"But I know which of those I respect more"

Why do we have to tie our thoughts about the writer into our reaction about the song? If we knew who wrote "Barbara Allen", would that increase our descrease our feelings about the song?

Dylan doesn't seem like the kind of person whose company I would enjoy, but that isn't the point. I don't care whether he joined the "movement" or just had a nice one. Whether I respect him as a person or not was not the question being discussed and it has absolutely bupkis to do with the song.