Once again, the relevant "us" for the Mudcat is that we are here because we like folk music of various sorts, and we like to be able to talk about it, and also to be able to talk about lots of other things with people with whom we may disagree strongly, but with whom we share that fundamental bond.

It's rather like the "us" of people who speak the same language. That doesn't mean they won't disagree and have arguments - in fact it means they can disagree and have arguments in ways which aren't available to people who don't share a common language.