Jim Carroll
And you approached what I had put down with contemptuous aggression without having the courtesy to say why
Jim, I said precisely why I thought your statement was nonsense in the following sentences, citing MacColl in the process. Anyway, I learnt from a master.
MacColl quoted by you -
"No", they say, "the songs are simple", and all the rest of it.   And that is nonsense, that is utter nonsense.   
The implication being that if you can read and write, then you are going to be a better singer than if you can't read or write, and we know that's nonsense.
I'm sure you wouldn't call MacColl belligerent and arrogant.

A long time ago, I gave an honest answer to a question you had posed and you said that my response was "crass". As I said, Jim, "Do as you would be done by" perhaps without reference to flamingoes and croquet mallets.

What is it with you people - is a rational discussion on folksong really that difficult?
A good question but I really don't think you are in a position to criticise others.