"Sure, there are clubs where new songs are made and performed, but these are not communities; rather they are small, isolated groups of individuals."
Thanks Jim the info about the collecting is very interesting and helps me to some degree towards more understanding of that.
The bit in quotes though, it seems that small isolated groups are communities to me.
If they are not perhaps you could tell me what qualifies as a community in the context of your point.
I am not just trying to be awkward but I know from visiting clubs and pubs where others,I am assuming here,who have the same love of the Old songs as you have been gathered to sing and play and I have never been made to feel other than welcome.
Often asked IF I want to give something and even after I have explained that I only have my own songs to sing, more often than not been very courteously asked to have a turn.
You see I get the feeling from some of the posts on these threads that I am to be excluded and that even to listen would besmirch the tradition. whereas the truth out there is one more usually of inclusiveness.
One can also get the impression from some posts that unless one has been to the right uni you have no right to an opinion on the matter.
I am not saying that you personally have given that opinion,but maybe the feelings I get from it go some way to explain why there is such ongoing tension between those on the different sides of the same campfire.