 sj |
||
|
||
BS: What annoys me about mudcat
|
|
|
Subject: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST,PaulM Date: 10 Jan 02 - 02:54 PM 1. This is the main one: Anyone who requests something but never bothers to acknowledge the answer, never mind say thank you.
2.
3. "I've not read the whole thread, but I'm so important and I love myself so much so I'll repeat something that was said 50 messages ago, even though I couldn't be bothered to see if it was said before" Any other pet hates? PaulM paulmcfadden@hotmail.com
|
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Little Hawk Date: 10 Jan 02 - 02:58 PM Paul, you're in good company. There is probably no one here who has not been at times annoyed by Mudcat. It's kind of like life in general that way... - LH |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: CarolC Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:07 PM Paul, I don't think this is something that annoys you about the Mudcat. I think it's something that annoys you about some of the people who come to the Mudcat. In my mind, there's a big difference. But I take your point. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: SharonA Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:10 PM My pet peeve (so far; I've only been here for about 7 months): Anyone who starts a thread requesting lyrics or a tune by naming the thread "Help, I need a song" or something equally uninformative about the song itself! Please, guys, say something about the song in the thread title! A bit of the lyric you remember, or the artist you think sang it or wrote it, or something! Give us a clue! Part b of this rant: When this sort of thread title does appear, I wish that one or another Joe-clone would change the title to something specific to the thread itself (giving prior warning in the thread to its originator so that [s]he will recognize the new title). Please? Sharon |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:41 PM What annoys me most is the way that people like MMario try to make the DT better They get brick walls |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: MMario Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:48 PM psssttttt! guest - actually I get quite a bit of cooperation. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Raptor Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:50 PM What's DT? Raptor |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:52 PM Mmario, So when does the 'new' DT with the results of your hard work appear? Or shouldn't I ask? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Maxine Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:07 PM Everything I've ever asked has been answered promptly, politely and informatively. I think you are all fab! NOTHING about Mudcat annoys me. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: MMario Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:10 PM raptor - the DT, or Digital Tradition is the database of lyrics and tunes collected by Dick Greenhaus and Susan of DT; originally on paper, then floppies - now avaialbale on CD's. the online version of which is hosted here at the MudCat Cafe. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:12 PM I think you'll find that it's mostly newcomers who give unclear titles to threads and fail to acknowledge answers to lyrics requests. I guess we have to realize that these people are a bit bewildered by this Mudcat that we're so used to, and they don't realize what's expected of them. You'll find a good example in this thread (click). The same person posted a request for the same song in December, and got a reply in ten minutes. This time, I sent an e-mail reply, so that should take care of it - but I'm sure the requestor won't be able to find to original thread to post a thank-you. The lesson in this is that newcomers are ordinarily bewildered by Mudcat, and it's up to us to accommodate them. Yeah, it's annoying - but that's life. SharonA complains about misnamed threads. She's right - it is downright annoying. What she doesn't realize, though, is that it happens a lot less often now than it used to. Pene and I monitor the Forum, and change generic thread names and combine duplicate threads whenever we see a need for it. The Clones can't change thread names or alter the content of messages, but they do a wonderful job of correcting technical problems in messages. Oftentimes, we make the changes before anybody notices. We miss a few, but I think we do a pretty good job of fixing the least-descriptive thread titles and correcting messy HTML. We're not here all the time; but I think that between the two of us and the Clones, we scan the forum and make changes several times a day. It's probably not a good idea to post requests for thread title changes or other editing (except for HTML that locks threads), unless it's for a thread that has been up for a day without being corrected. We try to follow up on requests posted in the Help Forum - but most of the time, the corrections have been made before we see the correction request. -Joe Offer- |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: MMario Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:15 PM guest - the last I heard (which was a while back I admit) the latest version was about to come out when Microsloth went and introduced windoze-xp; which more or less necessitated a revamp. rumour only. I trust Dick to get a new version out when he can. I believe a mac 2000 version is available - and likewise a pc-2000 version - but they never went into general circulation. Dick Greenhaus would be the one to answer your questions.
