Some ways to handle dealing with the Crabby Old Fart at FK

[The Wizard of BC]

I really am a Garumfy Old Fart. Just ask Bobbie or one of the FK seamstresses. At times I can be a real pain to live and work with.

It stems from my nature as a nit-picky Engineer on one hand and from being an introverted loner on the other. I have never been happier than when I was totally alone, in the middle of an ocean, on a boat I had built myself. Nobody I had to talk to and no one else to blame if I sank and died but myself.

Then there is the dichotomy of my also being a closet actor and teacher. Ask anyone who has seen me in the 1st Peoples Gallery of the Royal BC Museum giving my weekly talk on Carved Poles.

Now I find myself with a very public business. Dealing with customers on a daily basis. I'm also addicted to this world we call X Marks. As any of you who have visited the shop can attest, I can come across as a supremely confidant, brash, Ego maniac.
This is just my way of handling my crushing fear that you won't like the kilts I make. So I use the "It's better to be a live lion" rule.

This all comes out in my writings here. I write like an Engineer. In short, clipped sentences. But I have such a need to pass on some of the things I have learned to those who ask. So when someone asks a question I sometimes jump right in and start teaching. This has caused some to cuss me up and down and others to believe that I have slighted them.

Heck, I don't care where a kilt is made. I don't make my kilts in Scotland and most of my kilts aren't made from Wool or Tartan. What's the difference?
And, I'm on the record saying that I believe that Acrylic, if properly spun and woven, has the capability of rivaling Wool even better than P/V.

Now, I will probably never buy an Acrylic Kilt. But that is simply because I have no need for one. I can make my own. That doesn't mean I dislike them.

This ends up with me answering a question about how to determine fabric content or fabric weight because I'm frustrated that those who I believe should be answering the question are not more forthcoming with the answer.

So, in the future, I think I will refrain from sticking my nose in any threads if that thread has anything to do with another person or companies product. If they want to keep the mystic of secrecy alive that's their business.

Also, I'm finding that my answers to questions are sometimes taken wrong. It is because I answer as an Engineer with as many facts, as much detail, and as clearly as I can. But I'm hampered by the fact that I can't write well.
So what I think is a direct answer, to a direct question, about a general subject, comes across as criticism of a specific product.

So, If I could have some help from the members here. If you want a direct answer from me to a question about something of a general nature about kilts you can ask, but please direct the question to me personally. That way I can answer without inadvertently stepping on someone's toes.

If I have offended anyone, I sincerely apologize.

If I have come across as negative about any other product or company please accept this as a public apology to you and your product and my promise to respect you and your product fully in the future.

It is not, nor has it ever been, my intent to denigrate or offend.

I'm now going to slink off this soap-box, stick my nose back under my sewing machine, and try to get some kilts made before I have to shut down for a week to move the shop to it's new home.

[Kilted-Marine]

If I understand correctly you have been a crabby old fart for many many years, I think you should refrain from changing as change at your age could be risky-since it causes stress

I think that as long as the crabby old fart understand that every once in awile he shall get a snappy answer in return to his grumpy comments, we all can live in peace and harmony...at least until somebody else makes him crabby again.

Maybe if the crabby old fart acts nice he might get a free kilt for his birthday or Christmas or something like that..then he can wear it burn it weigh it..just don't burn it while you are wearing it

[Monkey@Arms]

Aw, you may be a COF but we still love you.

Best regards,

Jake

[pdcorlis]

Believe it or not - some of us actually appreciate plain speaking. I also appreciate your willingness to share your skills and knowledge with the rest of us - thanks for that. Just don't get me started on that dry as the Sahara sense of humor...

Thanks for letting me quack.

[ccga3359]

First and foremost this is a forum. the exchange of information, ideas and such. Although it pays the bills and keeps XMarks from being a user-paid forum, selling ones wares is secondary. We all have opinions, we all have something to learn. We are, one and all, passionate about our kilts*. We all spew info in hopes once in a while we are actually correct on something. I say, keep the information coming Steve. Damn the toes!


*Be they FK's, USAK's, FC's, SK's, FC's, SWK's, CCK's or RK's or RKilts.**

**Alphabetically listed.

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Steve,
I've never been offended by your analycial or frank opinions. You are a member of this forum like everyone else. You can't please all of the people all of the time. Keep the comments coming.

[RockyR]

*Be they FK's, USAK's, FC's, SK's, FC's, SWK's, CCK's or RK's or RKilts.**

**Alphabetically listed.

What alphabet are you using? HAHAHAHA

[ccga3359]

What alphabet are you using? HAHAHAHA

Metric! Canada claims Steve now.

[Livingston]

Steve, having met you in person here in Colorado AND having worked with engineers before AND having been in the military AND having worked with ONLY the military as customers for the last several years, I just need to say that you are one of the easier going GOFs I've met. Your answers are allways on topic and, to me, accurate. Keep up the good work and good posting.

[RockyR]

Steve... BTW...

I understand that it's tough to be 3 things at once... a member of XMARKS, an advertiser on XMARKS AND a Kilt Company with it's own products. Even when your answers come from a "friendly and helpful place", some people will take it the wrong way b/c of the fact you're an advertiser and a different kilt company. I've TRIED to learn to bite my tounge more often than not, but I do slip up now and again.

As long as you know in your heart that you're not "trolling for customers" or putting down someone's product to make yours look better, don't worry about it. People will see that you're just being honest and not crabby or sarcastic.