How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 06:46 PM

I'm still a newbie on Mudcat and learning new things everyday! Seriously, there is so much that I just never have been exposed to....very interesting indeed!

Michelle

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 05:39 PM

LOL, glad to hear you found your PM's, nancyjo, so you know you weren't being rebuffed. Good for you for sticking with us and letting us know how things have been for you.

Re' your search, yes, when one adds lyrics, they are simply in that thread. Throughout the year, Dick Greenhaus and Susan of the DT (Digital Tradition), as well as other volunteers, *harvest* those added lyrics, then Dick and Susan decide which ones actually get put in the database. Regarless, they remain in the threads for anyone who happens to need them.

As we say, "hope this is clear as Mud." **big Grin** And, welcome to the Mudcat!

kat

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 05:35 PM

Nancyjo-

Don't feel embarrassed. There are parts of the Mudcat I don't understand or utilize even after three years. But what I do use I generally enjoy.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: nancyjo
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 05:23 PM

Oh my gosh!!! I just realized they ALL answered me and I never knew it!! For some reason, I thought it would be sent as email. I didn't figure out the pm page. Now THEY must think that I'M the rebuffer because I never acknowledged their response!!!

Oh, I feel soooo much better!!! (even if I do have egg on my face)

nancyjo

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: nancyjo
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 04:40 PM

Well, I'm still a newbie I guess - 3 or 4 months. I am not a newbie to being part of a mailing list on the Internet. I think it'd be very intersting to see what other "lists" these folks belong to/post to. I've been a part of the Neil Young list (rust) for almost 10 years. (And by the way, "troll" is very often used there.) I also belong to a mystery book list, a Rawhide list (which frequently side-tracks to other cowoby shows) and three lists related to my job (reference librarian).

I'd say this list is not as clique-ish as some, more so than others. I don't feel I belong - yet. I've been frustrated in my request for song lyrics for all 3 songs I've asked for, with no success. And also frustrated when I contributed the correct lyrics to a song and got no response. I did make a goof in the discussion on the list of best guitar players and asked about George Harrison when it turned out he WAS on the list, so maybe I have a reputation of being an air-head??

Also on a few occasions I've responded off-list to someone, always with a compliment (e.g. liked their humor) and have yet to have anyone answer me. This makes me feel rebuffed.

On the technical side, I have a question. On more than one occasion, I've searched the lyric database for a song and gotten zero hits. But when I do the advanced search with key words, I find the song in an email. And it has the same title that I searched for when I searched the list. This puzzles me. When a message is title "Lyr. added", I guess it doesn't necessarily mean it's in the database, just that someone is posting the lyrics in an email?

On the totally plus side, I have answered reference questions from the database, and so am very appreciative.

nancyjo

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 01:16 PM

That's one of the problems with people who post as GUESTs - you can't PM them and say sorry if you feel you might have overstepped the line in a comment. Or sort out a misunderstanding that threatens to lead to an avoidable quarrel.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 01:12 PM

Mind you there are some people who get hurt very easy, including myself, however I try to understnad and then I get angry and write things at the time, and then I relise how bad they sound, so I write I'm sorry afterwards, when I know that I'm in the wrong, unlike some people who can't admit that they are wrong.
Or don't like people like me saying sorry.

Tom

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 01:04 PM

I hope that mudcatter isn't me and if it is then I'm sorry Guest.

Tom

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: smallpiper
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 12:13 PM

too late he already has!

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 08:35 AM

el ted! wait until you meet some of them in person! be afraid; be very afraid....

on second thought - don't be afraid - just carry a large stick.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Beverley Barton
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 08:16 AM

bewildered!!! that's how i feel mr piper. this thing is full of surreal nutcases, but very amusing nutcases. and no, i don,t feel intimidated or threatened because it,s only a plastic box sat in my office.i can,t wait until i can use this machine properly

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 10:29 PM

Hello, i just read this anfd i think guest is just trying to make trubble, abd we should ingore them.john

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 02:01 PM

Well Iv only been on mudcat for a few months but feel very inhibited about expressing my half baked opinions to all you intelligent folks ,but I must say youve all been very understanding about grammar ,spelling ect....and even the grumpiest turn out to be pussy cats if you PM them. The trolls are great fun ,and mostly very witty. The forum needs these people to keep everyone from going to sleep,and to make us see the alternative way (there always is one).I dont know why you all get so upset about them. Any way I quite like it here so I think i'll stay around for a while..   Ake

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 01:59 PM

I suppose it's very subjectve. What feels friendly and welcoming to some people feels hostile and cliquish to others. Story of every pub and every folk club and every workplace.

