"One clear manifestation of this autism is a fear of change and a need for clearly defined boundaries; a lack of personal security and a deep seated need for belonging which exists, paradoxically, alongside ones status as a resolute outsider."

Hmmm, I'm one of those who think that traditional folk and contemporary music are different genres. I accept, for the most part, the 1954 definition as a good description of where this genre of music came from. I lament the fact that the concept of folk music has come to mean so many things that it means nothing. Oddly, I'm not afraid of change, I'm not autistic, and I don't have a need for clearly defined boundaries. I am something of an outsider, but I'm certainly not resolute (or particularly concerned) about it. I just like different things than most of the people around me.

I love traditional music when well played in the most "traditional" method imaginable, and I love it when well played with prog rock (or other) sensibilities (I do a fair bit of that myself). I dislike badly played music of any genre. I like a lot of contemporary music, and play a fair bit of that also, mostly rock, blues, and jazz. I confess to disliking most singer/songwriter music I hear. This is because so much of the lyrics are about the unremarkable emotional state of the songwriter, and so much of the music is bland. A good songwriter can still make my hair stand up, hit me in the gut, make me think, or whatever.

The quote above, and several others in this thread, seem to be saying that accepting the 1954 definition means a person is trying to tell others what to play, that they only like music if it's old, that all modern music is by definition inferior to all traditional music, etc. I'm tired of hearing that, especially since I've read every post in this thread, and almost everyone has been at some pains to make it clear that they're NOT doing any of that. Get off it, folks. Let's talk about music and stop making unfounded assumptions about other peoples' inner emotional landscapes.

Everyone plays the music they feel called to play, and enjoys the music they enjoy. No one thinks anyone should change their mind about that, or is stupid enough to think it's possible to do so.