'I thought folkies were supposed to be tolerant, but I sure hear a lot of intolerance in the folk community. And that disappoints me. Well, no, maybe the topic IS assholes. There are too many judgmental assholes in folkdom, and they're far worse than the possibility of an occasional "bad" singer. It sure makes it miserable for the rest of us sometimes.'

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Joe, and exactly the point I was making above. However, I agree with Dick that generally the standard of floor singers is very good, and there is generally a degree of tolerance. I was the booked guest at a club recently, and two of the regulars sung before me, one forgot the words and started again (twice) one started a song with the capo on the wrong fret and again stopped and re started the song, did it matter, did it spoil the evening for the audience, of course not!

And if you needed proof that perhaps the topic is 'judgemental assholes', up pops a post from OldNickKilby to provide that proof!