I've never felt in the least threatened here, even when I've been picked out by some of the passing trolls for a bit of a flaming from time to time.

Anyway Good Luck, GUEST, in finding a more friendly place than this - and if you ever do, drop in back here and let us know, because that would be quite a find.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 01:26 PM

"Most people from Jeri to [up]yours, Peter T. have been gratuitously hateful."

pooh!...anything remotely like 'hate' from those two, or 'most' others was earned! I have no idea exactly what would cause anyone to say that about some of our nicest members, but I know the quietest of dogs will snap at you if tormented enough.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 01:01 PM

Gosh guest, I'm sorry you feel that way, but surely over five years Peter T and Jeri have proven themselves to be fine people. Peter has given us some of the best writing you're ever going to see, and I can assure you that Jeri is close to the top of the heap when it comes to Catters who've earned the respect and friendship of many.

The sheer number of people who've been complimentary here about the forum really makes me wonder if all these friends of yours REALLY felt uncomfortable or were just saying that because you felt so negative.

One Mucatter who seems very unimpressed has left out the times at the beginning when under another name he was very insulting to the forum and to members in general, so I'm rather suspicious of his complaints.

Did you ever send a PM to either Jeri or Peter trying to clear up any misunderstandings? Believe me it can't help and feeling THAT negative about a general group isn't helpful.

Hope you try again.

DB

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 07:56 PM

Seriously unwelcome - that's how I felt and it's why I never post anymore. The only members who were at all nice were Sorcha, Big Mick, and Carol C. When I first discovered the site, people were lovely about finding music and lyrics for me and some even expressed appreciation when I, wanting to return the favour, was able to find stuff. So, overcoming my natural reserve and timidity, I became a member. I feel very bad because I recommended the site to some of my friends and they all said that they felt uncomfortable. Although I still use mudcat as a resource, I never mention the site to anyone. I guess if I ever met anyone I really hated, I'd let them know about you. Most people from Jeri to [up]yours, Peter T. have been gratuitously hateful. I'm replying as a Guest, because in addition to despising you for your insults, I honestly feel threatened by some of you.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 04:19 PM

I felt that the Mudcat was just like my high school (which was a pretty damn amazing and wonderful place - it was an experimental school back in the early 1970s, modeled a bit after Summerhill); a hyper-enriched environment full of amazingly creative, intelligent, and interesting people.

I had a little trepidation about posting to the BS type threads at first, but that didn't seem to stop me from jumping in with both feet and having a fantastic time right from the start.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:18 AM

i truly like it here and thought the people were real friendly, at least with each other. later i came to realise how cliquish and egofilled alot of the people here are.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:15 AM

The reason why I keep changing my mudcat name is because after a while I get bored by usiong the same name, I just like change.
And after a while I might get fed up with this name and choose something else instead.

TOM

PS.
I've been known as Bustter, Tam the bam frae Saltcoats Scotland, Tam the bam and now Crabbit frae Saltcoats Scotland. And As I say, I might change this one after a while because I get bored with the same mudcat name all the time.

I hope you understand.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 04:53 AM

Prayer - Author Unknown

Dear Lord

Every evening as I'm lying here in bed
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head.

God bless my Mom and Dad and
Bless my little pup
And look out for my sister
When things aren't looking up.

And God, there's one more thing
I wish that you could do
I hope you don't mind me asking
But please bless my computer too.

Now I know that's not normal
To bless a mother board
But just listen a second while I
Explain to you My Lord.

You see, that little metal box
Holds more to me than odds & ends
Inside those small compartments
Rest a hundred of my BEST FRIENDS

I know for sure they like me
By the kindness that they give
And this little scrap of metal
Is how I travel to where they live.

My faith is how I know them
Much the same as you
I share in what life brings them
From that our friendship grew.

PLEASE take an extra minute
From your duties up above
To bless this scrap of metal
That's filled with so much love!

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 03:44 AM

I joined to find some half-remembered lyrics, before I knew what had happened, a snake-oil salesman called Catspaw had got me a job emptying virtual bedpans in the NYCFTTS. This job was so demanding I had to eventually retire from my day job. I don't post as much (cries of "Thank God") or read as many posts now, but someone has to represent the voice of the non-performing audience, and defend the washboard & kazoo!

RtS
(PS a singer in a UK blues band last night played a shaky egg!)

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 08:24 PM

McGrath, thanks for explaining, but I took his posting to mean he understood English as opposed to "computerese" of which there is a fair bit in this thread.

kat

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 08:11 PM

I wasn't trying to harass busbitter/crabbit - my point was that, in saying he or she only understood English, while having a name in Scots, on the face of it, this implied that Scots is not a language distinct from English. But it is.

