Is Mudcat a friendly site?

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 11:37 AM

I always thought Jeri was the smart Mudcatter. I couldn't have posted my trolls without her links.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 09:40 PM

Ekh. What a load. Just when I thought I couldn't hate America any more... Seriously, someone from a good country: Adopt me. ----Lepus Rex

Thanks to Jeri for the link to this site.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 01:50 PM

Yes, I think Mudcat is a "friendly site" in that it welcomes everyone with open arms, minimal restrictions and several options for maintaining privacy if desired. Most of the people on the site are friendly, too! :^)

Since this thread is at well over 100 posts, I think that the friendly thing to do would be to continue this discussion on "part 2" of this thread. Here is the link to it: Is Mudcat a friendly site? Part 2

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 01:11 PM

Mudcat is like the rest of the world...friendly, unfriendly, amusing, interesting, boring, downright hostile, tedious, hilarious, and all the rest.

Which one you perceive it as is mostly dependent on the mood you yourself are in at the time...and somewhat dependent on the mood some other people are in at the time.

Like the rest of the world...

Your own attitude is the most important thing that you bring here, and you are the victim or the beneficiary of precisely that.

- LH

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 01:03 PM

Jeri, I certainly do not see exclusion as an issue even though I use the term "inner clique". I don't believe any of the "members" are like that. I'd sent this as a PM to someone earlier today but think it may be in order to post it (well I'm skipping the 1st paragraph) here as it probably explains some of my perspective better than many of my posts an reactions:

---

Realistically, Mudcat is a good site overall. I would be reluctant to use phrases like "the best on the Web" because I really do not know what is out there and I find it almost impossible to imagine that there are not similar communities in other areas of interest. Within music (IMO) Mudcat is vastly superior to any other resource I use but I still see problems here.

The problems - rows, etc. have existed since I've been here (3yrs?) and trends continue. Jeri noted a spiral in her reply to my most. This is something I agree with and find a worry. Rightly or wrongly (I obviously believe rightly) I see music as the "god" or single binding force here with other bits as being bonuses. The sad reality seems to me that the number of serious music posters does decline over time and that "nonsense" does play a big part in that and therefore carries an unacceptable toll. I know one could argue "it's their problem" but one could also try to think "are there ways to ease the situation?".

My first thought (and I am very pro community) is that the system is wrong and that a duel forum system would ease a lot of (recurring) tension. I think for Mudcat, my choice would be an open musical section and even go as far as member only for a community section where people could talk freely on other subjects without the worry of being attacked by one of the "nasties" - believe me, I do not enjoy seing someone getting ripped to shreads for "bearing their soul" here...

As a side issue, such an approach would have the added benifit of musical threads being easier to search for for visitors and arguably create a better impression for first time visitors - I can only speak for myself on that one but the first time I visited Mudcat (recommended to me by SingsIrish - is Mary still around?) I read a few BS threads and left. I visited again about a month later on the reccomendation of Jeri (someone I had made friends with via rec.music.celtic and still a very good friend) and ended up staying.

OK, the split won't happen here but I then think that because everything is effectivelly getting shoved down one narrow pipe, more thought should go into the treads themselves. There is lots of stuff I would like to talk about between people here that is not music related but I don't do it (although I now do in the Annexe) - why? in my case, its not for fear of being flamed, it's because I think "what would happen if everyone shared all thier interests, worries, happiness, etc. here all the while?" - the result IMO would be disastarous - music threads would be completely obscured...

I suspect I am not the only one that does not "chat" for that reason - there are only a handfull that do "chat" on a regular basis, the same ones that tend to come into threads and make the inane comments and I'm afraid I do see it as a matter of being inconsiderate and using the forum selfishly (although not a clique in any exclusive sense of the word - it's more a matter of a mindset/mentality - there is no one who would reject anyone amongst the group) and just wish, given the circumstances, more consideration was given by them towards others.

Oh well, enough of my views and ramblings...

Jon

---

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:29 PM

Jon, maybe that "one specific group of friends" is what makes some feel uncomfortable or excluded. I don't think exclusion's the problem, though. I think some folks may just be uncomfortable with banter, and that if they don't/can't join in, they aren't welcome. Then again, I believe most newcomers will hang around and get the feel of the place before they judge it.

