Something that Hamish wrote years ago that stuck in my head

[Alan H]

So McMurdo, I really like what you just wrote. Seriously, I really appreciate it.

You explained how your taste changed over time. You showed us where you "started" so to speak, and then where you are, now. Along the way you stated that you didn't think that any of this was "wrong", just that you felt sort of "generic" in the earlier version of formalwear that you had and now you feel a bit more....hmm... "individual"? Is that a good word for it?

Guid on ye!

You know, when it comes to wearing a tuxedo, I've always thought that most tuxedo's look the same. I mean, sure someone might have some fancy bling that someone else doesn't have. Maybe someone wears a colorful cummerbund. Nonethless, IMHO, it has always seemed to me that tuxedo's all kind of look the same, and until the last few years, if I had to get extremely formal, I wore a tuxedo. So it's never bothered me that when I have to wear kit like that, I look pretty much like all the rest of the guys in the room. I mean, Frank Sinatra looked like all the other guys in the room, too. So did all the actors playing James Bond. I always felt that maybe one reason mens formal wear was pretty uniform was that it was then upon the man, himself, to stand out due to his personality, kindness, honor, humility, intelligence, and so on. The women got to "stand out" on account of their clothes. But that's just me. Besides, now I don't look like all the other guys in the room because I'm wearing this incredibly colorful kilt. Actually, the kilt I always wear when I get dressed up is the Capercaillie, which is probably the *least* colorful kilt that I own! I guess I'm not much of a peacock!

So, a couple of folks have said that they felt that the advertising photograph of the guy that I put up in the Prince Charlie was kind of boring. Nathan wrote this:

Nathan

Taste is a funny thing. I think the generic looking pic you prefer is pretty darn boring except for the lovely MacDonald of Clanranald tartan. Chacun a son gout.

Which I think is a good comment because:

a.) He starts out by recognizing that everybody has different taste
b.) He says the two magic words... "I think...". Nathan states that HE THINKS that the pic that I prefer is boring, except for the kilt. Well, heck I have no problem with Nathan having an opinion which differs from mine. That's just fine! Those two words - "I think" - render what follows to be an opinion, not a judgement delivered as an ultimatum. Opinions? GREAT! ..... ultimatums? Not so great, IMHO.

So, Nathan, one of the reasons that I actually like the outfit is precisely what you write. We agree 100%... It's boring except for the lovely kilt and tartan. And that, my friend is EXACTLY the point of the whole thread. The man has been dressed by his advertising department in a very simple formal outfit in which the main "thing" is the kilt and the tartan, itself. You look at that picture and what stands out? The kilt.

Bingo. My point, exactly.