Santa, I think you've missed the point in Helen's comments somehow.

Yes this site is devoted to folk music and it is great that it allows people to express their opinions but in this case the musical criticism is getting totally mixed up with criticism of Jim in general. Even if people don't like his music, it is not fair to use terms such as 'nerd' and suggest he can't sing, as they do not know anything about him other than what is presented through the distorting nature of the media.

The folk music world is a lot smaller and more personal than other genres and so the artists themselves, and their families and friends do read what is being written about them and are going to get upset and hurt by it. Why should anyone have to take slagging off such as this from people who have no real reason for saying it?

This messageboard has already had a go at ripping Jim apart once, I think its time to leave him alone to get on with doing what he does. He is a musician who has come to recieve the success he has through musical talent and is making a public display of himself for the music alone.