BS: What might Mudcat be like if -

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: CarolC
Date: 13 May 06 - 01:00 PM

LOL, heric.

( ...you underestimate me)

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: clairerise
Date: 13 May 06 - 01:29 PM

I've definitely wondered about it. And I've also sometimes wondered if sometimes they're lurking here but they get scared off by some of the things they see here.

You say black people who are 'lurking' might get scared off because of the things said on here? Black people are not kittens carolc, that's all im saying.

They don't lurk in the shadows of all white mudcat in fear at some comments made then run and not join.

Plus i have never actually seen racist language on here anyway, though if i am wrong correct me, but even then that wouldn't scare anyone off.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: CarolC
Date: 13 May 06 - 01:41 PM

Not just Black people, clairerise. Many kinds of people. Azizi din't just mention Black people in her initial post.

And I've seen White people get scared off by what they considered to be racist posts about non-White people as well.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: CarolC
Date: 13 May 06 - 01:43 PM

Plus i have never actually seen racist language on here anyway, though if i am wrong correct me, but even then that wouldn't scare anyone off.

You are quite wrong about this, and I can provide examples.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: clairerise
Date: 13 May 06 - 01:46 PM

And you might want to wait until you've been here a while longer before you start commenting on how things work around here.

Sorry are new members not allowed opinions?

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: CarolC
Date: 13 May 06 - 01:54 PM

That was just a helpful suggestion, clairerise.

And you are certainly entitled to your opinions (as am I). But if you are going to call people's posts "patronizing" based on a lack of information and a lack of experience with this site, don't be surprised if someone returns the favor.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 May 06 - 03:17 PM

"I'm quite sure a few nasty words do not scare anyone from mudcat."

"Scare" probably isn't the right word most of the timne - but there have, as Carol said, been plenty of times when people have pushed off because they edon't like the company. Most people onthe Mudcat arer fine, but there are some exceptions.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: Stringsinger
Date: 13 May 06 - 04:20 PM

Azizi

We don't really know that there aren't some who lurk.

A discussion of racism would be productive here. I think, however, that if it's forced just because we want different ethnic groups to particpate just because they are different ethnic groups than that's a kind of stereotyping that's not needed. OTOH, there is so much to be learned from people from different ethnic cultures that it would be wonderful to hear more from them.

I would love to hear about ethnic music from practioners. For example, if a young black blues musician were to particpate and share his or her feelings on he music, that would be terrific.

If someone from the rural part of the US could share with us feelings about why they liked OT or Bluegrass music, that would be great too.

Or someone who has a distinctive ethnic background in some national music that could enlighten us, it would be great.

Wouldn't it be fantastic to hear from an African drummer about the role of rhythm in a community?

i think that the folk community is ever expanding and getting more diverse which is in my mind a good thing. I see folk music as a cultural index into the lives of people and their humanity that is really important...a kind of musical anthropology. I am always grateful for some new information about folk music whether it can be agreed upon as to what it is or not.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: akenaton
Date: 13 May 06 - 04:43 PM

Hear hear to that.
Comments like..."What would it be like if more black people posted here" and "If there were more Mudcat members and guests who were people of color and other [what appears to me to be] currently poorly represented racial and ethnic groups on Mudcat" appear to signal an agenda by the poster.
The pursuit of this agenda is often referred to as "trolling"

When listening to music or responding to other posters on this site ,I've never cared if they were black, white, yellow or green.

I'm sure the only things that interest 99.9% of the membership here is the music or the ideas put up for discussion. I'm all for diversity in music and life. I dont think we need the assistance of the "thought police" in setting the perameters of those discussions....Ake

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 May 06 - 05:26 PM

Trolling is when people post stuff they probabaly don't really give a toss about in the expectation and with the object of stirring up dissent. That's its "agenda".   

And it pretty clearly isn't the agenda in the case of this thread.

