More than a one dimensional community.

[Panache]

I have never really been interested in joining an online before because it seemed so much of the threads devolved into foul language, name calling, and hardline stances on politics and religion. Last week, for my 50th post I composed a little poem about exactly why I like this forum. I offer it again.

From many different walks and many ages
We come to enjoy and contribute to these pages.
If in our other views we can’t find an accord
we will always refrain from the harsh or bitter word.

No matter who we vote for to rule our shores
or what goes on behind our closed doors
No matter what flags we raise
or when and what Gods we praise.

Away from all conflict and strife
We join here to celebrate the kilted life!

If elsewhere in building bridges we fail
Here, we let our better natures prevail.
Kindness serves to make amends
for us to disagree but remain friends

Where else to speak of pleats and belts?
Where else to talk of kilts and Celts?
Of sporrans, hose, and the sgian dubh?
Of glengarrys, kilt pins, and flashes too?

A cheer for the kilt pin and the sock knife
We join here to celebrate the kilted life!

If in our words on occasion we turn
for laughter ‘s sake to play the fool.
In our laughter we teach and learn
knowledge of the kilted school

Be our kilts traditional or contemporary,
be they made or bought.
We find them all exemplary
here at X Marks the Scot!

Let play the bagpipe, drum and fife
We join here to celebrate the kilted life!

[way2fractious]

Like Panache,...

I have never really been interested in joining an online before...

however, this is the dimension (all things kilt-related) that we all have in common. There is the natural tendency to "shop around once we're inside the store." That's the reason for the ocassional meeting between individuals and the existence of local kilt nights. Perhaps larger XMarks clan gatherings could be planned for the various highland games put on annually (by time zone, or country, or ???)

UmAnOnion's "20 Questions" post was a start, as I saw it, toward exposing ourselves (in a nice way) to the others on the board, but it's limited to a sequential read. Try FRAPPR, or something similar. The XMarks FRAPPR group allows you to build a circle of friends, blog your thoughts, post your pictures (even not kilt-related pics), etc. With an ADMIN, sub-groups of XMarks could be set up along whatever dimensions desired.

By and large, I'm happy with this forum the way it is.

[Moosehead]

Iolaus said:

My point was the one dimensional view we get of each other here.

Agreed, but isn't that a limitation of the 'net itself, as opposed to the board? With all the kilt nights and travelling around going on, I think many have had the opportunity to meet face-to-face. Alas, for me, unless everybody travels here (and I'm trying ), there won't be any kilt nights in PEI.