I've used the term "folk-snobbery" more than one time in the past couple of years, as it threatened to rear its head, but it never got quite to the point that it did in this thread, and it stepped on my last nerve. Since no one has offered the absolute definition of the word "folk" as it relates to folk music, I will no longer refer to myself as a folksinger, but as a singer of acoustic music, whether it be from the annals of public domain or from the brilliant mind of Gillian Welch or even (g-d forbid) Carly Simon, whose earlier songwriting I liked very much and played and sang it. I don't think private conversations are necessary on this subject ... y'll offered your opinions and I offered mine. Enough said. Subject closed. moonchild