Thicken your skin...develop a sense of humor...and just chill out.

[moggi1964]

Just a few facts and figures:

Total Population of Scotland = ~ 5.3 Million
Total Population of Highlands, Inverness and Nairn = ~ 250K

There are over 250 Highland games held in the U.S. each year with an attendance of 1 - 2 thousand for “small” games, 5 - 7 thousand for “average” games and 20+ thousand for "large" games.

Georgia (home of Stone Mountain Games) has a population almost twice that of all of Scotland.

North Carolina (home of Grandfather Mountain Games) has a population almost twice that of all of Scotland.

Los Angeles Country, home to several highland games and gatherings, has a population more than twice that of all of Scotland.

California (home to more than a dozen highland games each year) has a population that is over seven times larger than the entire population of Scotland.

In other words, more people attend highland games is the U.S. alone (not counting Australia, Canada and others) than the entire population of the Scottish Highlands.

Aye but it's QUALITY not quantity that matters

I agree with the OP that people should try to be more calm and polite but we are a wide range of folks with different backgrounds and upbringing and 'stuff' going on in their lives. We aren't always at our best when we are on here and sometimes that shows through in the posts we make. I find the same on all the fora I am a member of and I have contributed to that unpleasantness myself at times (though not here.............yet!)

The point about the Highland Games and the numbers; as much as it is great that so much of the Scottish Heritage is commemorated in the large number of games and attendees across the US there is still nothing like attending an event in its true home.
An example:

I love Rugby Seven's and am planning a trip to see the International Sevens Tournament in Las Vegas in January 2014. I am sooooo excited. However, if I could go to the Melrose Sevens Tournament instead (a much less glamorous affair I can tell you) I would be there in a shot because Melrose is where it all began. There is something about being where it all began.

I miss my home and wearing the kilt connects me in a small way and the people here connect me in different ways. Of course, listening to a Billy Connolly album connects me like a piece of fibre optic cable