"It's an age thing" seems rather too defeatist to me. Pat's story leads me to think maybe it's more of a geographical thing. I know what you mean Pat about the folk police, but they will go the way of the dinosaurs (in a much shorter time period of course).

There are many places where all-inclusive folk music is being played and sung, and the tradition (I believe) will survive beyond my/our generation. Sure it will ebb and flow now and then, but it's still too powerful an alternative to TV to simply die away.

My answer to the "folk police" - give 'em a bit of Elvis.....