How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 03:02 PM

I remember one of my friends encouraged me for over a year to check in here back in 2000. I thought he was wasting a whole lot of time on his "Mudcat addiction." Finally, I gave it a try, scrolled through some old threads, checked out what people had to say about obscure folk music topics, got familar with the interface, and decided it was very intersting. I was able to recover some songs from fragments that I'd been working with for years. As a songwriter I had fun responding to song challenges, and received some good advice on other song projects. I love some of the outrageous stories that are periodically generated, and the outrageous puns. Initially, I felt wary about posting my own comments, and only did so as a "guest" for about a year. Now I'm confident enough to post under my assumed Mudcat name.

When traveling, Mudcat has been an outstanding resource for locating music contacts in unfamilar cities, something which was often impossible to do before Mudcat. I can now put faces to some of the friendly talented members who frequent this site.

I probably don't post as much as I used to do during my initial "I'm in a candy store and look at everything that's here" period but I still feel it's the most satisfying community website I've ever experienced, warts and all!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: JonnyDyer
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 02:45 PM

When you first started being a member of mudcat, how did it feel?
a little bit lost. Although in hindsight its reasonably well laid out, it took a while to find things ... and the links in the main page text are a bit unhelpful. I guess this is partly because I was there on recommendation from a friend ... and wasn't really sure why I was there!!!

Were you scared?
No .... but then the community is very passive .... and, apart from the chat, its easy to'lurk' (explore without contributing anything) without embarrassing yourself

Did it take a while to find your way around?
I'm still trying to find my way around. I've got the hang of the digital lyric thing and the chat .... but there's plenty more to find I guess.

Was it your first experience of being in an online community?
NO ... I've been in quite a few ... but this is the first that doesn't have a direct homogenous membership.

:)

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:58 PM

Ya know, I think I had more broad respect for Mudcat, when it was just a tool for me... I'd come from time to time looking for lyrics... sometimes I'd find 'em... some times not...

Slowly I kinda stated digging deeper into the 'community' (I use quotes, cxause I don't really know that it is... just cause you call it that, don't make it so...) and the further in I got I found more and more warts...

For the most part now I try to ignore the warts, and use mudcat as a side-line communication tool with some of the good folks i've met here...

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:42 PM

When I found it, I read a bunch of threads, did my homework basically, and after I felt I knew enough just jumped right in. It felt like home the first day. It never felt 'cliquie' to me and I was welcomed warmly. In fact, I did my homework soo well that another member was convincd I was really katlaughing in disguise.......it was pretty funny to us.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: nutty
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:40 PM

I was new to computers as well as new to mudcat. The advice and information so generously given helped me to navigate through the vast amount of knowledge I needed.

I found that whatever I needed to know, someone here on mudcat had the answer and that answer would be one that I could act on with confidence.

It was like finding that I had a new and amazingly large, set of friends. In my early days, we regularly met for internet singarounds, first on "hear me" and later on "Pal talk".
I discovered that like all communities differences of opinion occur and I regret that this resulted in some people leaving Mudcat.
One of the best spin-offs for me has been the Mudcat gatherings and more recently Mudchat.

Mudcat is still growing and I am still discovering new things but the internet (or the world) will never be a scary place with the strength, knowledge and friendship of a multitude of mudcatters to support me

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:29 PM

Q When you first started being a member of mudcat, how did it feel?

A 1999 I think. Like the first folk club after the lean years of marriage (lean folkwise and in all the usual wedded bliss ways). The light had finally been switched-on.

Q Were you scared? Did it take a while to find your way around?

A No. Not overly but then I just dived-in and asked questions - and you could see that generally in those days.

Q Was it your first experience of being in an online community?

A Yes

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:17 PM

I'm a member and can anyone tell me what a newbie is please, as I am new to this new language.
I can only speak English and I don't understand gobbledigook like this.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 12:48 PM

When I first started I was:

1) amazed at the wealth of knowledge already available

2) astounded by the wealth of knowledge offered in answer to questions (and the speed at which it was offered)

3) awed at the expertise of many of the posters

4) totally floored when people took me and my responses seriously.

Not my first experience with an online community. One of which was welcoming - three or four of which I backed out of because they were definately clique-ish and one which was hostile to newcomers.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: tuggy mac
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 12:04 PM

resistance is tactile! borg fan.

Tuggy mac.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 07:03 AM

I was amazed and delighted, and confused. I never had any sense of it being difficult to break in, or of it being a stand-offish clique.

Here's a link to a song I wrote soon after I started mudcatting, which sums it up - The Blue Clicky Thing. And I still feel the same way, only more so, especially the last verse and chorus.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: VIN
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:48 AM

Sometimes its nice to chat without somebody analyzing your body language - if you see wot i mean.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: kitchen piper
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:41 AM


ooh, that was an interesting analogy! I liked that!
I feel like I'm a bit in a science fiction novel.
The whole community is in my head, it's not out loud.
It's like being part of the borg!
Except of course it's not mind reading, ppl only hear what you type.
I know what you mean!

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: tuggy mac
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:19 AM

its like scitzo phreania(Spelt wrong) some times your just talking to yourself and then at other times you hear hundreds of other voices! Do you get where im coming from.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: kendall
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:18 AM

I felt like a clam digger at a Mensa convention.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:18 AM

I was pleasantly surprised to find so many people who not only liked Leadbelly's music but had lots of information about him.
Since then I've constantly been amazed at the variety of topics on here.
In answer to your question: Fine, just fine.
All the best from the fB and good luck with your degree.

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: kitchen piper
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:16 AM

Why does it feel strange? I just ask because I think a lot of people do feel strange, but why?
:-))
VIx

Subject: RE: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: tuggy mac
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:15 AM

i still feel strange,my shrink said id get used to it!

tuggy mac

Subject: How did you feel as a newbie on Mudcat?
From: kitchen piper
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 05:48 AM

Hi guys!

I have a question for you all.

When you first started being a member of mudcat, how did it feel?
Were you scared? Did it take a while to find your way around?
Was it your first experience of being in an online community?


Just so that you don't think I am totally mad, I am studying for a masters,
this module I am studying online communities and online learning.
Mudcat I think is the best community I've come across!

Cheers for your answers!!! (In advance, lol)
:-))
Vix