Dick,

Never have I suggested that middle class is a derogatory term. You made that bit up.

When you make statements of fact then you need to back them up. If you want to say the folkscene is 90% middle class that implies that some research exists with, first of all a definition of class, and secondly some numbers.

Dick you can say what you like and no-one is going to stop you. If in your opinion the folk scene is 90% middle-class you - AT THE VERY LEAST - have to say what you mean by middle-class. That is if you want your opinion to carry any weight. Of course if you want it ignored as just so much flim-flammery then fine. Tell us you do not want your postings to be considered as serious contributions and I am happy to ignore them.

neither have you provided a logical reply or proved that Fishermen singing the above mentioned songs about their livelihoods

As for your fishermen, I asked before and I ask again - do they sing the same "Three Score and Ten" as the Watersons sang?

Since you clearly have a group of singing fishermen living near - do they only sing these two songs? Do they sing other songs? If so what do they sing? Who are they? Where can they be heard singing? Has anyone recorded their singing? Where did they learn "Three Score and Ten" and "Fiddler's Green"? Have they altered any of the words? Do they sing in harmony or unison? Are they accompanied?

For someone interested in folk music with, as you keep telling us, a wealth of experience in folk music - here is what sounds like an interesting group of fishermen of which you seem to be able to tell us very little about their music. Apart from the fact they sing "Three Score and Ten" and "Fiddler's Green".

Folk music is a serious subject in my opinion and deserves to be treated seriously and not just subject to opinions that are loosely based on a person's experience, valuable though that experience might be, without some sort of evidence to back up what they say.

If you disagree with any of that last paragraph, say which part you think I have got wrong.