Don't we all - it's called judgment guided by what we know, think we know and what we've done

Subjective opinion in other words, to which you're entitled.

- in our case, thirty odd years of talking to and recording traditional singers.

From which you arrive at your own conclusion. So what? Keep up the good work but keep your ill-informed criticisms and negative absolutisms to yourself. Either that or just ditch them altogether.

Perhaps you might tell us what you base your outright dismissal of Sharp, Greig, Hendedrson, Buchan, Lomax, Lloyd.......... and anybody who has ever been stupid or agenda driven enough to use the terms "folk" and "tradition"

I'm wary of certain of their methods and assumptions, but I do not dismiss any of them outright. I avidly read, collect & study their works - and I sing many songs associated with them, collected or written by them. I love my country, Jim - I don't have to agree with each successive MP or other fellow countryman. Same with Folk. I am wary, and not without good reason. But I too use the words Folk and Tradition...

not to mention Walter Pardon, Tom Lenihan, Duncan Williamson, The Stewarts, Jeannie Robertson - all of whom have at one time or another attempted to distinguish their songs and stories from the factory manufactured variety.

I love all these people very dearly and I'm honoured to have worked, laughed and drank with one of them. Not sure what you mean by Factory Manufactured though - is that TV evagelised Celtic Woman Sean Nos stuff you were raving on about earlier? You see, I don't have a problem with that either, just a matter of taste surely? Again you seem to be implying some darker occult hierarchy available only to select initiates. It's not the case. I've got a lot of Duncan Williamson books and Lomax records (etc.) and I'm sure they might just be Factory Manufactured too.

If you are so confident your ideas are right

Only right for me, Jim - if other people agree, then fair enough; if they don't then I'm not about to assault them or dismiss them. I am but one person, and the last time I looked free speech was still a highly prized human right.

why to you insist on using such unpleasantly distorted terms as "Traditional Correctness" and "The Dark Lord Manacle Cowl"

I'm reacting against your unrelenting negativity, Jim. You have standards of absolutism by which you feel qualified to dismiss anything you do not like as being somehow 'wrong', and your allegiance to Manacle Cowl is well known & oft stated. So - I can't help but feel the two things might be related. I only have a passing acqaintance with The Dark Lord myself, but remain as respectful as I am skeptical, especially of his methods, myth, assumptions, and righteous political brow-beating. But his legend fascinates, as legends do, and he was a damn fine singer, but not in the same league as Davie Stweart or Captain Beefheart. You call these things unpleasant, however I would never openly insult someone by saying   

it makes you look a bigger prat than you obviously are

if only because I've more respect for both myself and for other people - even you - than to stoop so low.