At any given gathering of folkies, you'll find people saying "It's pretentious - I don't like it" AND "It's innovative - I love it." Go with your own opinion. If you let opposing opinions drive you off, it's only their voices which will be heard. There will ALWAYS be people who hate the music you love.

As far as the BBC forum, from what I've read (not all of the thread, as I find it a bugger to navigate) there isn't anything that bad. I didn't see it as an 'attack'. I've heard people at parties and other gatherings who are steadfast members say much the same, if not worse. Hell, I probably have, myself. Opinions come from people, not locations, whether they're solid-world places or webspots. As to what sort of people those places tend to attract...both Mudcat and the BBC Forum play host to individuals whose identities seem rooted in their crusades and their ability to put others down. Both sites have people whose wit and wisdom stand out. We aren't better than them, nor they, us. Perhaps the sites differ in how they operate, but the opinions at both places seem pretty representational of humans interested in folk music.

Anybody else think this is funny? First, a discussion here about a discussion there about here, which has progressed to a disussion there about the discussion here about the discussion there about here.