Some people seem irritated that this discussion keeps on coming up again and again, and going through the same set of changes and ending up in the same place

But doesn't that remind you of something else of which you could say the same thing? By which I mean, the songs we like to sing. This discussion is itself TRADITIONAL, and that is a justification for reviving it from time to time.

Or, as with song and music, I'd sooner say "it comes out of the folk tradition". Or out of one of the folk traditions.

Because a song or tune can be as fresh as yesterday, created by someone sitting across the room and come out of a living tradition, and be fitting to take its place in that tradition.

Or a song can have been around for years, and not come out of a folk tradition, and not drifted into it either.

Age hasn't really got anything to do with it, exceot thta it acts as a filter, starining out a lot of poor songs (and sadly, a lot of good omnes as well.

Does this traditional discussion have a chorus?

Kevin