"To me it is more important that the newcomers should be encouraged and given support to help them overcome their anxiety and give it a go."

No (he sighed wearily) my post above was not aimed at newcomers or new singers. It was aimed instead at selfish, lazy, lime-light hogging singers who have often been singing for years. These people never seem to improve because it's quite obvious that they never put the work in. I've known plenty of singers, over the years, who were not particularly brilliant when they started out, but got better over time (sometimes spectacularly so) because they put the work in. I'm always delighted when this happens.

I think I've said this before - but it bears repeating: Everyone has a right to sing but with that right comes responsibilities; primarily, not to bore the pants off your audience and/or your fellow singaround participants.