I see

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Originally Posted by Deeranged

They tend to do it less directly in my experience by asking which school you went to, where you come from or what team you support. It seems to mean a lot to a certain type out west.

I was once asked by a guy on my first day at a new job in Prestwick which team I supported, of course I said Dundee. The immediate response was 'but you must support either Celtic or Rangers too'. That wasn't a question by him it was a statement. Obviously I was aware of what he was getting at and told him I was a Welsh Methodist - he'd no idea how to take it and said 'well, at least yer no a Tim'.

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Another trick was to shake hands with a person to try to find out if they were a mason.

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Originally Posted by islaydarkblue

Another trick was to shake hands with a person to try to find out if they were a mason.

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But how can you tell? I've shaken hands with plenty people but have never been able to tell just by a handshake that they're a mason or that they aren't a mason.

People we met in our hotel were great fun. Chatting after dinner in the bar, football came came up and the Belfast origin lady said they supported Hamilton. Cue disbelief from me and said Dundee FC were the team to support. As soon as I questioned their allegiance they explained that Hamilton was a safe team to support. It turned out they had had a difficult time in Belfast and came to Scotland to get out of their problems. Not supporting one of the OF was a logical way to break with the past!
Agree hmac, disliking both is a very difficult concept for some football fans to grasp.

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Originally Posted by Deeranged

But how can you tell? I've shaken hands with plenty people but have never been able to tell just by a handshake that they're a mason or that they aren't a mason.

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There's a strange pressure over the knuckles of your index and middle finger. You just think it is an idiosyncratic handshake and it doesn't mean anything to you because you don't know the appropriate response. Not a Mason so the explanation I was given might be a load of rubbish and my leg was being pulled!

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Originally Posted by BCram

There's a strange pressure over the knuckles of your index and middle finger. You just think it is an idiosyncratic handshake and it doesn't mean anything to you because you don't know the appropriate response. Not a Mason so the explanation I was given might be a load of rubbish and my leg was being pulled!

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There's a great photo in the strath bar of the big fat ref tiny something shaking hands with John Greig before an old firm game.

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Originally Posted by islaydarkblue

In the last four years.

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So why,four years ago did Celtic become a Protestant team and rangers a Catholic team?

Is it something to do with newco?

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Originally Posted by Returnofrros

There's a great photo in the strath bar of the big fat ref tiny something shaking hands with John Greig before an old firm game.

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Tiny Wharton. First ref I really got to dislike. Him and a rugby ref were the Foundations for my belief that refs are basically very self centred and have had their emotions relating to fairness either removed or diminished. Never ever remember a game that went well for the Dees when Tiny was in charge. I wonder if there is a refs statto who could show the results of every game they refereed. It might be very interesting to see the facts and compare them with the impression each fan holds.

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Originally Posted by islaydarkblue

You must have led a sheltered life.

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Not at all. Old rules of don't talk about politics and religion seem to work well with face to face contacts. Forum is different because most people accept that you can have discussions about these topics as long as you don't use personal abuse?

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Originally Posted by Deeranged

But how can you tell? I've shaken hands with plenty people but have never been able to tell just by a handshake that they're a mason or that they aren't a mason.

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When I was a member of Lochee Private Bowling Club bowlers used to shake hands before a game and I have received many ‘funny’ handshakes from opposing bowlers. I even received one from a fellow member of Downfield Golf Club who I knew was a past master of a Masonic lodge after the end of a golf match.

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Originally Posted by BCram

Tiny Wharton. First ref I really got to dislike. Him and a rugby ref were the Foundations for my belief that refs are basically very self centred and have had their emotions relating to fairness either removed or diminished. Never ever remember a game that went well for the Dees when Tiny was in charge. I wonder if there is a refs statto who could show the results of every game they refereed. It might be very interesting to see the facts and compare them with the impression each fan holds.

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The referee Nick Walsh used to book at least one player during every game in one season. I do not know if he has managed to keep his record intact.