|
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: gnu Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:19 PM I had the DT's once, so now I just stay well oiled. What bothers me about the 'Cat ? Nothing. As CC said, there are some posters who bug me, but the 'Cat is the cat's ass, as far as I'm concerned. BTW, SharonA makes an excellent point re the succinctness (is that a word ?) of titles. I wish posters would at least use a prefix. I don't think it should be optional, but, hey, what do I know ? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: MMario Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:22 PM joe - aren't you suppossed to be with your sweetie? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Maryrrf Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:26 PM What annoys me is not mudcat or mudcatters, but the anonymous "guests" who post catty and mean spirited comments but don't identify themselves. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Willa Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:27 PM Joe; you have made several of the points I was about to make. When I first used mudcat, I didn't realise how the system worked, so failed to acknowledge responses, or titled my threads incorrectly. Sometimes I was put off by angry comments about 'guests', but thanks to other, more helpful comments, particularly by Malcolm douglas, I picked up better 'etiquette', and hope I've been able to make a positive contribution.Bear with us 'newbies'; everything's easy when you know how! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:42 PM Mmario, my sweetie is busily taking the kinks out of several chiropractic patients, so that she'll be free to take a brief honeymoon with me next week. The patients generally like me - but they'd prefer to be alone with the Good Doctor Christina in the treatment room. Right now, I'm trying to come up with a non-alcoholic punch recipe. Can anybody help? -Joe Offer- |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: SharonA Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:44 PM Thanks, Joe, for your quick answer to my |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: SDShad Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:47 PM Joe, you lucky, lucky dog. Your're marrying a chiropractor? Mind you, not that Beth doesn't give perfectly good backrubs, but an in-house chiro who's actually one's honey, as well? Wow. You do realize your back will probably never be out of alignment again..... Congrats, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Lepus Rex Date: 10 Jan 02 - 06:00 PM I only hate ONE thing about Mudcat: the goddamned 'clear entries' box next to the 'submit message' box. Totally useless, and really, really annoying when you accidentally hit it after writing a long entry... Everything else is swell. ---Lepus Rex |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Jeri Date: 10 Jan 02 - 06:01 PM SDShad, it will probably go out, then in, then out, then in... (After all, she'll fix problems, but not prevent them.) My biggest annoyance is people who respond to messages without having read or comprehended them. (I really get annoyed with myself when I goof up, too.) I pretty much see the anon GUEST nastiness as worthless. Whoever spends so much time and effort posting stuff like that has got far greater problems than I do having to read what they write. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Joe_F Date: 10 Jan 02 - 06:15 PM Having to leave Emacs and use the mouse to communicate with this Forum. I wish it were a newsgroup! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: 53 Date: 10 Jan 02 - 06:37 PM PEOPLE WHO POST UNDER THE TITLE OF GUEST AND THEY POST BULLSHIT, THEY SHOULD EITHER IDENTIFY THEMSELVES OR SHUT THE HELL UP, ONLY THING THEY ARE, IS FACELESS COWARDS. BOB PUT THAT IN YOUR GUEST PIPE AND SMOKE IT ASSWHOLE. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Midchuck Date: 10 Jan 02 - 06:53 PM People who post in ALL UPPER CASE. It's the cyberequivalent of guys who talk very loudly in your face from two feet away with beer and garlic on their breath, and from time to time let some spit fly out. Peter. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Little Hawk Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:09 PM "ASSWHOLE"? Now there's an inspired typo if ever I've seen one... :-) - LH |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: catspaw49 Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:21 PM Yeah, well, this one's deteriorating.......I've been complaining about people not reading posts for a long time.....Wasted effort. Jeri has made some excellent points......if I understand her correctly.(:<)) Now why don't y'all come over to Joe's stag party? Lots of good stuff happening there.... Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST,Shenandoah Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:22 PM The Mudcat double standard of blaming anonymous guests for behaving like--asswholes, is it?--while tolerating the same bad (or worse) behavior by members. Bad behavior is bad behavior, regardless. The ways people rip on newcomers in this forum is shameful and inexcusable (IMO). I've been coming and going here for years as a guest, but since the change to member/guest, I think the uniqueness and friendliness you used to see here is gone, except for the precious few. It seems the "unwelcome" mat is always out for guests, anonymous or not. And that is really sad. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: kendall Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:37 PM Never look a gift horse in the mouth.And, Mudcat is free, except for those who dont or cant contribute. