Food For Thought

[Phil]

An interesting observation there and had you been a fly on the wall the other evening you would have had to listen very long and very hard to detect even a smidgen of a Scots accent.

Jock, are you seriously trying to tell us that your opinion poll was compiled by a bunch of sassenachs? And are you then going to say that anything they say has any validity, whatsoever, for genuine Scottish opinion? Generals, Colonels, whatever they may be, they obviously have about as much relevance to actual life in Scotland as fly in the air. Please tell me that you do actually have contact with real Scottish people and that this is not the sort of opinion you are trying to promulgate as factual?

[Jock Scot]

Jock, are you seriously trying to tell us that your opinion poll was compiled by a bunch of sassenachs? And are you then going to say that anything they say has any validity, whatsoever, for genuine Scottish opinion? Generals, Colonels, whatever they may be, they obviously have about as much relevance to actual life in Scotland as fly in the air. Please tell me that you do actually have contact with real Scottish people and that this is not the sort of opinion you are trying to promulgate as factual?

Phil, if you care to read my last paragraph in my first post , I fully accept that 9 points of view was not, and never could be, a true cross section of Scots opinion. My point was that over 500 years of Scots kilt wearing experience could not be ignored.

The 9 interviewed are Scots born (the question Master, me, was born in Cheltenham, by accident for what it is worth) with deep Scottish roots and like many Scots(me included) moved outwith Scotland to make our way in life. I have made no secret of that. In point of fact I have made a very firm point of making that clear later in the thread. Take it for what it is, a bit of interesting(?) fun ----I claim it to be nothing more and if any one wants to draw a conclusion from it, then so be it.

[Phil]

Take it for what it is, a bit of interesting(?) fun ----I claim it to be nothing more and if any one wants to draw a conclusion from it, then so be it.

That is exactly how I took it, Jock, but there is a more serious side to this. As you know, the majority of members here are not Scottish, not even British, and, as such, unlikely to appreciate the finer nuances of nationality raised in your piece. I have no doubt, actually, from what I read in other posts that many here hang on your every word as the fount of all knowledge respecting matters Scottish, and Highland in particular. In actual fact, as you have plainly told us, neither you nor any of your guests have experienced much, if anything, of the day-to-day life of Scotland during their combined years. This is not meant to decry their opinions in any way, but it is as well to view them objectively for what they are. Opinions and nothing more.

[Paul Henry]

That is exactly how I took it, Jock, but there is a more serious side to this. As you know, the majority of members here are not Scottish, not even British, and, as such, unlikely to appreciate the finer nuances of nationality raised in your piece. I have no doubt, actually, from what I read in other posts that many here hang on your every word as the fount of all knowledge respecting matters Scottish, and Highland in particular. In actual fact, as you have plainly told us, neither you nor any of your guests have experienced much, if anything, of the day-to-day life of Scotland during their combined years. This is not meant to decry their opinions in any way, but it is as well to view them objectively for what they are. Opinions and nothing more.

Agreed , and this was exactly my point in my earlier post. it wasn't an attack , simply pointing out that there are other views and opinions , equally as valid.

[Jock Scot]

In actual fact, as you have plainly told us, neither you nor any of your guests have experienced much, if anything, of the day-to-day life of Scotland during their combined years. This is not meant to decry their opinions in any way, but it is as well to view them objectively for what they are. Opinions and nothing more.

Phil I had hoped rather better of you than the rather snide remarks about me and my friends. However I have no intention of justifying my, or my friends, Scottish credentials to anyone, least of all you.

However, Duke, or, dustman-----soldier, or, farmer----- we are all allowed an opinion. How anyone can take 9 people's views expressed and presented in a fun way as anything other than what it is, well, frankly they need to get a life!

[Phil]

Phil I had hoped rather better of you than the rather snide remarks about me and my friends. However I have no intention of justifying my, or my friends, Scottish credentials to anyone, least of all you.

However, Duke, or, dustman-----soldier, or, farmer----- we are all allowed an opinion. How anyone can take 9 people's views expressed and presented in a fun way as anything other than what it is, well, frankly they need to get a life!

I truly did not intend my remarks to sound in any way snide, Jock, and if this is the case then I must sincerely apologise. Similarly I welcome any opinion expressed, whether or not I agree with it, and do hope that my post did not give any other impression but that. If it did then, again, I do apologise.
As to your friends credentials, you have quite succinctly described their background and upbringing together with the fact that none of them have actually lived and worked in Scotland, no doubt none of them were educated in Scotland either, and so they cannot be considered remotely typical of Scots people in general and Highlanders in particular. This was the point I was trying to make, obviously one not to your liking but my opinion nevertheless.

[saxandpipes]

Very interesting thread Jock, thanks for posting.

Cheers,

Michael

[ccga3359]

[QUOTE=Jock Scot;1014867]The 9 interviewed are Scots born (the question Master, me, was born in Cheltenham...[QUOTE]

Now you see, you do have some redeeming qualities...

[Jock Scot]

[QUOTE=ccga3359;1049584][QUOTE=Jock Scot;1014867]The 9 interviewed are Scots born (the question Master, me, was born in Cheltenham...

Now you see, you do have some redeeming qualities...

At least there are "some". Apparently.

[ccga3359]

At least there are "some". Apparently.

Well one at least!