Richardm it sounds to me like there are some people who think they are "the last word" on

1) folk
2) music
3) what's good
4) what isn't

In my world, opinions are like assholes. Everybody got one. Maybe some of those people need lives. I go work a club and I have to be good. People pay money, I play songs. If I suck or hand in a poor performance, I wouldn't blame folks for demanding their money back. I think that holds true for amateurs, wannabees, pros, semi-pros, etc.

I have had people come and tell me a song I'd wrotten would be better if I did this or that. I usually listen, say thank you and move on. But I did have a person get in my face one evening and he was intending to tell me what one of my songs meant--not to him, but meant in reality. I told him to f##k off. I think what may be happening is that there are people who busy themselves with the lives and art of others. I'll put it this way: anyone wants to criticize my writing, that's their business. They want me to take their criticism seriously, they best be able to write better than me on a bad day.