Shambles, thanks for resurrecting this thread. This is obviously a subject that gets folk heated up a bit and one that will continue to be thrashed about. My slant on the matter is that the terms "folk" and "traditional" are simply academic labels that are attached to certain music forms to help place them in some historical context. The intent is not to place a "value" by the labeling. The human creature does have a passion for sorting and labeling. Ideally, to place a song or tune in the folk or traditional category should not imply that it is better or worse for that designation. The terms folk and traditional are not synonymous. "Folk" is a broad category that may encompass many traditions. "Tradition" is a specific category relating to a particular community, region, or country, etc. Some things can even be traditional without belonging in the folk category. A person cannot create a "folk song" or a "traditional song" in thirty minutes. Both take time and acceptance to earn their academic label. However, one can certainly create something that resembles a folk or traditional song in a short period of time and if folks like it and it touches a spot in the heart and people keep singing it and passing it on to others, then it is a wonderful thing. The value of this newly created song lies not in the label it bears, but whether or not folks enjoy it.