"Spend a month listening to nothing but traditional folk music. Then spend a month listening to nothing but contemporary folk music."

Yep! Perhaps all those on here who keep on whining, "I don't understannnddd!!" need to put some work in. If you really don't understand listen to the recordings, read the books and think hard about what you've listened to and read. If at the end of that process you decide that you don't like folk music - fine - it's your choice. But don't expect an easy ride when you demand that folk music be jettisoned (because you don't like it) and be replaced by music that you do like!