HELP- a call to arms!

[Pour1Malt]

(I'm writing in English to make sure there are no misunderstandings. This is a serious issue.)

Kilted Rabble-

A call to arms!

Last January, while the rabble was in Dumfries for the Ferintosh Burns Supper. Three of our esteemed members had a negative encounter at the local VisitScotland office. (detailed below)

I wrote to the office asking for an apology and they chose to ignore my letter.

So… I think it is time for a little grassroots wheel squeaking…

Please send an email to malcolm.roughead@visitscotland.com, denise.hill@visitscotland.com, ewan.colville@visitscotland.com

Saying something like… (or cut and paste this…)

Dear VisitScotland-

At the end of January, Mr. Kerr Matthews, who works at the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office, made negative and derogatory comments about American tourists and people who wear kilts, to a group of tourists in the VisitScotland office. He did this while in his capacity of a representative of VisitScotland. A letter of complaint was sent to the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office asking for an apology and it has been ignored. This is unacceptable.

As a kilt wearer and someone inclined to visit Scotland on holiday. I am shocked and appalled that a representative of VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office would have the audacity to make personal insulting comments about Americans or people who wear kilts.

Both Mr. Matthews’ statements and the fact that VisitScotland ignored the letter of complaint do not leave me with a positive impression of VisitScotland. Before I plan my next holiday, I will certainly think long and hard whether or not I will include Scotland as a destination.

If there is anything you can do to influence the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office to do the right thing and apologize, please do.

++++++++++++

this is what happened…



On Monday, January 29, 2007 three kilties; two from England (Hamish & dwg69,) and one from Virginia in the U.S.A. (starbkjrus,) all wearing kilts, were perusing the Dumfries VisitScotland Office. Dwg69 enquired, to the man behind the counter (Mr. Matthews,) whether many people in Dumfries wore kilts. Mr. Matthews (who is English) replied something to the effect of “The only kilts we see are on loud-mouthed Americans.” The three tourists were quite surprised at the rudeness of the statement …Then Mr. Matthews went on to say, “There is, in fact, one loud-mouthed American living in Dumfries, who owns a guest house, struts around the town in his kilt and even does his shopping in it!”

I sent a letter of complaint asking for a written apology from both Mr. Matthews and the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office and asked that the apology be addressed to me personally and also to Mr. Bicknell, Mr. Gibbs, and Mr. Kellett. Copies of the letter were sent to Mr. Matthews and the three people above him in the Dumfries VisitScotland office. I gave them just over 2 weeks to respond. No response has been received. (pretty amazing since all I asked for was an apology!)





.

[Pour1Malt]

bump....

[David Dalglish]

I have sent an E-mail.

[breacan]

Sent E-mails

[Frank]

What a shocking tale - on so many levels !

Perhaps the rep suffers from the condition which plauges so many - even in this day and age - that of enforcednonkiltedus.

The symptoms usually manifest themselves in a number of ways.

Frequently, the sufferer will spout seemimgly voluntary vocal noises about the presence of a kilt wearer being in their vicinty - clinicians will tell you that this merely a mechansim to demonstrate the operation of their observational faculty - despite the self evident innability of the higher intellectual lobes to function correctly. In many cases, the trouser/pant wearer feels drawn to repeat a number of mantras - usually concerning ambient temperature, musical intrument playing ability and suchlike.

In severe instances, victims of enforcednonkiltedus demonstrate the extent of their condition by entering the stage doctors will know as unoriginus enquiris .
This can be largely defined as that of the spontaneous need to discuss underwear with complete strangers. This in some cases is compounded by a delusional consideration that the sufferer is in some way uttering statements which are both sensible -and more importantly -original of thought.

The reasons for the existence of enforcednonkiltedus are considered to be many, but experts consider that envious-it'snotfairus are among the principle causes.

Thankfully, treament - and in most cases - a complete cure can be offered to the patient. This simply involves a simple therapy involving reading looking and seeing, along with the use of some pre-printed cards.

The reading looking and seeing can be self administered at any kilt maker/retailer, and should be used along with the cards, usually bearing the visa (or similar) logo.

Such therapy generally results in a broadened mind, a more relaxed outlook on life, and a less fraught and narrow viewpoint.

Thankfully in our enlightened days all of the above therapy is availible to all - even those in remote areas using a technology known as 'the internet'.

Those (and we must give them our sincere sympathy at all times) who survive the truly horrific experience of enforcednonkiltedus can contribute fully to the lives of those around them and once again participate in what experts call 'clothingus varieitis'

On a final note, it's always worth telling sufferers of this truly appaling condition, that should they feel the need to revert to their old ways, help, is invariably at hand.

