Everyone who emerges from the womb is handed a card reading "you are now a member of the human race and will probably be subjected to some form of harrassment before you croak". If you're lucky enough to be white and affluent enough not to starve, then the harrassment may take the form of sarcastic jibes at where you live, (red-necks, damn Yankees,herring chokers, Okies, Geordies etc.) what you believe (holy Rollers, bleeding hearts, penny pinchers, newage airheads etc.) and if you inhabit the (debatably) broad world of folk music, you're open to "folk Nazi, three chord wonder, no talent bum, academic elitist etc. Ever since folk festivals and clubs decided to try and make money rather than celebrate tradition, singer-songwriters have been getting it in spades. The term "omphaloscopists" was coined by a friend of mine to describe navel-gazing self-absorbed songwriters. Just as my lifestyle and behaviour in many areas makes me a perfect target for zingers, when hordes of 20 year old musical poets flood the open stages with epics describing their hard times and love lives...well,..sometimes it looks like they've got targets painted on their guitars.
I KNOW it's not nice to put folks down (even with humour) but those who claim NEVER to do it, probably are just as guilty..they just don't notice they're doing it.
Rick (who's slung out a few slings and arrows in his day..and been on the receiving end!)