"I promise I will NEVER even open a Lizzie Cornish thread EVER again, they are without exception started with one purpose in mind, so that people will talk about Lizzie Cornish, she craves and adores the attention, she doesn't care what is said as long as it is about her, for me, no more forever."

Excellent Dave, that's one less poster to abuse me from now on then. Thank you for finally bowing out.

Hey, do you recall though, that conversation we had, when I told you how upset I was, over having had my freedom of speech taken away on the BBC, by you and your mates, after years of constant abuse? Do you recall that you came back to me, saying 'Hey Lizzie, it's just a bit of fun, that's all.'...and do you recall how I told you that it had gone way beyond 'fun'. Write what you want to me 'in private'....but please, don't distort the views of those who may know nothing of what's been following me around for years.

This thread was...actually...started in exasperation over the pedantic ramblings concerning A.L. Lloyd, in Kate Rusby's thread...a thread which I started for no other reason than to pass a link on to others, should they want to watch it, because I happen to love Kate's music. I know that many others do as well, including many on Mudcat. But down came The Professors, who sucked out the joy and happiness in that thread. Fair enough, threads go like that, conversation goes of at tangents all the time, and there are always some things that come out of threads going off topic which always prove interesting...

But I started this thread because I am sick of the way certain people think they are the be all and end all of the folk world, and their condescending manner really gets up my nose at times. I started it to try and find out how it's happened and why.

Yes, of course it's interesting to hear the stories behind the songs, and...if you have the gift of telling the story in the right way, then much will be learned by many. I've spoken about how John Tams does this so brilliantly, above.

But just coming out with intense facts and dates, can actually, (for me at least) be really boring and a complete and utter turn off. Far more than that though, is the condescension involved by those who deem themselves The Professors, and feel it is their right to talk down to The Peasants.

It ain't.

Teaching is NOT about being condescending. Teaching is about an absolute willingness to share your knowledge, in an inspirational, uplifting and non-abusive manner....and as you can see, by much of the crap written in here...it is a gift that not everyone in the English folk world has.

As I've said before, I do NOT see this sort of reaction in the Australian, US and Canadian posters....They have the gift of simply seeming able to love the songs, never using the facts that lie behind them as weapons.

And someoe mentioned above about starting a new thread, leading off this one, about how people introduce songs. I think that's a wondeful idea, but of course, if I do it, the usual crap will start, so I hope that someone else may do that instead..

Good to hear that I won't have to endure any more of your verbal abuse though, Dave. That's really cheered me up. I thank you for that.

Lizzie