I've seen new folks just jump right into the banter many times, without the slightest hint of rejection. There are also plenty of folks who never join the banter, and some post exclusively on music. They "belong" just as much. Folks decide for themselves what they want to share with others.

Folks also decide what they want to get out of Mudcat. It's still that thing about taking what you want and leaving the rest. That it's futile to try to make the rest of the world behave the way they want is a lesson that some never learn. Attacks spawn retaliation, or, at the very least, a lack of respect. A person's own words and actions are what determine how they're treated here. If the whole world seems to be against someone, maybe it ain't the whole world that's messed up.

I still think honesty works better than anything else. "I wish you wouldn't joke around with me, because I don't feel comfortable...Did you mean to insult me? If so, why?" Of course, the GUEST flamer regulars seem to treat honesty as a threat, or they'd be trying to talk with people instead of at them. The friendships, the acts of kindness, the humor and the comfort level people feel here are something they - and no one else - have destroyed for themselves, but the place still has enough of a grip on them so they can't leave it alone.

For me, the disgruntled postings aren't even a drop in the bucket compared with all the good I've found here. I've met kindred spirits and cherished friends from all over the world. I've sung the sun up with them, and I've shared their joy in the music and in life. I've exchanged gifts of heart and mind. How could I possibly let anything make me leave that behind?

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 09:51 AM

Bill, I see it as banter between a group of friends but between one specific group of friends.

Believe it or not, I do have a sense of humour (mine can be a bit dark at times), enjoy chatting on a variety of subjects, etc. Seem to remember having some good banter and very enjoyable with you on ICQ during MCR...

My guess is that many of us do enjoy chat but choose not to litter the forum with it on a regular basis.

Jon

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 01:51 AM

Bill, I think it may just be someone who wants everyone to be as miserable as they are. They're the ones who have to deal with their petty, childish behavior. It is VERY hard for me to imagine a somewhat responsible adult acting like this, which is also why I can't bring myself to take anything they say seriously, or flame 'em back. What they're doing to themselves is far worse than anything I'm capable of. I look in the mirror and see someone who tries to behave in ways I can be relatively proud of. They see someone who has given up on any sense of honor, and enjoys trying to hurt people. What the hell kind of horrorshow must that be?

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Big Mick
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:37 AM

Spoken like a true elder, Bill....LOL. It is why you are one of the best in these parts. Well said, my good friend.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:11 AM

Mudcat, without the flaming,trolling, sniping, name-calling, baiting, complaining, whining, bitching, nit-picking, and general false-issue trouble making by cowardly 'guests', would BE a 97% friendly site.

Someone..(or two or three) has really gotten a burr under their saddle and simply cannot distinguish banter among friends from 'inner-cliqueism'

....It is sad and stupid and totally reprehensible to spend that much time trying to create rancor in a place where so much goodness and help and joy ...and yes, happy silliness, have been shared......

'nuff said

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:04 AM

Mudcat is whatever you need it to be.
You just have to take the time to find it.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 11:44 PM

I think Mudcat is friendly but some Guests just kike to make yruoubke, i think we shoulf just ignore them.john

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: marty D
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 11:25 PM

Sorry for touching a nerve, anonymous constantly testy GUEST, but I doubt if your number is legion. I'm pretty sure it's just you. (the really angry posts anyway)

marty

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 08:15 PM

To get back to the original question that pinkfiddle asked:

Yes, mudcat is about as friendly as it gets.

But if someone like 'pinkfiddle' with her tissue paper thin skin wants to start bawling like a baby because somebody didn't like her thesis, then perhaps she should stay at home and live inside a piece of cotton wool.

Her absense from this thread suggests that she has

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: gnu
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 06:18 PM

I thought it was friendly. Then I hear talk of gnu steaks ! Not bad enough but Spaw mentions TTB ! Goodness gracious me. No guest should be served TTB without at least a warning. THAT'S unfriendly.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 06:05 PM

Jon, I think folks are simply forgiving when it comes to Mudcat being down, and are appreciative of the fact it exists at all. Max has a lot of other irons in the fire. I believe if the Annexe went down for a few days, regular readers and posters would say "thanks" to you when it came back up. As a matter of fact, didn't that actually happen when they switched your server?

