I once interviewed Dick Gaugan, about the time of his releasing his Different Kind of Love Song album, and asked if he felt his popularity and appeal as a musician would be wider if he were less political in his choice of songs.

The answer helps explain why I never got beyond hospital radio and although his answer wasn't broadcast, it was played at the Chrimbo party to my embarrassment.... What he didn't know as he lectured in his dressing room (Regal Arts Centre, Worksop) was that I was introducing him on stage and saying nice things about him in a few minutes... Years later, when he was appearing with Allan Taylor in Matlock Bath, I asked him about the night but he had forgotten it...

Interestingly, my own set thirty years ago was quite left wing political. Now, I don't think I sing anything, mine, traditional or others that could be classed as partisan political. Mainly lover's balls and best pint I ever had songs to be honest...

The point of that name dropping (he is a hero of mine musically) is that I find many people in the folk world fairly opinionated in the final analysis, so it isn't that these threads can be combative that is the issue, but surprised they arent even more so. Performers tend to have strong personalities, even if they try to hide them.