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Art Thieme Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:51 PM It's terribly annoying that I and many of the people whose opinions I admire most have, slowly, been turned off by the lowest-common-denominatorizing effects of the lack of folklore and folk music content in so many threads and posts. As a result, they as well as I, am here less and less. So be it. Art Thieme |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Jon Freeman Date: 10 Jan 02 - 08:02 PM Perhaps some degree of knowledge of what Mudcat was and of old contributers. Particulary the memory of the attitude I saw towards BruceO. He went over the top but to basically get "good riddance" for someone who had contributed so much, particularly in a society in which members seem to pride themselves as being so caring really was hard to swallow - perhaps caring people could have looked for reasons and means of helping. Perhaps the knowledge that this forum could be made more accessible to 2 sides of a split without too much difficulty - after all, all it means is some skipping of threads is done automatically... Perhaps worse still, the belief that music tends to be the casualty. Perhaps worse still that the "rows" have existed from before my time and yet not even the "caring" members try to look at alternative solutions. Perhaps the inabiltiy of Mudcat to fully utilise the resources it has availible. Perhaps worse still to mismanage what it has got. I don't know if I'm still there but my name may still be on the FAQ permathread as a tech helper. I'd go as far as to say that is an embarrasement to me. I'd have loved to have had the freedom to help a permathread owner make what they wanted but at the time, Clones were not able to do that... Perhaps more than that, the knowledge that there are several excellent programmers in this forum. I'm not one of them and I don't know if they would give time for free but has anyone tried utilising this? All I do know is my offer of limited assistance in this area did not even produce the courtesy of a reply from Max. Perhaps more and more, my frustration at going alone - something I never wanted to do but the gaps seem to get wider... Perhaps the unwillingness for anyone to even comment on an idea coming from me - it really feels like "your competing with Max so shut the fuck up..." Perhaps the worst of all is simply that I see Mudcat as a place with people, many of who have time, abilities on offer. IMO if we really worked at what each one could offer, on the understandings of the problems of others and means of solving them, Mudcat rather than still being stuck with rows that are over 2 years old (and not of my creation - my line when I first started here is not the same as it is now - I couldn't understand the protests) could perhaps make a leap forward both in music and in community for ALL. Jon |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 10 Jan 02 - 08:05 PM Paul, none of those things matters, if we can help others. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: 53 Date: 10 Jan 02 - 08:31 PM I DON'T DRINK BEER, AND I DON,T EAT GARLIC, AND I DON'T SPIT AT PEOPLE FROM 2 FEET AWAY, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST BITE OFF. BOB |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: John Routledge Date: 10 Jan 02 - 08:34 PM Art Thieme hits the real big nail on the head. Regretably the change is so slow that in a short period it is difficult to detect any difference - but difference there is. The longer the process goes on...... John Routledge
|
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 10 Jan 02 - 08:52 PM The whole GUEST thing annoys me - I don't mean people who post as GUESTS with a name, like GUEST,Shenandoah did just then, and I am sure that I have never at any time seen anybody criticise that practice. Everyone knows that there can be perfectly sensible reasons why people need or choose to do that. It's the plain GUEST who slams in with some smartarse sneer.
But that doesn't matter too much. It's easy just to ignore them, and to avoid any thread started by them.
More annoying is a recent little trick some pillock or pillocks has taken to doing - posting articles lifted from the press as if they were written by the person doing the posting. In at least one case the one doing it even went so far as to set up a false membership in the name of a writer used in thgis way.
And the main gripe is that people don't use the prefixes, or in some other way make it easier for people who want to to find the music threads in the crowd. I value good discussion threads on all kinds of stuff - but I also like to be able to head straight for the sound of music, and its hard when most of the non-music threads have headings that could easily be song titles, for example.
Having said all that, the Mudcat continues to be magnificant, and the best reason for having a computer that I know. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST,Shenandoah Date: 10 Jan 02 - 09:55 PM I disagree about the anonymous guest thing, but that is because I've been both a named guest and an anonymous one. I see many quality guest postings here. Trolls are always obvious, be they coming from anonymous guests, or members who start threads like "were the hijackers gay?" Both should be ignored. And I second the complaints about the way music discussions have gone around here--and the fine, knowledgeable people with them. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: ddw Date: 10 Jan 02 - 10:02 PM Yea, verily, Art. My time on the M'cat is dropping all the time, partly because of a few people who think it's a moral obligation to post to every thread, even if it's just to say they don't know anything about the topic. Or, even worse, to start one thread after another on subjects that can't possibly be linked to music — the current "price of..." and "Christ's face in..." bunch come to mind. I know that some of those are started by frustrated members as a way of showing just how stupid they are, but it really just adds to the tedium.... david |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: kendall Date: 10 Jan 02 - 10:06 PM I resent the lack of basic manners. Statements such as, "Piss off", or "bite me" just because someone states an opinion which someone else finds irritating. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Melani Date: 10 Jan 02 - 10:13 PM When I post from work (which I used to do, back in the days when we had internet access) it comes out as "guest." I am registered on my home computer. I generally like the silly threads, even when they're not music related. It's the same as sitting around with friends telling jokes in between the tunes. I don't see any reason for people here to get nasty with each other. I really do think it's perfectly possible to have a civilized discussion about volatile topics and disagree with each other without flipping out. