Mudcat describes itself as a forum for folk and bluegrass music, without ever defining those terms.

Mudcatters are self-selected as aficionados of what they consider to be those musical genres. Few would remain if their interests were not being addressed.

Over five years ago someone started a thread called "Singers and songs which stunned me." It asked Mudcatters to name the most moving songs they knew.

Fewer than half the titles mentioned wound up being traditional. Most were singer-songwriter efforts. And even the trad songs were generally specified as particular performances by prominent artists with elaborate musical backup.

So even among dedicated "folkies," trad songs in trad style take a back seat, at least as their real favorites.

Which I imagine they consider to be "folksongs" like the others.