The Scots Who Left

[Jock Scot]

I quite accept that unless you have experience of a situation it is very difficult, on occasion, to understand another point of view and I think sensible discussion, such as we are having here, does highlight the problem to all, makes us aware of it and hopefully makes us ask ourselves what is really being said. Inevitably we are bound to misunderstand all too often.

This "playing at being a Scot" is just a turn of phrase that the Scots use and should be regarded as nothing more. Although, as we now know, it does seem to rankle with some outwith Scotland.

It highlights a problem that I have seen on this website more than a few times and I think having a couple of UK mods to interpret has helped here. I think that on the whole the use of words (not including expletives) is far more robust in the UK and even more so in Scotland and whilst that is not even noticed here in the UK, it most obviously is when others(apart from Australians!!!!) outwith the UK, read what we say, the misunderstandings then start to appear. It is a same words different emphasis of meaning situation.

I have found that on this website that has mainly a North American membership that I really have to choose my words extremely carefully to avoid misunderstandings, the ire of the readers and the wrath of the mods. Hence my oft seen editing of my posts. Fair enough, but if I was writing to someone in the UK I would use half the words and different ones that I use here and cause no offence whatsoever.

Also added to that, on this site, there does seem to be an almost a slavish wish to spilt hairs over such minute details that rightly or wrongly I put it down to trying to grasp at straws in justifying whatever it is you are trying to do. Take the dreaded "white hose" discussion. I have almost given up trying to dress up what I say for the international community on this subject, but new members do deserve a reasonable answer to their reasonable question. My honest and natural answer to anyone in the UK would be: "if they are all you have, wear them, if you like them then wear them, if you don't like them then don't wear them". If I answered like that here I would be accused of being blunt etc.etc.etc.etc................well alright, I am accused of that anyway!

So I am not saying I am(we are) right, you are wrong by any means, but likewise you outwith the UK need to understand that more often than not no offence is intended, we just phrase and understand things differently, that is all and do not necessarily mean what you think it means! It is a worldwide problem that the Internet highlights perfectly, I suggest.