I DID try out the "newest-on-top" option at the Annexe, and really like it. Guess I must have just t-mailed my thanks to you. (That's "telepathy-mailed.) I apologise - should have written my thanks in those letter and word thingies.

I believe that the more places there are to branch out, the better. When I first started reading Mudcat, it was pretty much music, with a bit of community-related discussion. (Spaw being in hospital, folks traveling and meeting, etc.) Now, there are almost unofficial sub-forums. There's still the music, but there also seems to be 1) a political debate forum; 2) a forum about the forum (what's right/wrong with Mudcat). Many threads wind up being in this category whenever someone bitches about off-topic stuff like Mudcat group dynamics or the fact the thread isn't going according to their vision of way the thread should go, and everybody else jumps off-topic to follow them down that well-worn path; 3) a "life's little problems" forum, which includes sub-sub headings of medical, emotional, ethical, among others; and 4) a "people and community" forum which includes birthdays, marriages, meetings, and other events. Most threads fall mostly into one of these headings, but often cross over into more than one, and MAY even include music.

The biggest problem I have with all of this is that others have a problem with it. I'm not so worried about the folks who identify so strongly with Mudcat that they hang around and attempt to sic the demon of their disillusionment on everybody else. They have a problem we don't have the power to do anything about. I care about the people who just leave because there isn't enough of interest to them to stick around. My beliefs: The more the "music-only" types leave, the less music discussion. The less music discussion, the more "music-mostly" types leave - it seems to be a spiral. It's not the added BS that chases them off, it's primarily the lack of music discussion. I don't know that we have any power over that, either. Maybe one person can be convinced to not post everything they think of, but how do you get a few hundred folks to maybe think about not posting everything they think of? All it takes is a few folks giving into temptation that ONE time. Discipline won't happen here unless it's enforced discipline - rules and moderators - and I do NOT want to see that happen. I doubt Max has the slightest inclination to seriously consider those things, anyway.

I don't need much stucture. Some folks do, and the unlimited variety of subjects here must drive them nuts. I believe having more places to discuss varied topics is good. I don't know what's in store in the future, but what Mudcat could become, based on steadily increasing participation, our collective purposes, and our willingness or unwillingness to consider others, ranges from disasterous to magical.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 04:32 PM

Just one more comment (I hope) from what I've read here so far. Mick, just for information, do an Internet search on "usenet".

Jon

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST,Gusty
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 03:04 PM

IMHO, the Mudcat is friendly most of the time. There have been some pretty caustic, harsh posts between some folks, and once in a while, someone gets unduely picked on. I myself have felt a little unwelcome here, to the extent that I withdrew as a member, but that's just my fragile ego coming through, I suppose. I still love the 'Cat. It's by far the best forum, music-related or otherwise, that I've come across on the web. Hope it never disappears.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:03 PM

I'm a real Nowhere Man

You are here a lot - and here is somewhere. And I certainly don't get your point -

Copy Big Mick's comments here for me also. Verbatim please!!

Steve

Place is as friendly as you want it to be - I like it :-)

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:40 PM

Just read again... McGrath, I see drift and humour as being positives here. To me, where it ceases to be positive is where it reaches a point that I can predict who is likely to follow up the drift and the type of flow.

Jon

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: mousethief
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:15 PM

No. Mudcat is not a friendly site.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:13 PM

McGrath, I thought it was spaw but it looks to me as if it was Tweed who provided the link. here it is

Jon

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:09 PM

Mick, you do raise a good point. It is fair to say that I had read and still do use places other than Mudcat but it is equally true to say that Mudcat and people here did provide the motivation. It is also relevant to say that some of the changes at the Annexe were due to either me or someone else picking up on ideas from Mudcat - IMO, from a design perspective (or my attemt at one) there is a hell of a lot of good features here.

Jon

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 12:57 PM

It may be perverse of me, but I feel more comfortable when things break down every now and again, and then get better again. Systems that never break down leave me with a worry that someday they suddenly will vanish away.

