Diatonic Scales

I have heard that the diatonic scales have their own characteristics. A minor is described as 'The sadder minor scale', and D major as 'The joyful major scale'. The distiction between major and minor scales is very clear to me, but I cannot really hear a differance between the scales with the same major or minor tonality. Does the tone a diatonic scale is centered around contribute to the feeling of the scale?

My guess is that the 'feeling' of these scales comes from instruments that are suited to play that scale. IE, it is the timber of the instrument that makes a scale sound happier/sadder than another. Or maybe I am not a good enough musican to hear a real differance between C major and D major. What do you think?

I can't hear a difference either. Back when people used tuning systems other than equal temperament, the different scales would have different spaces between their degrees and it would have sounded different. I wouldn't worry about it if you can't hear a difference today though.