An Open Question for 'Jock Scot' (and Scots)

[Alan H]

I have to say that I like Jock Scot. He's a good man, he's got his opinions but he's reasonable about them. He doesn't force his ideas down anyones gullet, but if asked, he'll tell you what he thinks. I can't imagine how anybody would have a problem with this.

I've enjoyed his posts about querying his family and friends about kilts, attitudes regarding the kilt and so on. They're interesting and entertaining. I LIKE Jock. I RESPECT Jock. I might ask Jocks opinion about something and if I did so, I'd listen to, and pay attention to what he has to say.

BUT.... Gentlemen and dudes...... while I really like Jock, Jock and his friends are at most a dozen or two people in the world who happen to wear kilts. Why on earth are so many people worrying about what these guys say? Were we to drive 30 miles to elsewhere in Scotland and ask similar questions of a different group of Highlands dwellers, we'd probably get different answers.

Jock knows what he and his friends and neighbors think. BUT...

1. Just because Jock lives in the Highlands, and
2. because he's a gentleman with *ahem* a number of years of experience,

does NOT mean that Jocks opinions and thoughts define what is, and is not "right to do" in terms of wearing a kilt, everywhere and any time in the entire world.

Cede the man the right to his opinions. Listen to what he says. Learn from what he says, because he knows a fair bit, eh?. But for heavens sake, the man doesn't sit at the right hand of God!

LITTLE STATEMENT OF FACT: I like Jock. I would be honored to share a dram with him and perhaps drop a line in one of his streams and share some baked salmon with the fellow, were I ever to get to Scotland. I respect Jocks opinions and experience. I recognize that I may very well learn something from Jock. But I'm not going to define every detail of how or when I wear a kilt, just to suit Jock and his friends' opinions.

......rather like how I love and respect my father, but I'm not going to live my life for the sole purpose of making him happy.