And I'm very grateful to Jon for the existence and the reliability of the Annexe, especially for those occasions.

"spaw gave a link to Tweed's site" - I missed that. Gissa a link, someone.

As for drift, humorous or not, that's a price (if we don't like it) that we pay for the flexibility and openness of the Cat - and I think it's well worth it. I can't see a way of avoiding it, other than having some monitor come in and slap our wrists, or a mobbing culture of people nagging each other for getting out of line. Either of which itself would put a lot of people off coming here.

And I imagine Max has had rather a lot of worries in his mind recently, what with his business crisis.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 12:56 PM

Simple, Jon. You would never have had the opportunity to create a Mudcat Annexe, or get the ideas for the type of programming you do, or have had the venue which brought you the names of folkies and bluesies worldwide, had it not been for Max and his wonderful site. It is the same for all of us. The possibilities and friends that derived from this place are amazing. And it came because a young man in Pennsylvania started a hobby site that became something much bigger. And because he keeps it going at great personal expense, and with a great investment of time, and with a great investment on the floor space of his home. In other words, it isn't a competition. Max is revered because of all of the above.

I, for one, appreciate greatly your efforts, as well. I entered the Annexe for the first time and found it to be a nice supplement to The Mudcat. I believe I congratulated you.

Mick

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 12:28 PM

I'm pretty much with Jock on the friendliness of this site as an unmoderated site. I also agree that there are always new comers here but the site also puts some people off...

I'll use my mum, Pip as an example. She has often read threads here but gives up because her tolerance for nonsense (I mean things like diverting a thread for a few jokes amongst a few people) is rather less than mine. Her reponse is just to give up and not read for a week or more - different to me who mostly just skips over that sort of thing (although can be seething inside - the fox-hunting thread was a recent one that got me like that).

To answer Marty's question on why keep coming back, I can offer one perspective. There is a lot of good stuff in Mudcat and a lot of good people. This includes "inner clique members" some of whom make excellent posts - take spaw for example, I have read somw highly informative music related posts from him and other extremely thoughtful posts... so there is enough worth while for me (although at one point my frustrations some of which were "behind the scenes" ones did reach a point where I decided to quit) so I stay but protest - or really pass comments when threads like this one invite views - I can't remember ever starting a "what's wrong with Mudcat" thread - often, I only start to post the more negative side when I start reading the "how wonderful this place is/we are" type posts - just pushes me one step too far...

The first and biggest gripe of mine has not raised it's head for a few weeks. That is the BS volume, etc. one. I still believe combined forum is the wrong root but things seem to be improving. I noticed spaw give a link to Tweed's site where he has spent some time and him showing some enthusiasm for a chat program. Susan has a prayer forum which I believe is thriving, etc. Moves may be being taken to spread the load a little and I see this as good. There is also the Annexe where I think some think I'm trying to launch a "take over bid" but it is no more than another opening/possibility - I'd like to see more... better still I'd like to see Mudcat absorbing some of this...

The second one does come down to the "inner clique" and the sort of thing I mentioned in an example in a previous post. I have nothing against humour or profanity but we do have situations that are repetitive and predictable. Is it really right that 1% should divert threads in the name of humour for example - what about the 1% (and probably far more) that are trying to enjoy the thread as it stands?

While on gripes, I will mention another although I still don't know whether it ammuses me or makes me sad - it produces mixed feelings and I keep telling myself I am just being over-sensitive:

Programming has been a hobby of mine for a while and the Annexe I have had a great oppertunity to play and try to develop to suit users requests. The system is not complete but I (with the help of ideas from others) have indroduced quite a few ideas - On Sun/Mon I responded to request, introduced a reverse listing, a sort of message since last visit (mine works on the topic listing - just one page but with an asterisk against posts that have been added) and the last poster as well as the author of a thread. I also seem to have come up with a system that is up 99.9% of the time (I'm not saying it would handle Mudcat load - I would be using a different database, probably different O/S, etc if I was aiming for that - just saying it meets its objectives)...

