This is good, Lizzie - I feel I am making some progress :-) I know it is my lack of understanding BTW so don't think by 'making progress' I am referring to anything you have done. I am just understanding things a bit better.

There are still some things that I am failing to see though -

And please, don't come over all dictatorial with me.

I didn't think I had. Apologies if it came over like that.

I actually love 'some' traditional music..but I couldn't give a hoot for all that 1976 definition 'stuff'

Ditto for me. I think the 1954 definition is useful to some people who need to label music - I am not saying that in any derogatory manner. labels can be very important in lots of circumstances! I don't use it myself though.

Why then, if you like traditional music, are you suggesting it needs to be replaced with something else? Why do you want to deny thousands of people the right to listen to traditional music? Why do you believe that your tastes are more valid than mine or Richards or anyone else's? Help me to understand that.

I mean WHO would want to listen to 36 verses of that???? Holey Moley!

I would. Martin Carthy's version of 'Famous Flower' is one of my favourite tracks. Why should I be subjected to ridicule because my tastes differ to yours? Again - Please explain. I honestly don't understand.

Once, I went to a folk gig and saw people knitting!! They were knitting whilst the artist was singing. I tried to figure out if they were related to those who sat beside the Guillotine and maybe they were knitting in various artists names to a Secret List to be sent to Folk Police Headquarters.

I *also* saw others putting ear plugs in, to their ears, I hasten to add, not to their knitting, and they did this right in front of the band...

My twin daughters (in their 20s - Not old fogies at all) are demon knitters and lovers of traditional music. They love to combine the two. They often take their knitting to the pub too. They were bullied at school for being different. How is your ridiculing their actions any different from the type of bullying that you make such a stance against. Besides - How does knitting stop anyone from listening to music or watching the artist. Surely, as a woman, you understand multi-tasking? :-)

In addition, my wife has a condition which leaves her in great pain if the volume of any sound system (particularly the bass levels) is too high. She always needs ear plugs at the cinema and often needs them at concerts - depending of how high the sound man has cranked up the bass or where the speakers are positioned.

May I suggest to you that these things you have seen are not always as they first appear.

Looking forward to your reply.

Cheers

DtG