Reality Check

[dfmacliam]

I want to throw something in here... Ron made a comment about a situation, he felt uncomfortable about.. He and another shared PM's about a subject, and Ron, asked a question about his position..

I do not believe Ron's intentions are to create a bad feeling towards this person, since it is not his nature, but to justify his own thoughts/emotions. I hope that others comments against this others opinion, are not truely hurtful. I, personally, hope if another person has an issue with the way I present myself, that they would contact me, and we can discuss my actions, as it seems this person and Ron has done. If I choose to put a question to the forum about my behavior, that the other person's position is not automatically assumed to be in malice..

In my time here at XMarks, I have found people who are willing to help you in every way possible. I have not seen malice put foreward, to intentionally cause me grief. I may not always like the advice given to me.. but realize that others are passionate about their views, as I am.

Please, take this into consideration, when posting your comments.. because we do not need to chastize one another for our opinions, but with common courtesy, put our opinions out there, and allow opinions to develop/change, as the words of the forum are shared..

[Kett]

I will throw my $0.02 in.

My husband and I ended up as members here because he wanted a kilt (ok, I begged him to get one and thus the story and kilt addiction unfolds) and we wanted to know where you get one. In the process we've learned lots of dos and don'ts and have a fine list of potential vendors for future purchases.

You can't expect every vendor on the planet to be a member of every website forum. It's not realistic. Not everyone LIKES the internet and lives on forums, and a vendor could not possibly find all the applicable sites anyway.

This forum is wonderful for open, honest feedback on products from different vendors. The fact that there are diehard supporters of certain vendors, including but not limited to Kathy Lare, lets me add to the list of potential purchases. The open, honest feedback of dissatisfied customers, lets me put question marks beside those vendors.

In any "try so-and-so, you'll love them" post I've never taken that as they are the one and only - I've just taken it as a recommendation to check them out.

Ok, maybe that was $0.03 or $0.04.

[Riverkilt]

Apparently Kathy's kilt numbering system different for individual and band/wedding kilts.

I've been informed that she's actually hand sewn over 4,800 kilts. That's not the point of this thread, but did want to correct my error.

Ron

[ForresterModern]

Apparently Kathy's kilt numbering system different for individual and band/wedding kilts.

I've been informed that she's actually hand sewn over 4,800 kilts. That's not the point of this thread, but did want to correct my error.

Ron

Well now the truth comes out. Would anybody here on the forum REALLY want a kilt made by somebody with that "limited" (tongue firmly implanted in cheek) training they get at the Keith School and who has ONLY made a measly 4800 or so handsewn kilts in their career (tongue even MORE firmly planted in cheek). Sorry, I want somebody with at least a little experience and training. From hence forth Ron I will respectfully have to seriously reconsider my confidence in your recommendations of Kathy Lare as a kiltmaker for possible future projects.

Respectfully

Jeff :ootd:

[vipermcgee]

Ron,
I would have to say I value your opinion of any kiltmaker. I have little experience with kilts, and you have a world of research and experience to draw from. I have seen you pictured on at least one site outside XMarks. I purchased my kilt from them and have nothing but good to say.

I should also mention that you took the little jabs I made early on with the ut-most of grace. And returned with a whit matched by none. This is what draws me to your opinion most of all.

I hope I make sense here. If anyone is offended by your opinion, or mine, or anyone elses, they have the freedom to post their own! That is the beauty of such a forum as XMarks!

You are a great guy and I am honored to call you "Friend". I would only ask my friends for advice on something as personal as a kilt.

Robert

[Monkey@Arms]

Ron

SNIP

I don't think the issue of whether Kathy is a member of the forum is at all relevant, any more so than her race or religion are. She is simply a kiltmaker, a good one, who chooses freely to NOT be a forum member contributor. Nor should that matter when it comes to whether or not we as individual members here suggest her by name any more than any other vendor, whether or not they are a sponsor of this particular forum. Folks here buy things from members of the forum who are artisans, as well as vendors who are or are not members based on the price and quality of their goods.

SNIP

I didn't want this to get lost in the fog. If Xmarks was a forum in which only sponsors could be discussed, recommended, linked to, etc. It would be a poorer forum indeed, and one that I would not spend much time at.

Best regards,

Jake

[Highlander31]

Ron, One of the reasons this forum is so successful is the sharing of information (good or bad) on vendors/suppliers of kilts and accessories. I believe we should first try to support the advertisers here on XMTS. But that shouldn't preclude members from sharing information on vendors who are not advertisers. As far as I'm concerned, keep on sharing with the forum.

[Ian.MacAllan]

Ron,

All you are doing in your Kathy Lare posts is giving credit where it is due. That is commendable behavior because it is just and because it promotes the general welfare by helping to divert resources from less productive people to one who is more productive. Anyone who finds offense in your posts should learn to scroll down past them.

Please keep on doing what you're doing; your posts are one of the main reasons I keep coming back to this forum even after letting myself be distracted for weeks.

Thanks and best wishes!

.

[Pagan]

Ron, I say post away. You know Kathy, you know her work. If the person that wrote the PM feels another kiltmaker is better, maybe he should be posting about them and not bashing you in a PM.

A few times it has seemed a bit cut-and-paste, in that the OP may have mentioned budget or geographical limitations that would seem to put Kathy out of the running, yet you still chime in singing her praises. But those posts are few and far between.

Yes, but knowing Kathy, she is more than willing to work with people on those fronts.

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.

Well, perhaps if the qualifications of the other kiltmakers was known, it would be easier to compare. Knowing that she went to the Keith Kilt School does make her a known quantity. Not hard to Google the school and find out about it.

I think the first thing which comes to my mind during this incident, is whether or not you decided to deal with them with the same respect they showed you… by using the PM system; “P” standing for private, rather than present it here for all to see with only one point of view.. yours.

Respect? Just because someone uses a PM instead of calling them out in public =/= respect.

I would hope a councillor would know better.

Nice personal attack, btw.

Was also informed that someone called the Keith Kilt School and found out that there are about 8 graduates in the U.S. and 6 in Canada - or vice versa. Now I'm wondering where those kiltmakers are and why they're not members of the forum too.

It might just boil down to simple economics. Kiltmaking is a very hard business to turn a profit in.

Ron, you've submitted three posts to this thread. Those three posts contain 14 direct, named references to your favorite kilt maker. Have you over done it? In my opinion, at least in this instance, yes.

I'm really hoping that your tongue is firmly planted in your cheek, no?

[Phicong]

*I am very glad for this discussion. However, I guess I am out of the mainline as I have only one formal style kilt, in my clan tartan. I have, however, been following the non-taditional kilt sellers/makers discussions and have found a system that works for me.
My first non-traditional was from a very well liked maker. I found that it was not something I could wear. Then I bought a couple from a very famous maker of modern kilts. These are ok but have too much material in the front apron area for me. Lastly I started checking out the kilts denigrated by many, many XMARKS members and guess what. I found two these "unsatisfactory" kilts really fit me and feel better than any of the others of the 12 I owned at the point I learned of their existance. Also I have received more compliments for the "unsatisfactory" kilts than I ever did for any of my other kilts.
Please keep up the kilt maker/seller discussions and don't forget to complain where ever it is felt that there is a need. There may be others like me who who are looking for this info and can put it to use.
Also. keep up the good work Ron.
Gordon