I get little in the way of feedback of any sort but I think the package is pretty good, is stable and to date (fingers crossed) I have a good record at introducing user requests. OK I don't ask for thanks but...

Sometime in June, I saw a thread here saying 2 weeks to go for changes with the usual "great Max" comments yet nthing has happened here to date - I've delivered my promises. Thanksgiving time, I provided a system that worked and was used by quite a few while Mudcat (which like it or not has stability/reliability problems) ground to a halt. I think I saw one mention of the Annex helping some and loads of "Thanks Max" for a system that failed yet again...

The conclusion I reached was that it doesn't really matter how well something is done - what really matters is who you are. Makes me wonder about the value of the "Great Max" comments and more so about the people who make them...

Jon

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From:
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 09:48 AM

To nameless guest who posted at 6.25 am above,

This site obviously isn't too terrible to outsiders as we seem to keep getting a regular flow of new members coming on in. Some longtime members could do with showing a bit more tolerance at times to nameless guests that do come along asking reasonable questions, but nameless guests which do that are few and far between. I haven't found any other un-moderated site that is as good as this one. Biggest problem with this site is it's so warm and friendly most of the time that people end up feeling too safe here and then open up more than is probably wise on the internet, thus leaving the way open for some heartless troll to really hurt them.

Scott

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 09:13 AM

On the whole it's a lot friendlier in here than it is out there. And that isn't true of a lot of internet discussion venues.

I am very grateful to the people who make it so, both Max and his hands-on helpers, and the general run of Mudcatters too, especially those who work pretty hard sometimes at keeping it level and helpful and lively, and helping it recover when it gets holed below the waterline.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Devilmaster
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 08:00 AM

Well, after reading all these msgs, I will admit I am just a lover of music, not a musician at all.

If anyone has a problem with that, or just wants to post flames and crap, I have an idea.

You can find me sitting at the bar of the Kildare House in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Usually sitting with a red-headed freak of a musician named Clinton Hammond. If you want to talk trash here on the 'Cat, meet me at the bar, be a real man, or a reasonably drawn facimile, and we'll deal with it.

"Just see how dumb the average person is, and then realize that half the people, are dumber than that." - George Carlin

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 06:25 AM

No guys, it means that you are too thick headed to know what this site is like to the "outsiders" and that you also don't give a crap. MARTY - don't bother shaking your head, it isn't the SAME guest that posts this thread - it is differnet people doing it. Now you can stop shaking and think - wow , catters really ARE a bunch of dicks sometimes.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 05:18 AM

That you don't learn from experience?
Failte....Jock

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:02 AM

That you come back often?

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 12:53 AM

I have concluded that While some folks here are nice many are A--Holes, the Spell checkers, the OUR (not your) Mudcatters, The Know it alls, and The Flamers w/ and especially w/o Guest attached to their name. I used to visit more frequently, now I just Stop by every now and again. There is always a thread like this - winter , spring, summer, or Fall.What does that tell you?

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: marty D
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 11:54 PM

What I can't understand is that the complainers, both anonymous and familiar never change their tune, year after year. Wouldn't any SANE person simply leave for good if they were dissatisfied with the level of friendliness or profanity or whatever? Hope I never get so lonely I have to stay in a place I don't like. Sorry for being unfriendly, but sometimes you just have to shake your head.

Now Day Traders' discussion groups, THAT'S unfriendly!

marty

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 10:48 PM

Wow yer pinkness, did you open a container of nematodes, or what!?

Now me, I'm can be studiously dense (just ask my ex-wife) so I almost NEVER get it when I am being insulted and I don't think I have even been flamed, flammed maybe but not flamed. Life is short, more for some than others. I think that you should just have fun and try to be kind whenever you can. Unless you pack a gun, then be whatever you can be.

CB

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 08:02 PM

I'm a real Nowhere Man

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Amos
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:48 PM

Dear Guest:

I'm sorry if you've been treated in an unfriendly fashion.

What was it you were trying to say when you were so rudely interrupted?

Maybe you should give it a second try?

Ya know -- 90% perspiration rule and all that?

A the Younger
Always a Younger, Never an Elder!