Whether on the Mudcat or in the real-world folk get togethers, it's much more fun when they operate in such a way that a range of different folk traditions, and a range of the various communities that have developed theser traditions, intermingle and interact. Trying to identify the factors that often stop that happening is a thoroughly worthwhile agenda.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: akenaton
Date: 13 May 06 - 05:41 PM

But what has "colour" got to do with it?

Every nationality or ethnic area has its own musical style, Scottish Irish, Cuban, South American, Cajun......dozens of them, all defined by their sound not by the colour of the performers.

And I dont agree with you about a lack of agenda on this thread...Ake

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 May 06 - 06:10 PM

I didn't say there wasn't "an agenda" on this thread. I think there's always an agenda in everything we do. Sometimes it's open, sometimes it's implicit, sometimes it's hidden.

I disagreed with akenaton's assertion that this thread's agenda could properly be described as trolling, and explained why. Then I indicated what I thought the implicit agenda was, and said I personally saw it as worthwhile.

"Colour" is one marker of some ethnic communities. It's been given an exaggerated and distorted significance, more especially in some parts of the world. Different types of musical tradition are another marker, and that's something which is clearly very relevant to the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 May 06 - 06:16 PM

The whole premise of this thread is based on a broad and sweeping generalisation about the membership of the Mudcat by someone who has only been here for just over a year, according to her postings. One has only to visit her website and read her "take" on the Mudcat to see she has carried those generalisations over to there, also. BTW, this is nothing I have not already said to Azizi by PM.

Yes, to what Frank has said, BUT Frank...it's not just rural people who have been brought up on OT or Bluegrass!:-) I know you've been around long enough to have seen some of the fantastic threads we've had on them and on the blues and gospels. I think part of the problem is newer members are judging the Mudcat and its archives by what they see in the day's current fair. With a bit of research, easily done with the SuperSearch, one can find many, many threads on all types of diverse backgrounds and music, including many African.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: CarolC
Date: 13 May 06 - 06:39 PM

While I don't believe in categorizing people according to "colour", or attempting to assign any particular attributes to people based on their colour, I do like having opportunities to get to know people of many "colours". I find that the perspectives people have of the world can be at least partially shaped by their experiences. What one experiences can also be, at least partially, shaped by some physical attributes along with all of the other considerations.

I like knowing about the different kinds of experiences people have of the world, and their perceptions and perspectives based on those experiences. All of these things help to create the kind of variety in people that makes them interesting. I like learning about people's experiences, and I like knowing how these things contribute to the musical millieu of which they are a part, or with which they identify.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: Azizi
Date: 13 May 06 - 09:24 PM

Stringsinger, I very much agree with your 13 May 06 - 04:20 PM post.

CarolC, I very much agree with your 13 May 06 - 06:39 PM post.

Also, I appreciate the comments that McGrath of Harlow has made on this thread.

As to those who have issues with me, or with my opinions of Mudcat, or with my reasons for posting here, I will not let your issues or opinions interfere with my right to start threads or posts to threads on subjects that are of interest to me and that may be of interest to other folks here now or in the future.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: open mike
Date: 13 May 06 - 10:41 PM

What might Mudcat be like if ... everyone here genuinely cared about
each other and was considerate, thoughtful and generous? That
would make this a place that everyone would want to come to.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 06 - 10:58 PM

I did not know Azizi had a website.

I did know there is no stronger True Believer in the Sanctity of Mudcat than katlaughing.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 06 - 11:09 PM

Any relation to the Iranian Kurd poet Bayan Azizi?

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: dianavan
Date: 13 May 06 - 11:27 PM

How would I go about finding Azizi's website?

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: Azizi
Date: 13 May 06 - 11:30 PM

If interested, click http://www.cocojams.com/names.htm to read a short comment which I wrote about how I got the name "Azizi".

That comment is located towards the end of that page which contains information about and commentary on names and nicknames.

I wrote that comment for the Mudcat thread "RE: BS: How did you choose your mudcat name?" and I reposted it on my website.

Subject: RE: BS: What might Mudcat be like if -
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 06 - 11:32 PM

How would I go about finding Azizi's website?

Try asking her.