"..anyone posting as a member can go in and change their name - and when they do all their posts change name with it."

I never knew that. It could get rather confusing - any other posts using the old name would become pretty hard to make sense of. The reason I raised it in my last post was because otherwise my earlier posts referring to the former name would be needlessly puzzling.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: smallpiper
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 07:12 PM

GUEST Woody you're a feckin genius man, a feckin genius!

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST,Woody
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 06:21 PM

How do I feel? How do you think I feel? I am in a prolonged state of Freudian/Jungian angst that has me eating shrimps at 3 in the morning and chewing my nails to the quick! None of my friends understand me in the least, and they probably wouldn't like me any better if they did. I'm surrounded by insensitive cretins who like playing squash and watching NASCAR and jabbering on videophones. Women still attract me, but I can't deal with the complications. Yesterday my dog peed on my slippers! Other men's dogs fetch their slippers, mine pees on them. My analyst says that the dog is simply responding to my own unexpressed violence in the only way he knows how! This is what I get for 35 years of analysis at a cost which is now exceeding $23,000 a year...a dog who responds to my unexpressed violence. The little bastard is going to have to respond to my fully expressed violence if he keeps it up.

I am bereft. I feel like a guy trying to sell snow in Inuktitut. I've made a series of brilliant films, absolutely brilliant, but no one really understands them, least of all the Academy. There's an anti-Semitic thing going on out there that you just wouldn't believe, and I am one of its key recipients. There's no reason, none whatsoever, that I shouldn't be as big as Cher right now...well, not if you discount the fact that I'm shorter than anyone except Danny De Vito and have thinning hair and a potbelly...but look, if I had had even half the plastic surgery in my life that that horse-faced virago has had in her life I would look pretty good. Okay, I wouldn't be an adonis, but I'd look good, at least what I'd call "good".

I'd look okay, all right?

I could go on about this at some length, but I'm not under any illusions about how much you all care. Genius is never appreciated in its own time. I'm going to go and drown myself in Kirkegard and listen to obscure jazz records that you people probably never even heard of. Then I'm going to write another screenplay that will be so brilliant that no one will understand it, not even my analyst. That'll teach him. He thinks he's so detached and objective. Ha!

In another time and place they'd have put him out on the ice as unfit for survival.

Woody

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 03:57 PM

McGrath - anyone posting as a member can go in and change their name - and when they do all their posts change name with it.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:47 PM

Give it a rest, McGrath, eh? If I remember correctly, busbiter posted as a guest, always. Now he's chosen a membership name. So what? I'm glad to see another join up and able to receive PMs.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:41 PM

I see "Busbitter frae Saltcoats Scotland" is now retrospectively renamed as "Crabbit from Saltcoats Scotland". I didn't know you could do that.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:20 PM

PS.
Oh before I go thanks Kitchen Piper for the answer.

Tom
Goodbye.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:19 PM

I was going to explain why I can only understand English/Scots and how Some people think that Scots isn't an official language, then I thought why should I, it's a wast of time.
Because there are people who just don't undesrtand, or don't want to understand, so Goodbye.
Tom

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 10:35 PM

Guydarlin'...I love seeing your own take on spelling, don't worry about it; besides, you're in good company...there are others whose minds get ahead of their fingers!:-)

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Amos
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 09:50 PM

Guy Wolfe:

IE5.x running under OS X for the Mac will spellcheck in real time as you go along and recommend corrections.

A

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 09:43 PM

ah, McGrath, that HotLingo program says it is ONLY for Microsoft products...particularly IE5 or above. I hate to see this trend where M$ wants only programs that conform to their specs and require their products. I guess I will stick with TinySpell, which works by monitoring my keyboard no matter where I am typing...in the chat room, in the reply box, in Opera, in Netscape...

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 06:56 PM

Bill D and McGrath of Harlow thanks for the spell check. Having a mac we will see. THanks anyway and with people like John fron Hull around I am much more at ease about the whole thing !! Also in the chat roon just try spelling ..HA                                 
                                     All the best , Guy
                What a great place though . More soon

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From:
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 07:01 AM

I first used mudcat when I was at university and it proved to be a valuable tool for research and help. I graduated firm uni 2 years ago and decided to stay on mudcat and got myself a name. I have always felt welcome and at home here apart from a run in or two with a certain GUEST but in the whole it has been a wonderful experience.

