Wearing another clans Tartan?

[Nathan]

Wait, wait, wait. Let's remember what we're talking about here.

In principle, I absolutely agree that character and morals are defined by what you do when others aren't watching. Right is right and wrong is wrong, regardless of who sees. But when it comes to wearing a piece of cloth, where the only relevant concern is the arrangement of the colours, the only point of debate here is its significance to others - i.e., "am I misrepresenting myself?" Without that context, there is no moral (for lack of a better term) issue. It's just a piece of cloth. It's not a holy symbol, nor does it even carry the same significance as, say, a national flag (which is usually associated with rules/regulations on its treatment). Wearing the tartan when no one else is around is neither moral nor immoral, since no misrepresentation can happen.

Now it may very well be that you don't like other non-clan-associated individuals even being allowed to possess a scrap of 'your' clan tartan, but that's your baggage, not theirs. As long as they are not wearing it or otherwise misrepresenting themselves with it, I fail to see how the character/morality angle comes into play. This is why, as I said, after many discussions on this topic, I've arrived at the conclusion that knowing one's audience should be one of the deciding factors.

For instance, my family heritage is of Clan Colquhoun. But a few years ago I bought a used box-pleat kilt from another member here in the (MacDonald) Lord of the Isles tartan. I wanted a low-yardage box-pleated kilt for hiking and outdoors, and that's precisely what I use it for. I wear it on the trail where I'm unlikely to come into contact with anyone else. In any context where there's even a slim chance that clan association would come into play, I wear one of my Colquhoun kilts. But out on the trail, the deer and rabbits have no idea what tartan even is. With no clan tartan context, why would there be any element of character/morality at play?

The distinction here is that while I don't think someone should wear the venerated symbology of another clan, you don' think they should be seen wearing it. I don't know if it's baggage, but that is clearly where we differ.