Pete M,

I guess perplexity is the closest. I was surprised at the depth of feeling that came forth on a post about "How do you learn songs?" My plea was for a little tolerance. I do suffer from intolerance of intolerance, I know.

I suspect there are multiple reasons why people post with so little understanding of what they are doing. The reasons probably range from sheer stupidity to over eagerness (I have asked for lyrics without checking the DT).

It does get frustrating at times, but I have taken Joe as a model attempting to be a gentle teacher without jeopardizing the focus of the forum. I remember how I first came to the 'Cat. I plugged in Lead Belly in some Search Engine and mudcat.org was just one of the many URL's that came up.

I consider myself a quick learner, but I suspect it took me all of six months to become facile with the Forum. That is partly because I was learning the Internet at the same time.

I think I understand your defense of the folk process. I hope you understand my defense of written lyrics as well. Jo Taylor's post reminds me of the young child who drew a Christmas picture of a stable with a star over it. Behind the stable was a huge roly-poly figure about three stories high. When the Sunday school teacher asked about the figure, the child simply said, "That's round John Virgin".

It is difficult for me to imagine how the oral tradition maintained songs. The most recent examples come from Appalachia and the Delta where music passed from person to person until the advent of the radio, the vinyl record, and the Juke Box. Certainly the speed of dissemination picks up and there becomes a "reference" point to which people may return. One might say this deadens the music, takes away its vitality. And yet, classical music remains quite vital and yet the reference points for Bach are there, note for note.

I served in Uncle Sam's Army in the quartermaster corps. One ROTC lieutenant had a stamp for paper work that was subpar in format. It simply said, "You must be new!" I suggest we help out the newcomer.

It becomes clear with re-reading that I have rambled more than usual, but I'll leave it as it lays.

Roger in Baltimore