I have made some very good and close friends here on mudcat. I have met many of them at gatherings all over the UK. The furthest I have travelled for a Gathering is to Northern Ireland and it was great. I am aiming to get to the Getaway next year.....still saving the pennies as I would like to spend 2 weeks or so over in the US and meet up with some people I have spoken to so much in the chat room and feel I know really well.

The Mudcat is a great tool for finding music and song words and sessions and gatherings. It is also a great support network. The catter population will always be there for you to support you through the hard times we all have and they are there to celebrate with you all your successes and happinesses!

Bright Blessings

Khatt

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 06:41 AM

A good spellchecker - http://www.hotlingo.com/

The evaluation download version lasts as long as you want it, and the FAQ on the site says it's fine not to pay anything, so long as you recommend it to other people. Which I do.

Like any spellchecker, it's not just for mispellings, it picks up the mis-typings as well. For me that is a lot more important, because I am very prone to doing those.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST,just a guest
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 06:39 AM

I loved mudcat as a newbie & had a name etc, but am jaded now & just mostly post as a guest - mainly because I don't like to trip across my former selves.
I find it all a bit too "noisy" now & try not to get too drawn into the chit-chat side.
As a newbie though - it was a very welcoming place with plenty of advice offered & no ridicule if I posted a stupid question. As in life, some characters you take to & some you don't. Didn't take long to find my way around - because being new you are full of enthusiasm & like to poke about & see what everything does. Was first experience of online comunity, & not at all scarey. More scarey nowadays probably since querulousness became so popular!
As a newbie I was curious about other members in real life & made effort to meet some. Not so sure now that that really works for me though.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: smallpiper
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 04:17 AM

spelling is a mere convention .. one which I do not always choose to follow, and am very often being got at by people who take spelling personally. To almost (its not actually possible because he changes by the minute)jOhn from hull "this is not a spullung site this is a music site so f you don't like it you can get lost" But he's only almost right this is a music site but that is just an excuse for one of the best community sites on the net. I love it 'ere and am being edumucated and amused every day by my fellow catters and our estimed visitors.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Mickey191
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 12:04 AM

I came on this great site about 3 years ago, but have been more or less absent for the last year. Was given a webtv set up & somehow lucked out and found Mudcat and all it's wonderful inhabitants. I was welcomed warmly, shared my love of music, given advice on the following troubling issues: my barking pomeranion, my cousin whom I was thinking of suing for a bad debt, breast cancer, cremation, lyrics to 7 or 8 Irish songs, some words in Spanish to welcome a neighbor's baby, and lastly the model number of a good sound flush toilet. Oh yes, and the news that our northern neighbor (Canada) may be a good source if I wanted to smuggle said porcelain fixture in to N.Y.

I've felt a warm welcome from day one. I'm back with a few tales to tell. Slainté, Mickey 191

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 10:44 PM

well, Guy, if you can install a little program, you can have a little spell checker running for everything you do..

TinySpell will check for you as you type and *ding* at you if it sees something 'wrong'. You can teach it special words, too!

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 10:34 PM

When i first started to "Mudcat"...I was totally intimated...I don't play an instrument....I don't know very much about folkmusic..and I don't have very much to offer as a "Catter". BUT... I do sing...and I do think that musicians are godlike and I do check in everyday and I do read most of the threads. Yes...everyday! ... for the past 4 years! Call me crazy...whatever... this place is my community... and I know without a doubt that if needs ever be.. someone from this place will be there for me.
LL

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:28 PM

Thanks Bill I thought so(about the marrages ) but didnt follow closly enough to say so ! So how do you get a spell check in here. I could go out to my Appleworks and write something and Paiste i guess but Im to into it to go that route. Anyway i like lettinmg my hair down here.. YAHOOY .. All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:18 PM

C-Flat: There are some extremely clever and academic regulars, some outrageously funny regulars and the occassional outrageously unpleasant regular but, because this site has a common theme, one which most of us here share a passion for, you keep returning and, in doing so, begin to recognise and be familiar with dozens of names.
I agree. At the very beginning, I tended to feel that these names/people were fictional personas but it wasn't long before I was - and remain - in awe of the talent, heart and brain of so very many people.   


(Gimpy, I imagine both you and the equine will find life simpler, if not as full, without your nether bits. Be grateful.)

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:16 PM

Guy Wolff--there are at least two Mudcat marriages and MANY close friendships...and musical get-togethers without number! Add to that the advice proffered on everything under the sun (including spell checkers! *grin*), and you can only be awed...

