I don't understand any controversy here. The facts as I see them is that highly influential folk musicians who have brought countless people joy are in financial straits, and if they have brought joy to you and you're in a position to help then why not.

All this talk about "more deserving causes" - come on. We're all adult enough to handle the fact that no matter which cause you choose to support, there will ALWAYS be another one which is arguably "more deserving." If we all went by that logic then nobody would help anybody until the issue of who is the most deserving was settled once and for all. This is obviously not how things work. A little fundraising drive for the Carthys won't break anyone's bank or hurt any other cause.

Nor do I understand any kind of "they should have planned for this" sentiment. None of us know what the Carthy's finances look like or what kind of issues, troubles or disasters they've faced over the years that might have compromised them. We all have a situation. If there was a GoFundMe for the Carthys, I'd certainly contribute a little, same way I've contributed to certain other drives now and again, if the situation behind it grabs my attention enough. I certainly don't sit worrying about the thousands upon thousands of other GoFundMe's I might have contributed to instead.