How about not caring about either?
If someone tells me they've studied martial arts, I just say "oh, that's interesting." When they step onto the mat then I know what level of skill they have.
I've encountered 5th degree BBs and higher that had less skill and ability, years of training notwithstanding, than our junior students. I've encountered people with phenomenal natural talent that in a short time, and with low "rank," were able to defeat skilled people with much more time in training and much higher "rank."
What ever happened to just finding out what a person's skill level was? There's too much concern over clothing and abstract definitions of what "should be" instead of simply crossing arms and finding out for certain...
:idunno:
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The value of a flower is not in its name nor its method of growing, but in the vibrance of its color and the sweetness of its smell.
Then again, it seems there are plenty of folks willing to stop at surface level and just see the patch-heavy NASCAR gi and the satin, extra-wide belt with tons of stripes and fancy stitched caligraphy... Whatever trips your trigger I guess...
:idunno: