John Bull

[Quizmonster]

The figure, John Bull, was created in 1712 by Dr John Arbuthnot - a Scotsman - and he wears a waistcoat consisting of the Union Flag, originally commissioned just over a century earlier by King James VI/I - a Scotsman!
Isn't it wonderfully ironic that, from now on, all of Anotheoldgit's anglomaniacal rantings will be indelibly marked by this wholly "Scottish" figure? I love it!

[anotheoldgit]

/// The fact is that I can see no rational reason why anyone over the age of thirteen would WANT one. ///

Official, Quizmonster considers all of you who have created a personal avata for yourselves as "CHILDISH"

This is from a man who every year recites a poem to a bag filled with dubious meat products.

/// One year I address the haggis and the next she does.///

What an hectic life you and your missus must lead.

[Quizmonster]

I myself might have gone as far as saying 'childLIKE', but, if the 'childISH' cap fits, by all means wear it. In any case, how many of you actually 'created' your avatar? Over 95% of them appear to have been simply plucked from some website, as I'm pretty certain YOURS was.
'Dubious meat products'? There isn't a shred of doubt about the provenance of anything in any haggis WE ever eat. And what could conceivably be childish about reciting a poem from Rabbie Burns? Was Laurence Olivier being childish when he spoke the words of Shakespeare?
You truly are a bit of a plonker, aren't you?

(Oh, people are free to use 'an' before words beginning with 'h' only if the stress is NOT on the opening syllable. Thus 'an hisTORic event', 'an hotEL' and so on are fine, but 'an HECtic...' is simply wrong.)

[anotheoldgit]

/// how many of you actually 'created' your avatar? Over 95% of them appear to have been simply plucked from some website,///

How would you suggest we create them? Carve them from stone? Draw them or paint them? Have you never heard of clip art?

/// And what could conceivably be childish about reciting a poem from Rabbie Burns? Was Laurence Olivier being childish when he spoke the words of Shakespeare? ///

I can never remember old Laurence reciting Shakespeare to a bag of "dubious meat products".

Although I may think them, I will not lower myself to playground callings.

[Quinlad]

The way you mangle the English language is genuinely poetic. I absolutely love the way you write, AOG.

[Quizmonster]

Are you now seriously contending that using "clipart" or "cut-and-paste" are CREATIVE activities? Certainly, the pictures one finds in clip-art collections were 'art' at the point where the artist originally drew/painted/photographed them, but there is not even the merest hint of artistry or creativity involved when someone just helps himself to them! Would I be creative if I nicked the Mona Lisa?

I think most of us Jocks know that the haggis doesn't hear us when we recite the wonderful lines 'addressed' to it; accordingly, we're aware that whoever is listening is/are the actual audience. As regards that, I'm perfectly sure that good old Larry occasionally spoke Shakespeare's words to the walls of his dressing-room before going on-stage. By your lights, he must have been behaving even more childishly than you believe I am on January 25th, surely. At least the haggis consists of things which originally had life!

Finally, if your reference to 'playground callings' was about the word, plonker, I have to tell you that it has meant penis since the 1940s. I could, therefore, easily have chosen a much more appropriate word, but didn't think the censor would let me get away with it!

You really are getting sillier by the minute...I should quit while you're behind!

[mike11111]

Is there really any need to descend to this level of personal abuse? There will always be people with irreconcilable opinions. One man's meat &c.

[anotheoldgit]

Thanks for those words of wisdom mike.

It is obviously that I have upset the quizmonster so much, because wasn't it him who went to the trouble to raise a question specifically aimed at me, just because I dared to "CREATE" (To cause to exist; bring into being).a personal avatar.

I can only take comfort out of the fact that every time he sees my "John Bull" pop up, it must touch a very, very, raw nerve.

[Quinlad]

I often think 'Bull' when I read your posts, AOG.

Just kidding. You know I love you. :-)

[Quizmonster]

You - or probably some dictionary you consulted - have defined the word, create, very well, Anotheoldgit. Now would you be so kind as to explain to me precisely how YOU "caused your avatar to exist" or "brought it into being"? Clearly, it 'existed' or 'was' on the website you trawled it from and - prior to that - on an artist's easel in an attic somewhere. Had it not been, you couldn't have got it. (I say attic, because that's where artists traditionally live!) You had nothing whatsoever to do with its existence...you just BROUGHT it here!
Far from touching a raw nerve, if you had bothered to read my question, you would have seen that - regarding your avatar and its supposed association with you - I said, "I love it!" It's hilarious, not annoying!

Mike, using clipart and cut-and-paste to bring an avatar to AnswerBank is not an artistic/creative activity. That is not a matter of opinion or, at least, not one worth listening to.

Steve, still no news on your source as requested, I see. The fact remains that modern research has proved conclusively that the kilt was NOT invented by an Englishman and that was your original claim.

[Kromovaracun]

Quit being a dick, QM.

[Quizmonster]

Ooh, you are awful, Kromovaracun! That's one of the penis-synonyms...amongst others...I considered applying to Anotheoldgit in an earlier answer above but I decided to remain polite.

[Quizmonster]

Steve, yes, let's just leave it at that. As regards Anotheoldgit, shootin' fish in a barrel ceases to be fun after a while and - if you care to do a bit of trawling through the News category - you'll see I'm very far from being the only gunman!