The Other Side Of The Coin

[ScotSites]

Scotsgait, you do know you're wasting your time don't you? After all, certain people on here are only interested in Brigadoon and going around claiming they are related to Robert the Bruce; all they ever do is prove they have absolutely no understanding of Scotland or the Scottish people! And yet we all still try to help out... after all there are some people out there who are genuine and they do stumble across this site and forum from time to time!

[Scotsgait]

Originally Posted by ScotSites

Scotsgait, you do know you're wasting your time don't you?

Oh yes, I do. But this one needs to be told.

[Matthew-C]

Originally Posted by Polwarth

'Mean'? 'Festering'?

Most of the Scots on here TRY to help when questions are asked, whether about travel, history, 'clans' or whatever.. All in the spirit of broadening the REAL information about Scotland for foreigners. I've taken a great part in trying to do just that.

What many of us really take issue with is the Brigadoonish 'I have never stepped foot out of my own country, but I feel Scotland calling to me' type of posts - or those that make sexist jokes re kilts...

Now, if you have anything to ADD to the discussions, you are more than welcome and I applaud you for it.

You've been a member for a very long time.... where ya bin for most of the past few years? Certainly not on here!

I often hear Scotland calling me.Two or three glasses in the evening

[kathyv]

Do you answer the phone? heh heh heh

[Matthew-C]

I rarely answer the phone in case it is someone looking to stop by and scrounge a drink,I'm not Scottish for nothing.

[LongHairedBeardedKiltie]

Well I have been reading this with some interest as most of you know I am Scottish born and bred (some may say inbred) but I have no idea what this lady’s posts have been like previously as I rarely park here but it does seem a tad mean so far.

Living here in the states I have had a fair chuckle at the folks who claim Scottishness or claim that they are in fact more Scottish than a native of the land they wish to be from. I find this nonsense as everyone is equal regardless of where they were born. I married an American, just the way that it happened, I could have easily have married someone from my own country or even another.

Folks that come on a Scottish site do have to note that the Scots are fiercely patriotic, we have our own humour that can baffle someone who is not used to it, we are sarcastic and although we technically speak the same language, the meanings can be a world apart. We are all different (like Americans) and we don’t deal well with stereotypes. (I for example have no ginger hair, nor do any of my family and don’t go to work in a kilt. I did on Friday, but that was Halloween!)

I personally, love to answer questions about Scotland and I am very friendly to the folks that have a genuine interest. I have, however learned to sift the wheat from the chaff as it were. I only participate in the discussions I feel I can ad to. This is a change to when I first started on the message boards when I thought I could service every thread on the boards.

I hope this finds you well and I hope to have clarified my opinion well.

[kathyv]

Nice input LHBK, I think the issue is that so many Scots have been patronized to the point where there isn't any tolerance left and those innocent posters take the brunt of that frustration. Which is too bad cuz members like dclor mean well, they want to further their knowledge and share a common interest but have to beat through the issues raised by others who have been stereotypical and insensitive.

It's too bad because dc is a nice lady. But if you look at things by english curious and mavricker I think you'll see the root of the problem. No one wants to be patronized and demeaned, or made to feel used because of their heritage.

I do understand the issues, I've encountered them myself, I think anyone living in a tourism area comes face to face with innocent ignorance on occasion. Usually it's innocent, sometimes it's malicious. But you sure get tired of it.