Just so you know Larry, when Blandiver said this:

"even when Jim Eldon performs a pop song it becomes Folk by dint of context & intention alone, but to call it a Folk Song on account of its adoption, process, nascence and adaption is, I think, specious in the extreme."

It became really clear that he isn't a folklorist/ethnomusicologist, and doesn't really understand what they do, or what they've been doing for the last hundred odd years.
He may well have other strengths, and I am sure he's a lot of fun at parties.

Jim Carroll, on the other hand, knows what he's talking about. He's done some wonderful and important work, and has a great understanding of the subject. One of the few redeeming features of discussions like this is that Jim often shares his knowledge..