I can only say that I have little to add to my statement at 29 Oct 17 - 06:37 PM.
I was taunted into a response about Shirley's statement about her background - Hard not to notice that Shirley Collins; statement has been ignored - ven by her fellow Sussex by the Sea-ers so I responded saying that I thought that Shirley's statement was honest. I wrote That was exactly her background.
The response was you don't have to come running at Collin's statement, you were asked to respond to what she said - you still haven't. Eh? Am I I being placed in a lose-lose situation here?
In addition, I am accused of insults, dishonesty and evasion. I must say that I strongly resent that accusation in giving the honest response that I was asked to make and would like to be given examples of where I have insulted, been dishonest or where I have evaded an issue. The normal procedures of interchange of ideas seem to have been abandoned here.

Could I add just one thing. I have no desire at all to pursue a definition of folk song. To produce one has defeated better and more knowledgeable brains than mine. I am happy to go with my gut instinct of the aspects of the music that I find emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Not everything that I hear in folk clubs pleases me but there is enough that meets my criteria for me come back for more. It could be that defining folk song is like juggling with sand - simply not possible. It could also be that insistent repeated demands for a definition are being used here as a smokescreen.