Folk music is not, at least should not be, sterile. It is about life and events, etc, things that I don't believe can be or should be compartmentalised. We just had a marvelous discussion on several songs including Cotton Eyed Joe.

It's been said before: if people think there aren't enough music threads, all they have to do is start some.

If there is segregation, even important and non-musical threads such as this one would be banished to a backroom.

The new people who've sent me personal messages generally are very positive, if a little confused at times, about the site. They are usually blown away by the knowledge, the caring, and the willingness to be helpful; they are also amazed and enthused about how it seems to be a total community with all of the types one would find in a real community.

IMHO there would be no way to keep threads strictly musical or strictly alternative. Both creep into the other, just like in real life. Segregating them would be cumbersome, would require judgement calls and a limited type of censorship, and, I believe, would lead to a lot of people missing out on the incredible knowledge which permeates almost every thread, whether it is about music or not.

kat