The problem Dave is that it wasn't a stupid question. We are talking 1965, here. No books had been written about Dylan, and to the average person precious little information about the man was available. You can't view this debate with a 2003 perspective. You have got to try to place yourself back in 1965, and if you weren't around then you will have to study the period. As I said previously, in 1965, the idea of folk/rock lyrics being thought of as " poetry" was new. Dylan's background was still pretty vague. He wanted that way! And one must rememeber that Dylan walzted into the interview in the company of Alen Gingsberg, famed "beat" poet. Against this background the question was extremely valid!