Sgian Dubh w/ Non-Traditional Insulting?

[Laird O'the Cowcaddens]

I agree with Jock and Monk, life is too short to listen to a finite minority. Barry also has sound advice per the mirror check. Dinnea fash yersel laddie.

[Nighthawk]

If anybody,but anybody gets insulted over kilts and its attire(apart from wearing feathers that one is not entitled to) then one really ought to go and get a life! Strong opinions are held by some, of that there is no doubt, but lets keep things in perspective. Please.

If you want to wear sgian dubh, then wear one, there is no right or wrong here.It is down to personal choice.

Now, I have to admit I am a tad confused here. If one is to wish to wear a non traditional kilt and attire, why would one want to conform with anything that is traditional? I am not saying, for one second, you can't. I am just wondering why you should want to?

This raises the question of; do modern and traditional kilt attire mix? From what I have seen here, and only here, then in my humble opinion, my answer is, no they don't. Each to their own.

The answer to your question is, in my mind, a simple one, Jock. You are a Scot, from Scotland. I am not. You have the traditions. They are a part of your culture. They are not a part of ours culture, but in my case, a part of my legacy and history. I see myself as a modern man who is rooted in, not bound to, the traditions of my grandmothers culture. I am an American- not a Scot. I am just lucky enough to have the Scots in my geneology. This is why I wear mostly American tartans and American made kilts- I have as much patriotism as I have pride in my past. I wear a sgain dubh and other traditional trappings with my Amerikilt because that is how I see myself- as touched by tradition, but still a part of the world that I live in. Were I a native Scot, I would probably feel the same way towards trad and modern as you do- but for myself only. So there you go- this is why I would want to mix the modern with the traditional- because I am a mix of modern and tradition.

[Bugbear]

The answer to your question is, in my mind, a simple one, Jock. You are a Scot, from Scotland. I am not. You have the traditions. They are a part of your culture. They are not a part of ours culture, but in my case, a part of my legacy and history. I see myself as a modern man who is rooted in, not bound to, the traditions of my grandmothers culture. I am an American- not a Scot. I am just lucky enough to have the Scots in my geneology. This is why I wear mostly American tartans and American made kilts- I have as much patriotism as I have pride in my past. I wear a sgain dubh and other traditional trappings with my Amerikilt because that is how I see myself- as touched by tradition, but still a part of the world that I live in. Were I a native Scot, I would probably feel the same way towards trad and modern as you do- but for myself only. So there you go- this is why I would want to mix the modern with the traditional- because I am a mix of modern and tradition.

How dare you come up with a logical and well thought out explaination, Nighthawk!

Oh wait, you used the term "modern" in place of non-traditional. I guess everything is all right with you, then, in it's own twisted and broken way.

[McClef]

I wouldn't dream of not wearing a Sgian when formally dressed but when casually dressed I often don't.

I think its absence would be more noticed with formal dress but that's not the whole story as I was challenged at a petrol station in Wales as to why I wasn't wearing one (it was packed in my luggage as I was heading for the airport)!

[Nighthawk]

I wouldn't dream of not wearing a Sgian when formally dressed but when casually dressed I often don't.

I think its absence would be more noticed with formal dress but that's not the whole story as I was challenged at a petrol station in Wales as to why I wasn't wearing one (it was packed in my luggage as I was heading for the airport)!

Yeah- and? Why were not wearing one, sir?


I was actually asked the same question by a couple fire fighters at a coffee shop yesterday. I was on my way home from work. My coworkers already think I'm crazy... Crazy and armed? That would do more than raise a few eyebrows!

[Nighthawk]

How dare you come up with a logical and well thought out explaination, Nighthawk!

Oh wait, you used the term "modern" in place of non-traditional. I guess everything is all right with you, then, in it's own twisted and broken way.

Yes sir!!

[Old Hippie]

I wouldn't dream of not wearing a Sgian when formally dressed but when casually dressed I often don't.

We just had International Days at our university, and several of us on the faculty who have kilts wore them two days during the week. We had a nice mix of trads and non-trads (two trads, two non-trads) and so there was some opportunity for comparison as we were tipping beer and checking out of the corners of our eyes to see who was getting the most attention from the female undergraduates. :mrgreen:

None of us displayed sgians due to an institutional discomfort with anything on campus that could be seen to be a weapon. WE know a sgian is a side-knife useful for cleaning one's fingernails before meeting a lassie, the average person sees a knife and immediately begins twitching. One of our trad attendees offered up his personal solution: he carries a horn-handled bottle opener for all but the most formal occasions.

Utility being the name of the game, I can't fault that. I'm in the non-trad camp at present, so when I go kilted I have my Leatherman on my belt just like I do when I wear the sissy troosers.

For those occasions where I'll accessorise my black Utilikilts Mocker with a shirt and tie I have a decorative sgian a friend of mine brought back from Scotland. I didn't buy one just like it when I was in Scotland because I regarded it as typical tourist trash (and later made my own, which I also carry betimes), but I wear the one he brought me with pride in the friendship. Odd thing, eh? :mrgreen:

I think there are times to honour the traditions (despite always having some sod about who is "more" traditional...). There are also times when mashing it up a bit is acceptable.

[wyldathart]

Personally I wouldn't worry about it, I dn't think you'll offend anyone and if you do I doubt they would be foolish enough to make themselves look foolish for saying something in the first place.