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST,mgarvey@pacifier.com Date: 10 Jan 02 - 10:19 PM I hate it when people try to make other people not type in caps as though it were a moral issue. Some people just like to and some need to. Personal preference. If you don't like reading them, skip them. I also don't mind emailing people and understand the need sometimes. Everyone's time is limited. mg |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: John Hardly Date: 10 Jan 02 - 10:27 PM My time on the M'cat is dropping all the time, partly because of a few people who think it's a moral obligation to post to every thread, --ddw 53 posts MAYBE 5 fresh thoughts an encouraging word is one thing -–god knows I'd like one from time to time (a good thing to use PM for)-- but posting identical information post after post after post after ... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: ddw Date: 10 Jan 02 - 10:44 PM Gee, John, you got it in one..... david |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Jim Dixon Date: 10 Jan 02 - 10:57 PM I do a lot of searching through old threads looking for songs that need to be harvested for DigiTrad, and I have a few suggestions for how you can make my job easier: When posting lyrics:
1. Always put the song title in the Subject line of your message. Most of the time, people don't use the subject line at all, but leave it as is (which is often something like "RE: Lyr Req: A gospel song about a bird"). If you're going to post lyrics, please change the subject line to something appropriate (like "Lyr Add: THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD"). |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Justa Picker Date: 10 Jan 02 - 11:14 PM I've learned to ignore that which annoys me here. I've also reached the conclusion that unless you sing no one will give you the time of day regarding your music (with a few exceptions.) Still, for the most part, this site continues to fascinate me as do its inhabitants. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST Date: 10 Jan 02 - 11:53 PM Ask Sam is sometimes coherent and mostly drunk |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: marty D Date: 11 Jan 02 - 12:29 AM Incessant long winded and never ending whining about not being listened to at Mudcat central. Those that don't realize how darn lucky we are to have such a place as Mudcat. Of COURSE people with very specific interests are going to lose interest as a community broadens. That's life, on or off the net. The ones who resort to vicious anonymous flaming (and then accidently sign their own name) probably ARE going to get a 'good riddance'. I'm not part of any clique or in crowd, I mostly discuss music issues, and I've found a much higher percentage here of friendly, helpful and funny folks than any other site on the net. marty
|
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Art Thieme Date: 11 Jan 02 - 12:45 AM Say goodnight, Gracie. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: Art Thieme Date: 11 Jan 02 - 12:59 AM In the past I added to the varied topical-silly-wordy threads because I figured: "If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em." But these days I just don't have the energy to wade through the swamp to find the one thing worth bothering to catch and cook. That even though I'm starving. As I said, so be it. It has taken a long time and many posts over the dam to get here, but... Art |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST,Shenandoah Date: 11 Jan 02 - 09:01 AM ...but I find the more knowledgeable music people haven't just left Mudcat because of the negativity. They've pretty much left any and all the music discussion forums. While you might see the occassional posts here and elsewhere in folk music cyberspace from really knowledgeable folks, I find the people with a deep and wide knowledge of the music don't spend near as much time in these discussion forums as they once did. As Art points out, you just start spending less and less time on-line in discussion forums, and more time getting back into the 3D music communities where you live. Which isn't a bad thing, but those of us who remember the early days of the Internet when you could discuss things with people who really did know what they were talking about from across the country and around the world, find the present day folk cyberspace quite pale by comparison. Still, I'd love to see a folk music discussion forum that was moderated to keep the riff raff, trolls, flaming and general bullshit out. But folkies seem stupidly stubborn that way--most folks seem to feel it is better to keep all the music discussion forums open to all, rather than provide a high quality discussion forum for people who are truly serious about on-line communications about the music. Which has ended up meaning that folks serious about wanting to talk music have pretty much just given up on the Internet. And I'm pretty much there myself.
|
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: John P Date: 11 Jan 02 - 09:20 AM What annoys me about Mudcat is the same thing that annoys me elsewhere on the net, and in the real world as well: 1. Rude behavior of almost any kind. 2. People who think everyone wants to listen to their off-topic witticisms, constantly, in every converstion. 3. People who think everyone else should conform to their ideas of what the world should act like. There are going to be non-music threads on Mudcat. If you don't read them, they aren't there for you. It's easy. 4. Musically, people who tell me I'm not doing it right, or that I'm not doing it traditionally, or not using the right instruments, or whatever. 5. People who use anonyminity to say things they would never say if they could be held accountable. I have a lot of public contact in my job, and this happens as much in real life as it does on Mudcat. Give your name or shut up. I have no problem with friendly, helpful anonymous people. John Peekstok |
|
Subject: RE: BS: What annoys me about mudcat From: GUEST Date: 11 Jan 02 - 09:28 AM Shenandoah, John, did you read your contradiction before you hit the send button? You just said: Give your name or shut up. I have no problem with friendly, helpful anonymous people. I too have a problem with the anonymity issue. But my problem with it is, I believe in everyone's right to remain anonymous without being accused of cowardice, and other macho type bullshit which is wholly irrational and wholly emotionally laden with peoples' fears of the unknown. |