I sometimes use the term "folk music" because it is so vague in just the right way for me. For example, it sometimes comes up in the course of idle conversation with people who do not know me very well that I am an amateur musician. The invariable question is "What kind of music do you do?" I have two answers depending upon my mood.

If I am not in the mood to begin an extended discussion, I answer "folk music." The invariable response is "Oh, you mean the kind of music that [insert name of any artist or group who has ever been characterized as "folk"] does?" To which I respond, "Yes" no matter what artist or group has been named. At which point the questioner moves to another topic. You see, the nice thing about "folk music" is that everybody thinks they have at least some notion what I am talking about. And almost everybody thinks they know enough about "folk music" to know that they are not very interested in that particular genre. Thus "folk music" serves as a nice, polite "conversation stopper."

If, on the other hand, I am in a garrulous mood I respond, "Old time music." The invariable response is "What's that?" I kick into my didactic mode and begin a lengthy explanation.