"Where in the sainted folk process is origination?"

Jesus. Yesterday I tried to approach that question in a rational and non-confrontational way (btw 'photos without names and dates' is exactly what the old songs are, Crow Sister), and in reply I get a load of half-arsed whimsy about Gaia.

Shimrod has a point. What's coming through in this thread is a point of view that:

(a) Any modern composition can be called 'folk music';

(b) Therefore 'folk music' must be no different from any other kind of music;

(c) Therefore traditional songs must have identifiable authors just like 'Blowing in the Wind' does;

(d) Therefore there can be no such thing as 'the folk process'.

Which does look like arguing backwards to deduce the 'facts' from a pre-existing conviction. Bored now. Bye.