Most districts in both the U.S. and the U.K. have nightly meetings open to all where kilting - and an astonishing number of other unrelated topics - are aired with fellow homo sapiens. Although the locations of these meetings varies from place to place, sociable activity within is generally indicated by the use of the letters B-A-R-, or L-O-U-N-G-E , or in some cases the cryptic H-O-T-E-L-.

Some such meetings may involve the use of a particular old Scottish theraputic tonic (some of it 12 years old, some 18 - some even older) made entirely from natural ingredients and served along with water, lemonade or soda. This particular tonic, when taken (though only) in appropriate quantities, in known to induce calm, kindle conversation, friendship and fellowship. A word of warning however - overuse of the tonic has been known to cause the patient to feel the need to spontaneously burst into song - some studies suggest that overuse can also be responsible for headaches - although such symptoms usually don't occur until the day after the tonic has been taken.



I commend the above to the poor chaps involved in this particular case and offer them my best wishes for a speedy outcome to their obvious cry for help.

[Cirthalion]

I'll send a letter, as I am/was planning a trip to Scotland, intending to pack and wear my kilts. A petition might also be an idea: those kind of numbers can get people's attention and it is easier to accumulate support. You could use of those online systems.

Question: did you ask for an apology or otherwise dispute the remark at the time, or only later in writing?

Cithalion

[Erisianmonkey]

I sent an e-mail. I said this:
I have been working on plans for an eventual visit to Scotland. An incident has recently come to light, however, regarding the attitude of the VisitScotland office in Dumfries towards Americans and kilt wearers. Please find below a copy of an e-mail that I was allowed to peruse from a fellow kilt wearer. Given that the requested apology was never forthcoming, I am inclined to understand that VisitScotland does not wish to have Americans or kilt wearers spend their money in Scotland, and that the opinions of Mr. Matthews are the official opinions of VisitScotland. Given that I am not a wealthy individual, I would like to make sure that at least the tourist board of a country would like my visit before I spend thousands of dollars (a certainty given the exchange rate between the US dollar, and the pound.) in their country.



An angry "Loud-mouthed American" (to quote Mr. Matthews of VisitScotland),

Rev. Charles R. Walker, Jr.

And then I put Robertson's cut and paste down below.

[Jerry]

I have sent an email also.

[McClef]

I sent the following:

"Dear VisitScotland,

I am writing in response to information I have been given regarding an incident that occured in your Dumfries office when derogatory comments were made by your representative, a Mr Matthews, about both kilt wearers and "loud mouthed Americans."

I gather others have also written and furnished you with the full details so I will not repeat them here. I also understand that the "loud-mouthed American living in Dumfries, who owns a guest house, struts around the town in his kilt and even does his shopping in it!" that Mr Matthews alluded to has written to you requesting an apology and has been greeted with silence on the matter.

As a kilt wearer and a frequent visitor to Scotland I am quite frankly appalled at such an unprofessional and discourteous attitude which is so totally against the ethos and spirit of projecting Scotland as a welcoming country that deserves to be visited and explored.

Whatever his private prejudices may be, they have no place when Mr Matthews is acting as your representative and having made them in this capacity it reflects badly not only on him but also upon your organisation, reinforced by the lack of response upon the matter.

It may surprise you to know that Scotland is linked with the kilt, even though few people may wear them every day. It may also surprise you to learn that visitors are very happy and glad to see such kilt wearers "strutting" in the streets. Every time I visit Scotland I am asked for photographs and to pose with such people. It may also surprise you that Scotland is a popular tourist destinations for Americans and that Scotland is famous for the welcome that it extends to visitors, not only from America but from all over the world as well as other parts of the United Kingdom. It may also surprise you that when people visit and make use of the facilities provided by your offices that they expect a professional and courteous service from those who work there. They also expect the same in how any complaints are dealt with.

You may wish to dismiss it as a "storm in a teacup" but you do so at your peril and to that of the reputation of Scotland. You have a rating system for accomodation that states "Using 1 to 5 Stars, Visitor Attractions are graded for the standard of customer care they provide for the visitor. The star awards focus on the standard of the welcome, hospitality and service..."

May I also suggest you look to doing the same for your Dumfries office. Based on the information about this incident it clearly fails your own criteria.

I trust that a written apology will be forthcoming to the gentlemen who visited and also to the gentleman who raised the complaint with you.

I remain,

Yours Faithfully,

Trefor Heywood M. Theol (St Andrews)
Abertillery
Wales"

[Rusty]

I sent an email to all three members about Mr Kerr. I am appalled by his attitude but it doesn't mean that we should all start slinging mud on this forum... name calling etc.... I think Robertson is handling it the right way, like a gentleman.