I think we have a tendency to think things (and people) are much different than they used to be, but I don't think this is the case, we just see it from a different perspective as we get older.

Just look at the album covers from the late 60's / early7 70's folk revival; these people were young and enthusiastic about our traditional music, as I think young people are still today. I went to Shepley Festival last year, and about 1/3 of the people there were I would guess from about 16-25, fantastic. Don't let assumptions or commonly held beliefs about what young people are into muddy your view - get out there and see these people listening to it and playing it. Funnily enough, I met a steward there who also stewards at Chester Festival, which she assured me has a similar strong representation from the (relatively) very young, and she proceeded to inform me that some of her (less so young) friends refuse to go as a result of it being such a young festival.

We all get bogged down in our worlds and our surroundings, but I don't believe folk music is being lost at all, I believe lots of people are picking it up and taking it forward.

And by the way, can people please stop reinforcing their allegiance with one thing, by having to slag off another thing. It is ok to like what you like, and let other people like what they like. I don't find it necessary to say I like a pint of bitter by having to have a go at what the person next to me is drinking. And by the way, I believe this goes for generalising rap as (c)rap, there is (c)rap in all genre's of music.