When I've heard Irish musicians use the term - its usually applied to the more hackneyed part of the Irish trad repertoire, which is nevertheless their bread and butter in some venues.

And TheSnail:-

'weelittledrummer
>there are positives - you can have a chat, while they are diddly dee-ing, which isn't so easy when someone is singing.<

And don't they just. Singers will listen with rapt attention to the most mediocre vocalist but will cheerfully talk over any instrumentalist no matter how good generally talking louder to be heard over the "noise". Show US a little respect too please.'

In answer, I can only say I'm not a super talented musician, but I work hard at what I do. Even so, whilst in practice the variations on a theme is someting I may practice endlessly in private - I endeavour to save the more interesting bits for when I'm in public. I have and show respect for all other musicians.

What we are talking about here is the chap who is intoxicated with his ability to stagger through the piece one time - so he plays it twenty times. Also the player who does his practicing in public, and occasionally the player who 'doesn't believe in tuners'.

In such cases ones attention is inclined to wander, particularly when they get played on the radio.