Good examples, John Hardly--and each topic has it's standard gambits--

Someone in the style/provenance thread will say, "I hope this thread doesn't turn into another discussion of "What is folk music?", and will then start the discussion.

For the instrument thread, someone will write an endorsement for Lowden guitars.

For the creative writing thread, someone will be reminded of a long old "song" that they wrote, which has no discernable connection to the topic.

For the history/lore threads, there are two standard gambits--that, contrary to all evidence, it is of recent orgin, or, without any evidence, that it dates back to the 13th century.

Carol:

My idea begins with this, from Free OnLine Dictionary:

i·con
n.
1. also i·kon (kn)
a. An image; a representation.

b. A representation or picture of a sacred or sanctified Christian personage, traditionally used and venerated in the Eastern Church.

2. An important and enduring symbol: "Voyager will take its place ... alongside such icons of airborne adventure as The Spirit of St. Louis and [the] Bell X-1" William D. Marbach.

3. One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol: "He is ... a pop icon designed and manufactured for the video generation" Harry F. Waters.

4. Computer Science A picture on a screen that represents a specific file, directory, window, option, or program.


From this, I have abstracted: "A representation"" on a screen" "designed and manufactured" by "One who(desires to be) the object of great attention" --

And that is what I am interested in---