A point or two regarding a couple of GfS's recent observations:

GfS:    "Why do you think that a lot on here have only stuck to folk music..or the blues (3 chords), for 40 years, or so???!!??"

A narrow, stereotyped idea of what many serious singers of folk songs do. One folk singer I know was also a classical violinist. Another was a jazz musician with a degree in music. And I could list dozens of others. I, myself, started out with an interest in opera, and to enhance my own performances of folk songs and ballads, took singing lessons, studied music first in a major university music department, then transferred to a music conservatory—and spent several years studying classical guitar. My accompaniments usually use quite a bit more than merely three chords. And by far, I am not the only one here who is fully aware that folk music can be, and is, a serious academic and musical study, and who approach it as such.

Also, whether one sings or not, traditional songs are a serious study in themselves:   in music, English literature, poetry, and anthropology, not to mention history.

So GfS's comment is either a cheesy attempt to belittle those frequenting this forum who do not agree with him, or a betrayal of his own ignorance of the field—or both.

GfS:   "Personal attacks happen when people are blocked from learning, by EXCHANGING IDEAS...and being set in one's ways, is a sign of a 'less than open' mind."

Do a bit of a spot-check on this and other threads upon which GfS has posted and see for yourself who is, by far, the greatest user of personal attacks. Then ask yourself, "Who here is really 'blocked from learning .  .  .  and being set in one's ways.' And who, then, is showing a sign of a 'less than open mind.'"

You'll get a real snort out of that statement!

And his comments about liberals in general show an abysmal ingnorance of political philosphy.

The dull-witted often have a very difficult time comprehending what goes on in the minds of those more intelligent than themselves, as GfS more than amply demonstrates.

Don Firth