Something that's been bothering me lately...

**Nighthawk** · 13th July 09, 08:42 AM

I ran across this a while back:

And whether the blood be highland, lowland or no. And whether the skin be white or black as the sloe. Of kith and of kin we are one be it right be it wrong. As long as our hearts beat true to the lilt of the song.

I don't know who wrote it, but it struck a chord with me. In light of a recent thread, I have come to appreciate these words all the more. There is a lot of intolerance here, and it's started to bother me a bit. So I thought it a good time to post these lyrics/poem/whatever it is. Maybe some of us need to think about our kith and kin and how our own prejudices and intolerance effect our brothers and sisters on this board. I'm proud to be of this community, and I love it. I'll end this with words from a little band called Albannach:

Hear my voice blowing on the breeze,
Know your fate know your history,
As I am now you one day will be,
Face your past then face your destiny,
Mmhh mhh mhh

Now you may live a different place,
Brought up and lived a different way,
But if you have our blood in your veins,
Then you will know us, know home, know who you are.

Now here you are, standing next to me,
Come take my hand, and walk with me,
If you could feel the peace in our hills and glens,
You would know in swear with all begin
and you would know who I really am

I love those folks... Good people.

**Dall_Piobaire** · 13th July 09, 08:47 AM

That deserves the subtle sound of pipes in the background!

Good post, and good point

Scott

**Tony Miles** · 13th July 09, 08:55 AM

Well said Nighthawk

Some of the stuff is a bit shocking to say the least

**McMurdo** · 13th July 09, 08:58 AM

Thread Moved to Off Topic.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 13th July 09, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

There is a lot of intolerance here...

Really? I don't think so. I think there are some well informed, well educated people on this forum. I also think there are some people on this forum who, for a whole variety of reasons of their own, can't hack it when it comes to a civil exchange of ideas or opinions. But what I know is that the overwhelming majority of members aren't intolerant trolls.

By and large we, all of us, tolerate the rantings of the few screwballs who ocassionally post something so off the wall that a thread gets locked down. In the two plus years I've been active on this forum I've only seen one or two jerks 86ed, shown the door, and kicked off the site.

Sounds to me like we are a pretty tolerant bunch, so I'm sure you'll forgive me if I don't join you, sitting around the campfire singing Kumbiya, trying to heal the intolerance that doesn't exist.

**Tony Miles** · 13th July 09, 09:42 AM

maybe the word boorish would be more accurate?

**Nighthawk** · 13th July 09, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Tony Miles

maybe the word boorish would be more accurate?

You are totally right! It's the "my opinion is the only correct one" attitude that's been bothering me! It's intolerance not of other people, but of other ideals. Perhaps I should have used pigheadedness instead of intolerance.

**Nighthawk** · 13th July 09, 11:14 AM

I just recieved a rather interesting PM from a user wishing his name to be witheld:

Originally Posted by NameWitheld

Please excuse the private but I thought I should send you my quick thought, THANK YOU for posting, you are right there are a lot "differerences" here, and not everyone takes the time to listen properly.
I think that message that ... posted jsut exemplified that, and indeed he proved the point but not evening accepting what you said was valid.
I feel a little sad about that , but I'm not especially surprised either, and that is sad as well.

Bright Blessings

Makes me at least think just a little. Obviously I'm not the only one who sees it.

**Panache** · 13th July 09, 11:25 AM

Nighthawk,

There are always going to be strong opinions on XMTS like any other forum.

It says much that our membership take ownership in this forum and are very much active in expressing their concerns and suggestions to maintain and improve it.

Mike (Splash_4) came back with a great saying from his time in India

Offense is taken, not given

While I fully admit that this isn't always the case, if one operates on this assumption and remember that poise is the art of raising the eyebrow and not the roof these little slights (real or perceived) are best ignored and allowed to slip by the way side without further thought (as such things should be)

As a gentleman I deal in careful courtesy and hard knocks.

I am proud to say that seldom on this great forum have I had to resort to the later.

The key to creating a polite society is to exemplify the manners in which you believe people should be treated.

Just my thoughts

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

**Nighthawk** · 13th July 09, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

Nighthawk,

There are always going to be strong opinions on XMTS like any other forum.

It says much that our membership take ownership in this forum and are very much active in expressing their concerns and suggestions to maintain and improve it.

Mike (Splash_4) came back with a great saying from his time in India

Offense is taken, not given

While I fully admit that this isn't always the case, if one operates on this assumption and remember that poise is the art of raising the eyebrow and not the roof these little slights (real or perceived) are best ignored and allowed to slip by the way side without further thought (as such things should be)

As a gentleman I deal in careful courtesy and hard knocks.

I am proud to say that seldom on this great forum have I had to resort to the later.

The key to creating a polite society is to exemplify the manners in which you believe people should be treated.

Just my thoughts

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

You're quite correct, as always. It was, in fact, an attack on one of your opinions (that I happened to agree with) that inspired this thread in the first place.