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Amos
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 07:55 PM

Gimpy:

I can withdraw the charges of resorting to obscure referents, and thanks. I would like to replace them with charges of irresponsibility for one's own actions in the first degree, whinging with the intent to Ignore Facts, and emotional vulcanism in public places with a blunt instrument, viz., a British sense of humour. However, in light of your cooperative attitude, all charges shall be dropped forthwith.

A

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: smallpiper
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 07:13 PM

Hey Kitchenpiper I object to your appology! It is never above anyones station to make a request for info on the cat. Some times you get answers that you don't expect but that's got to be ok, hasn't it? All part of this slightly demented community and that has to inform your subject. Also I have never understood the tendency of some people to wear soggy over cooked potato products as apparel - buyt fully respect their right to do so (even if they probably just deserve a slap).

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 07:12 PM

I think I found the mudcat the first or the second day on line. I did a search on Robert Johnson and found Max's museum. My eyes are not the best so I dont read a ton and so I have awful spelling . My interest in comunicating with others who have played music for years was larger than my inbarasment at my tecknicks ( see what I mean)as a typer .I think in bigger words then I can spell! Owch. Everyone has been great to me about it. A few jokes .I guess my passion for the subject matter has always been larger then my worry about looking a fool !
       What is realy amazing though was brought up by Charley Noble. I have met more musicians in my travels then I ever thought possable ! The best moment of the last few years was starting a thread on the idea of going to Yorkshire and playing music. THe invitations were amazing and the people I met and the music we played will be with me for the rest on my life.I have met and played at sesions I never would have known about !. When an information system can transend to that kind of Human place we all gain.! Are there any mudcat Marrages? Mudcat couples ? Children !
               THere are tons of very close friends here. When I miss my youth all I have to do is go to the chat room (at 6 eastern time ) and talk to all the brits there about towns I did aprenticships and Jouneymanships in Wales and England.
             On all Four of my CD's I have looked through the data bace for corrections on words to songs I was doing. I even started a thread on a early 19th century tune to see if anyone had heard it. Everyone came back with a boat load of information .
            Anyway the point is this particular spot on the intenet draws real people playing real music and so has a very close nit HUMAN community . All the best and thanks for asking the question.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST,Gimpy
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 06:42 PM

I had thought that the entire civilized world was already well aware of the indignities I have suffered recently, but apparently not. Very well, Amos, I shall repeat my story for your benefit:

(first posted on 26th September, 2003 on September Punch the Horse thread)

Hello, mates. I'm a big fan of Punch the Horse, having seen the band perform on several occasions. I have always been fascinated by the name of the band, and wondered what inspired it. Last night, whilst ruminating on these matters at the pub, I decided around 1 AM to take decisive action and find out for myself what was the significance of the words "Punch the Horse".

Later that night on my way home I spotted an individual of the equine persuasion (a horse, that is) lounging about in a suspicious manner in the common. I determined that I would set him right (it was a stallion, quite obviously) by giving him a smart punch on the nose. However, on approaching said stallion, and he was a big one, I noted the evil look in his eye and became wary. I also noted that he was tethered securely to a bicycle rack. Very good. Instead of punching the horse from in front where the treacherous creature might bite me, I would approach from behind, where the beast would not be so well appraised of my intentions.

In due course I had maneuvered nonchalantly to the rear of the horse, not without I think arousing some suspicion though, because he nickered at least twice and kept glancing at me nervously over his shoulder.

Still, so far so good. Now it doesn't make much sense to actually punch a horse from behind, because they are so tall, so I decided to kick the nasty blighter instead. Taking a deep breath I let him have one good solid kick to the goolies!

I regret to say that things went somewhat awry at that point. I did indeed land the kick, but the horse, although quite discomfited, had the presence of mind to kick me back, not just with one foot, but with both hind feet! It was a horrific double impact which I should not wish to ever experience again, and it propelled me a good fifteen feet, landing me upsidedown in a waste disposal container which was full of nasty, smelly trash, and sharp objects. I sustained severe and possibly permanent damage to my own personal nether parts, if you follow me, a sprained knee, a wrenched Achilles tendon, and a lacerated left nostril, as well as an acute shortage of breath for some time afterward.

Not only that. The horse turned out to be a police horse, and the constable, who had been making a phone call, arrested me as soon as he had extricated me from the aforementioned waste disposal container.

I am now charged with assaulting a police horse, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace.

I intend to sue them for all they've got and take it all the way to Buckingham Palace if I must, until justice is done!

Arthur "Gimpy" Starling

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Bassic
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 06:39 PM

Amos, do the click on Gimpys name, look at his previous postings, add them together and it makes sence, honest!