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:36 PM

Yeah and it's still run by an unfriendly inner clique and you all know it!

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From:
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 11:52 AM

I've been around this site on and off for 5 years now and on the whole it is an extremely friendly place to hang out. I've seen real out-flowings of compassion; even been on the receiving end a couple of times and it feels real good. A few members'posts get my back up occasionally, but hey, that happens in 3D land too. The anonymous guest postings are best ignored if they're obvious flame bait.

All in all this is still the best site I've found on the Internet for discussing everything under the sun...oh, and music occasionally!

Scott

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 11:24 AM

Fee fi fo fum I smell paranoia
Failte....Jock

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 08:52 AM

I've never found musical knowledge (or lack of) to be a problem round here. In my experience, most people will gladly share what knowledge they have with no "I know more than you" attitude.

Where I find matters tend to go wrong is that responses here can be based on who you are. Here is an example of the sort of thing I'm talking about:

Yesterday, a thread was opened with the question:

how many of you guys play your guitar while you are talking on the cat?

OK maybe not the most inspiring question ever raised at Mudcat but still a polite question and a couple of us did try and make something of it and answer the question. The next step was someone came in and posted:

I fart a lot while on the 'Cat. I fart a lot when I'm playing. I fart a lot generally. What can we learn from this?

Now if that post had been made by a Guest, people would almost certainly have jumped on the poster's back but the most was made by spaw to which the normal reaction would be a few "fart related" posts by a few people here all sort of congratulating themselves on their wit and indicating what a funny man spaw is.

I guess it's great for those with that sort of sense of humour but I for one do not have it and as it happens several times find it gets tedious. Worse than that there are times when I find it plain rude.

Jon

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST, Cookieless Member
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 08:14 AM

Well, I'd have STARVED long ago if I tried to make a career out of music....

I'm here just cos I enjoy it, I am seldom able to make much contribution (other than to admire the talent &/or the knowledge of the people I see here) but have NEVER felt unwelcome, & frankly it surprises me that others have.

Now that might sound like praising the place too highly, but I am, truthfully, telling it as I've found it.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST,andi
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:53 AM

I used to post here, I stopped earlier this year after being here only a month. I found that most folks here had little to no tolerance for those of us who simply enjoy music and are not endevering to make a carrer out of it. While some folks were helpful (notably, George), I was basically told (maybe not in so many words but the idea certainly came across) to sod off. Inner Clique? yeah, it includes the folks whom Mick and others called Elders and those of you who have anough musical background to distinguish between Great Big Sea's version of a song from Son's of Maxwell version of the same song with out calling it "Great Big Sea's Mari-Mac" or " Son's of Maxwell's Mari-Mac" ( hold on for the flames if you make *that mistake!) I like lurking but posting is something i found best left to those of you who actually know music andi

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST, Cookieless Member
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:33 AM

Oh, sorry, Guest....please, say it again...

...but DO try & make a little more sense this time...

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:24 AM

You don't want to listen to me either.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:15 AM

So what's the problem with that Guest? Anyone who has ever been in business knows you have to make money from your friends because your enemies won't deal with you.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 06:27 AM

Unfriendly site? Absolutely. Pink - don't listen to morons who make personal silly attacks like that. But the site in general IS a rather unfriendly enviroment from a group of people who hold themselves above high and mighty over everything and everyone else. Funny part is, they're really only patting themselves on the back because no one else will.

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 12:38 AM

Spaw - If you really want to raise the standards around here, I should think that a few more threads about William Shatner would help, combined with a generally more respectful and appreciative attitude toward the WSSBA, and an admission that "Space Oddity" is one of the 10 greatest songs ever recorded.

That would be an excellent start!

- LH

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 10:48 PM

Mudcat Co-Conspirators, UNTIE!!!

Subject: RE: Is Mudcat a friendly site?
From: Fortunato
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 12:21 PM

Pinkfiddle, if you're still around, my congrats to you as well. I took my masters late in life while working full time and I know the sacrifices that are made. When you come here to visit us you might remember this 'California' Koan:

The bad news is there is bad stuff. The good news is you don't have to take notice.

Happy Holidays and best wishes, Fortunato.