After reading this thread I feel like I'm watching the battlefield scene in Braveheart with the Scotts on one side of the field and the English on the other. I'm already for someone to post a face with war paint.
This contest is a simple and meaningful thing. It's not about who's got better tree's, it's more about who's mastered certain techniques and philosophy to make a better tree. It's not about a duel with the Americans and Europeans brandishing concave cutters at 20 paces. I don't see how this could be construed as vulgar or ridiculous.
I wonder if these same people that think this whole thing is outlandish feel the same way about Ginkgo.
When all is said and done, people will enter their trees for the fun of it. The naysayers will ultimately peek and look at the contest results and marvel and the wonderful creations displayed and all this posturing will be for nothing.