Tartan MIS-identification?

**RockyR** · 4th December 07, 08:49 AM

Arlen...

At that point (when she got condescending and rude) I would have blown off a little steam with 1 of the following options:

1. (looking at her jacket or shirt side to side) "Hmm.... Sorry, I can't seem to find your TARTAN POLICE badge. Are you going to write me a ticket?"

2. "Well you MUST know what YOU'RE talking about. I'm not from Scotland and didn't pay top dollar for my kilt in someone else's tartan that I have nothing to do with. Yup... you MUST be right b/c you saw your brother in law wear a kilt once... if that doesn't make you a tartan expert, I don't know what would. You should offer your services to the Scottish Tartans Authority with that eagle eye of yours."

**Daaaaang** · 4th December 07, 09:07 AM

In her defense, she thought she had a connection with you, and made the daring step of saying hi to a stranger in strange clothing. She was understandably embarrassed when she got shot down for being completely wrong. I'm not saying that getting defensive is the best answer (it isn't), but it is the natural answer for an approximate 100% of the human race.

I doubt she was really trying to push her idea of which tartan was correct as much as she just didn't have a clue how to handle the awkward situation.

**RockyR** · 4th December 07, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Daaaaang

In her defense, she thought she had a connection with you, and made the daring step of saying hi to a stranger in strange clothing. She was understandably embarrassed when she got shot down for being completely wrong. I'm not saying that getting defensive is the best answer (it isn't), but it is the natural answer for an approximate 100% of the human race.

I doubt she was really trying to push her idea of which tartan was correct as much as she just didn't have a clue how to handle the awkward situation.

I politely disagree. If more people would be willing to say "oops, I'm sorry" rather than INSIST they're right or get defensive (which she had no reason to do since Arlen wasn't OFFENSIVE), the world would be a much nicer place. Even if they still think they're correct, what gives them the right to walk up to a COMPLETE STRANGER and tell them their opinion or berate them for not wearing the proper tartan or for being mis-informed (which Alren was not)? Was Arlen being rude or hurting anyone? No. He seems like a very nice, polite, civilized man. What gives this crazy lady the right to talk to him like that when he said nothing to her to even warrant her approaching him in the first place?

The POLITE thing for ANYONE to do in that instance would be to apologize for being so presumptuous and either admit fault or to agree to disagree or to at least admit they look similar. To insist you're right and to pick a fight (verbal argument) with a complete stranger is crazy and rude.

**Joe Gondek** · 4th December 07, 10:50 AM

I think Arlen is using this whole tartan confusion as a way to hide the fact that he needs to work on his fake Scottish accent.
You can't full us Americans, we've all seen the movies and know how real Scots sound!!

We all know that"real Scots" sound like Mel Gibson in Braveheart

**beowulf67** · 4th December 07, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Joe Gondek

We all know that"real Scots" sound like Mel Gibson in Braveheart

And Fat Bastard in Austin Powers!

But that Sean Connery fella needs to give it up. No one will ever believe HE'S from Scotland

**Archangel** · 4th December 07, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by RockyR

I politely disagree. If more people would be willing to say "oops, I'm sorry" rather than INSIST they're right or get defensive (which she had no reason to do since Arlen wasn't OFFENSIVE), the world would be a much nicer place. Even if they still think they're correct, what gives them the right to walk up to a COMPLETE STRANGER and tell them their opinion or berate them for not wearing the proper tartan or for being mis-informed (which Alren was not)? Was Arlen being rude or hurting anyone? No. He seems like a very nice, polite, civilized man. What gives this crazy lady the right to talk to him like that when he said nothing to her to even warrant her approaching him in the first place?

The POLITE thing for ANYONE to do in that instance would be to apologize for being so presumptuous and either admit fault or to agree to disagree or to at least admit they look similar. To insist you're right and to pick a fight (verbal argument) with a complete stranger is crazy and rude.

Wait, but that's what you'd be doing!

So, somebody harmless is being an idiot, big deal. Why spoil the whole trip over it.

I get the accent thing all the time, go figure.

If you wear the Maple Leaf then you get to explain the "clan" of Canada unless, whoa, you get somebody upset that you were never in the army, huh??

If everything went smooth, these threads would be empty.

Personally, I'd be happy to go through an airport without waste of time security than worry about somebody asking silly questions about my kilt.

**RockyR** · 5th December 07, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by Archangel

Wait, but that's what you'd be doing!

I don't see it that way... you'd be REACTING to someone picking a fight with YOU. She approached him, not the other way around.

Either way, he handled it very well. I guess I'm just bitter in my old age of 30. ;)

**Tattoo Bradley** · 5th December 07, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Arlen...

At that point (when she got condescending and rude) I would have blown off a little steam with 1 of the following options:

1. (looking at her jacket or shirt side to side) "Hmm.... Sorry, I can't seem to find your TARTAN POLICE badge. Are you going to write me a ticket?"

2. "Well you MUST know what YOU'RE talking about. I'm not from Scotland and didn't pay top dollar for my kilt in someone else's tartan that I have nothing to do with. Yup... you MUST be right b/c you saw your brother in law wear a kilt once... if that doesn't make you a tartan expert, I don't know what would. You should offer your services to the Scottish Tartans Authority with that eagle eye of yours."

Yeah. I don't tolerate ignorance very well. Call it a personality flaw or what you will. But, my brain isn't wired to work that way. I think my reaction would have been along the lines of Rocky's. When someone maliciously attacks (as is obviously the case here) I will never "turn the other cheek."

**Ian.MacAllan** · 5th December 07, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Tattoo Bradley

. . . When someone maliciously attacks (as is obviously the case here) I will never "turn the other cheek."

But a soft answer really does tend to turn away wrath, and there are many situations in which being courteous is much more constructive than being correct or even just.

Consider that if you effectively squelch this woman she will go away angry and probably dump her anger on some relatively innocent and defenseless person. You can't be sure of "teaching her a lesson" by a cutting comment, and anyway her education is her responsibility not yours.

.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 5th December 07, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Ian.MacAllan

But a soft answer really does tend to turn away wrath, and there are many situations in which being courteous is much more constructive than being correct or even just.

Consider that if you effectively squelch this woman she will go away angry and probably dump her anger on some relatively innocent and defenseless person. You can't be sure of "teaching her a lesson" by a cutting comment, and anyway her education is her responsibility not yours.

.

As "right" as you may be, as mentioned, my brain is not wired that way. I do realize the problem involved in that. But, what is is what is...