Quote Originally Posted by bwat View Post
Some suspected cultural differences I've noticed in this thread and others:

- I think the definition of the word "respect" in North America is different to Scotland/rest of Europe.

- The criticism found on the female attire threads and the value placed on a "family friendly" (a term I think I'm right in guessing is a synonym for "quite conservative") look is very American in my eyes. I find this more troubling than kilts on back-to-front as it seems quite controlling.

- The worship of the warrior class/police is very American and quite alien to me. Before people get upset at this I've got coppers and squadies in the close family. I was born in an Army hospital and I've spent some time as a reservist. I've nothing against the police or the armed forces.

That's just what I could come up with whilst my tatties are boiling. It is quite clear to me that this board is run according to North American sensibilities so every now and again the old world will feel a wee bit peeved. It's not such a big thing I suppose.
Apologies for going off topic here, but can I ask for a bit of clarification so I can try to understand your post, bwat? Are you using "American"to equal "North American", and visa versa? Where do the Canadians come in? I consider myself of North America, and therefore "North American", but I don't consider myself "American". I ask this because it appears you are using the term interchangeably. Canada and America share some history (not all of it favorable, since we burnt their White House down once), but each country also shares a lot of history with European countries. And Canada and America are vast, so to try to ascribe a specific "sensibility" to the residents as a group is difficult. I'm western Canadian, and when I talk with eastern Canadians or Quebecois, it is obvious to me how different we are. We don't share a sensibility in many areas, and from people I have met from across the U.S., it is almost like different countries within one country down there. So once again, I have never been able to determine an "American" sensibility.

I have also looked at the moderation team, and three of the moderators are from the UK (Scotland, Wales and England), one splits his time between BC and Scotland, one is from Canada, and the others are from the US. So, I would view the forum as being managed rather with an international mindset.

Anyway, back on topic -- I enjoyed the drumming of the young men, I mentally vowed to myself never to wear a kilt that way, and I then went on to the next thread.