Reality Check

[Jock Scot]

"Speak as you find", has always been fair dinkum with me Ron.

[robthehiker]

How kind of him to advise you on what's appropriate to post.

If it were me I'd probably have pasted the PM into the thread so everyone could benefit from his wisdom.

Oh and Ron? I pay attention to your posts.

[SteveB]

As a kilt addict, I certainly consider Kathy Lare to be among the top people to go to for a kilt. The forum rules are silent on the mention of kiltmakers that sare not here. If there was such a prohibition the many posts on Utilikilts, Amerikilts, Kinloch, Burnett & Struth, and of course until recently our favourite - the Gold Bros. would have been called out. We have many talented members on this forum in the Scottish Arts. Bladesmiths, Sporran makers, kilt makers, accessory makers of all kinds. Celtic musicians and a love of Celtic music that transcends the musicians on this forum. This is what makes this forum tick. I have created very few threads, and the only ones that I have started that show significant views and posts have been the review of Highland kit. Those comments and criticisms of the Highland kit are very popular... or is it the scenery you use to showcase the kilts??

Cheers,
SteveB

[cessna152towser]

I've never had a problem with you, Ron, or anyone else here singing the praises of Kathy Lare, or for that matter others who praise Barb Tewkesbury or Matt Newsome. From the number of recommendations I have read on this forum I would be confident of receiving a top quality item if I was to make a purchase from any of these kiltmakers, none of whom I would have heard of if I had not been a member of this forum. Geography is a factor, carriage can be an expensive addition to the cost of a kilt, so although I do not own a Lare or a Tewkesbury or a Newsome I have not ruled out the possibility that I may one day buy a kilt from one of those makers. For now, the majority of my kilts have been sourced from Scotland and I would hope that nobody would have a problem when they see me posting a good word for one or other of the Scottish kiltmakers who have supplied me.

[caig]

My view is that it is for any of us to recommend, or not, as the case may be, any kiltmaker or other supplier, whilst posting on this forum. It is a personal decision for each member. It is not for other members to suggest that such a recommendation or mention should not be made. It would be up to that objecting member to post a view in a new (or existing) thread rather than send a PM. It appears that that member has chosen not to do so and that suggests some moral cowardice.

Had I received such a PM I would have told the sender to go and ( you can imagine the rest).

[Chas]

Ron,

Carry on, carrying on. You are a respected member of this community, when you speak, people listen. Not everybody will agree - that is how life is. I see no problem.

Regards

Chas

[Donnie]

Ron, Keep promoting anyone you wish. One person's opinion is worth exactly what you or I as individuals choose it to be. I don''t know what highminded snob sent you the PM, but, just blow it off!

[Bruno]

As long as you are promoting a quality kilt maker. In a relevant post (not useful if some one is keen on a budget kilt in Hong Kong say)

I for one think its good of you to help members out by sharing your knowledge. Keep it up.

[Rex_Tremende]

Hi Ron -

I have no problem with endorsements. Experience matters a lot at XMTS. Perhaps the objection is rooted in the other credentials that you often cite. What with Kathy's being "the only graduate of the Keith Kilt School in North America," it's hard for any of us to gauge what this means, since we have no other graduates to compare to, nor is that something we can readily assess as to whether that's better than, say, having studied privately at the elbow of another master kiltmaker. It might be more meaningful if, in your endorsements, you speak to the outcome of her work, rather than her history.

Regards,
Rex.

[ChubRock]

When I ordered m kilt from Kathy Lare, we spent almost an hour on the phone talking about the proper pleats, fittings, tartan choices, etc. Because she isn't a power user of computers, I think this form of communication is better for her and for her clients. Like Ron mentioned, because she isn't an on-line addict she rarely visits the forum. We spoke about it, and she says she should visit more, but is often deep in pleating (pun intended.)

Ron merely informed me of her as an option. Any future PMs were initiated by me and he was, and in my opinion, is not making her out to be better than any other kilt makers, members included. He merely shows the love for the maker who knows him and whom he choses to make his kilts in his way.

I treasure his and all of your advice. The Turpin Sporran, the Kathy Lare Kilt, Stillwater Kilts and someday a Freedom Kilt and USA Kilt will be in my collection thanks to the advice I was given here.

Sláinte


Cliff