An observation or two.

[ratspike]

One can only wonder just what terminology is used by the younger generation when one hits one's thumb with a hammer these days?

I bet if it's a Scot whacking his thumb with a hammer, the chances of that terminology being spectacularly creative are pretty good.

[neloon]

I suppose one reason for "excitement" is just that wearing the kilt is a new experience for you. Jock and I are too old to remember the thrill of donning our first kilts at the age of about 5. The kilt isn't "exciting" in Scotland whether or not you're a wearer - it's just part of the National Consciousness.
Alan

[neloon]

With tongue placed firmly in my cheek.

MA= Master of Arts?
MI= A Motorway Heading North from London UK?
ME= A Messerschmitt aeroplane?

In the UK, MA would certainly be taken to mean Master of Arts (I am one), MI is Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) and ME is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (also known as "yuppy 'flu"). You do not want to have either of the latter two!
Alan

[Steve Ashton]

I'm going to confess and let everyone know that I have just raised a flag against a post to this thread.

I cited;

Rule #3
– Pornography, nudity, and/or sexually explicit material of any kind, or embedded links to such material, have no place on this forum. Profanity in the form of abusive, vulgar or irreverent language is also not acceptable.

It does not make it any less a profanity by trying to disguise the fact by using acronyms or replacing some letters with asterisks.

But I don't decide these things, I can only raise a Flag when I feel a line has been crossed.

[The Q]

Does that mean we can raise a flag against your post Steve?

[Steve Ashton]

Yes, of course it does.

Any member may raise a flag against any post they feel crossed the line as set out in our rules.

All the Forum Moderators will ask is for you to quote the applicable rule.

[drctl]

...and hey Americans, nobody outside the Excited States knows the difference between MA, MI, and ME. It took me years to realize that those and other two-letter things were states.

Padre,
I agree with you. Why would US'ers know what QC, ON or NB means? It should be spelled out.

On the other hand, saying "Excited States" is a bit inflammatory and derogatory don't you think? Not exactly pertinant to a discussion of kilts. I think you know what MI means since you live a stone's throw from it. Let's be polite.

Respectfully,
Building Bridges
Chris

[drctl]

A varied group of folks from around the world, being all ages and backgrounds have met to rally around a garment.

A Buddhist adage comes to mind. Three blind monks are trying to describe an elephant. One says it is a rope while holding the tail, one says it is a snake while holding the trunk, one says it is a wall while touching the body. A Guru tries to describe the elephant to the monks. A peasant boy rides by on his elephant (on his way to work).

I am here for the people of XMarks, the kilt remains a garment worth rallying around.

And so say all of us!

[Father Bill]

Padre,
I agree with you. Why would US'ers know what QC, ON or NB means? It should be spelled out.

On the other hand, saying "Excited States" is a bit inflammatory and derogatory don't you think? Not exactly pertinant to a discussion of kilts. I think you know what MI means since you live a stone's throw from it. Let's be polite.

Respectfully,
Building Bridges
Chris

Pertinant to kilts? No, but neither were the original short forms which as it turns out were profanity. That was my point - nobody was communicating about kilts or anything else there.

And I should know what MI is? Um, no. What is it? And if it's close to me, it isn't close to everyone on this forum, so why should anyone in say... Scotland or Australia know what it is? Perhaps Missouri? I think ME is Maine, isn't it? Same pattern if I'm right. And no, I don't actually use QC, ON, or NB. I abbreviate Quebec as Que., Ontario as Ont. and New Brunswick as... okay, you got me on that one, but I wouldn't abbreviate them here at all. I'd spell them out because I'm not such a navel gazer as to think that everyone knows the abbreviations of my nation.

Bottom line is that I'm offended by the use of abbreviations of almost any sort in a forum like this. Having said that, there are a few that are well known. Your nation's "U.S.A." is a good example. Sorry if you take "Excited" as inflammatory or derogatory, but I don't nor was it intended that way. It was teasing my neighbours who are so enamoured of their abbreviations that they don't look beyond their own borders, so sorry - your interpretation, not mine, therefore your problem, not mine.

(Here endeth the rant.)

[Liam]

I always thought PQ (as in Province of Quebec) was the abbreviation for Quebec, since QC refers to Queen's Council. It also refers to quality control. Every industry has its own abbreviations but unless you are an insider you don't understand them. Therefore on an international forum such as this I would suggest we only use kilt abbreviations. We use THCD, newcomers to the forum have to puzzle this out. So I suggest we are guilty as well.
On the other hand profanity has no place however it is disguised.