is now a political issue which room I open!

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Noreen
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 10:40 AM

Right. I am, as of now, de-personalising the issue. You are entitled to express (and back up) any opinion, and it WILL NOT be taken personally. No personal attacks, please. We are all here to share music together.

Noreen

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 10:45 AM

duh...am I missing something here? In my mind, there is only one simple problem...getting enough folks to show up all at the same time. Has anyone else noticed this?

I love the freedom and spontaneity of being able to just "drop in" when it's convenient with me. The price for this convenience is that sometimes nobody else is around. The solution is to obviously schedule meeting times, but somehow, I'm just not one that can commit (except for the concerts which are usually at a regular time that I can plan around). Dave and Jon (and many "regulars" that I recognize, some new friends too) have spent countless hours keeping the room open. Anyone who wants this job...step forward, we can all live in harmony here and have the best of all worlds...but be prepared to put some time in to make it work.

I've never in my life been to a "real life" song circle. From what I've read here (Joe Offer, etc.) they meet once a month or so. This PalTalk room which is open every night seems to be something different. I still say that with enough volunteers, there's just no reason why we can't have the best of all worlds.

Mary (keeper of THE LIST of requests)

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Midchuck
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 10:56 AM

If anyone gives a damn, I have a preference for the closed room.

If it were really closed, I'd be of the opposite opinion. But the fact is that anyone can find the password at mudcat. It's only "closed" to people who are surfing Paltalk at random. And since Paltalk music groups are, for the most part, horrible, they are, again for the most part, frequented by people whose standard of music is horrible.

Granted, there have been exceptions. But I've found the closed room more pleasant most of the time.

I have every intention of trying to lure people I know whom aren't on mudcat but might enjoy the Paltalk rooms, into them, and giving out the password freely. I'm not looking for social exclusivity, I'd just like to stay on topic.

Peter.

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 11:07 AM

Mary, can you clarify what you are offering to do? Could someone please start from scratch and explain to new people what this whole thing is all about?

And could we please stop referring to the resource of live, online song swapping by jargon words that mean nothing unless one is already clued in? The ability to do these song cicles, or whatver we choose to call them, is revolutionary! Calling the threads about it "HearMe" or "PalTalk Now" or "Tavern This" or "Snuggery That--" it does not say what it IS, it says it is something MORE that everyone but the newcomer GETS. Putting the info in the FAQ thread is not enough-- people get attracted by the threads and they are off and running.

Also, while I'm at it, the Permathreads need to be a BRIGHT COLOR. They are so pale against the forum threads-- why would anyone feel a need to open them? They should be RED!

May reasoned minds prevail, and may unsettled hearts calm.

~S~

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: dwditty
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 11:36 AM

This dicussion reminds me of church. No matter what the topic, there are always disagreements. As if that were not enough, heels wind up well dug in. Sooner or later, one or all parties get huffy. We're not talking major world issues here. Relax and do whatever you want. Some will partake...some will not. In the meantime, I sure hope no one takes their ball and goes home.

dw

Subject: RE: MUDCAT TAVERN/MUDCAT SNUG BAR
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 11:44 AM

For personal preference I fall on the side of a completely open room. Of course you sometimes get people accidentally stumbling in who do not know anything about the Mudcat Cafe, a few have been a pain in the neck, and have been rapidly "bounced" by the admin. Others have been fascinated and enchanted by the diversity and quality of the singing and have felt privileged to have spent time with those of us who were there. There have been visitors, used to the Karaoke groups on paltalk, who arrived with pre-recorded backing tracks, but when it was explained that the mudcat room was about live song and music, they stayed with us and listened with good grace.
The only drawback of the open room is that it needs someone to open it as admin, and you can sit on your own for a long time in an open room if everyone else is still at the pub (or just arriving home for their tea / getting up from their bed on another continent).
All in all I believe the benefits of an open room for general purposes outweigh those of the alternative. If you are shy, you can always log onto paltalk using a variety of assumed names. I don't care what you call yourselves as long as the conversation and song are fun!
Quack!!!!!
GtD