Wearing of kilts and tartan outside of Scotland

[English Bloke]

I'm neither a Highlander or a Scot (we'll not count my significantly diluted Scotsness, I don't live there). I am however a frequent visitor to Scotland through work and leisure and I echo Phil's comments. That's pretty much my experience as well.

[Cornet]

David, I agree entirely but a lot of that depends on how the response that disagrees is worded. Is it just countering a point or does it venture into the realm of being personal? No amount of pre-post contemplation will prevent the submit button being hit if the poster thinks they've been slighted.

In reply to Cornet. You raise very valid points but the reason it's contentious (at the moment) is the fires of the last spat have only just been put out. Wounds may be still raw and so it invites another round of heated dischord. It's not the subject that's contentious, it's the timing.

Obviously I have missed something. A majority of the kilted community that I have come across over here are men of mature age and professional standing. They are police, paramedics, military, physicians, school teachers and Freemasons. Indeed just the kind of men I was hoping to meet by joining this forum. They are not immature drunken louts looking to pick a fight with any hapless stranger. Are you suggesting that the members of this forum are incapable of restraining their instincts to beat the stuffing out of people whose view point is at variance with their own? Mature men establish their credentials by reasoned argument, and sometimes have to agree to disagree, and then get on with life. I actually have a vested interest in the subject of peoples perception of custom. My husband, God rest his soul, was MacDonald, and for 2 generations his family built a reasonably successful public relations company that specifically directs its attentions to tourism and cultural marketing.

[Cornet]

Or perhaps a step 7.

Attachment 13275

[Cornet]

. . . everyone else so far seems more concerned about treading on eggshells. . .

I have just had a quick look at the smilies while trying to form an adequate response to Steve's cartoon. Some of those smilies are intended to rib, poke and even insult. Their presence in this forum belies the concept of treading on eggshells.

[Jock Scot]

I have just had a quick look at the smilies while trying to form an adequate response to Steve's cartoon. Some of those smilies are intended to rib, poke and even insult. Their presence in this forum belies the concept of treading on eggshells.

Hello Cornet, might I suggest something to you?

Take your time, sit back and get acclimatised, get to know the internet players here, get to know the hot topics that can and do erupt here from time to time, and get to know the jokes and the jokers. You have arrived at the end of one of these eruptions and those that have been here a while have buried the same dead horse all too often to want to do it again , for a while at least! Most of the time we really do, honestly we do, get along pretty well together, even though there are strongly held cultural and national beliefs and inevitable differences that arrise from that, that lurk behind the scenes and even then they usually cause little trouble. Give it time to get to know us?

[Pleater]

I am sure that you will get all sorts of opinions both here and elsewhere on the rights and wrongs of wearing kilts, tartans and the like.

However, should you ever be physically threatened when wearing a kilt, for wearing a kilt, then just explain that your great uncle David left an annuity to each of his great nephews who would wear the kilt for over six months each year.

How could a true Scot argue with that?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[McElmurry]

snip...

Do they object to tartan being worn by non-Highlanders?
Do they object to any kilts being worn by non-Highlanders, even single-color ones?
Do they object to tartan kilts being worn by non-Highlanders?
Do they object to specific Clan tartan kilts being worn by non-Highlanders?

What is the objection and why?

Thank you.

Having read most if not all of the banished threads I can say there are more than a few active members here who are fine with anyone wearing a kilt but would much prefer clan tartans be worn only by clan members. There is an additional group that follows these guidelines themselves but is less concerned about what others get up to.

People who strongly believe kilts should only be worn by highlanders in the highlands do drop in now and then but are usually shown the door pretty quickly.

[English Bloke]

Obviously I have missed something. A majority of the kilted community that I have come across over here are men of mature age and professional standing. They are police, paramedics, military, physicians, school teachers and Freemasons.

You may have missed something yes. Your observed description of Kilted gents is me in a nutshell so thank you for that. I'm middle aged and of professional standing although I'm not, and am unlikely to ever be, a Freemason.

They are not immature drunken louts looking to pick a fight with any hapless stranger. Are you suggesting that the members of this forum are incapable of restraining their instincts to beat the stuffing out of people whose view point is at variance with their own?

Where have I suggested on this forum that we are peopled by drunken louts or that violence is the common recourse? I'd be interested if you can find a quote to back up that accusation. Otherwise I'd be grateful if you didn't embellish my words and preempt what I say, with what you think I say.

Mature men establish their credentials by reasoned argument, and sometimes have to agree to disagree, and then get on with life.

Couldn't agree more. Thanks for the reminder. I'll bear it in mind next time I'm in dispute. Unfortunately on this forum of reasonable and reasoning men and women, there have been instances where individuals have not been able to agree to disagree and the acrimony in their posted exchanges has been palpable. I may add, I have experienced some of this myself and from people who should be leading by example and who should know better. I can only surmise that as they compose their "reasonable" and considered posts they are oblivious to the perceived personal nature of their musings.

When somebody calls a man's whole character into question because his approach to wearing the kilt is different to theirs and perhaps not in keeping with their opinion of what's correct, it tends to get backs up. It certainly did mine anyway. Maybe that's the bit you missed, it wasn't in the last few days and incidentally, it didn't emanate from the Scottish element of the site's membership, as some here might jump to assume.

I've learned from the experience though. I don't take offence any more. It's the internet not the real world and life is too short to get hot under the collar because some unknown at a keyboard somewhere feels their opinion trumps yours and you are a lesser man than them for it. That said, I do endeavour not to give reason for others to take offence at the things I do or say. I also try and stay out of discussions like this but sometimes that's the difficult bit. I'm easily embroiled.

I actually have a vested interest in the subject of peoples perception of custom. My husband, God rest his soul, was MacDonald, and for 2 generations his family built a reasonably successful public relations company that specifically directs its attentions to tourism and cultural marketing.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, but pleased you have found a corner of the interwonderweb to explore your interest in people and custom. It's certainly a mine of useful information and I'm sure you will enjoy the experience greatly. There are some very nice and very knowledgeable people here. May I wish you a warm and hearty welcome. Pull up an ethereal chair and enjoy your stay.

[Cornet]

Where have I suggested on this forum that we are peopled by drunken louts or that violence is the common recourse? I'd be interested if you can find a quote to back up that accusation. Otherwise I'd be grateful if you didn't embellish my words and preempt what I say, with what you think I say.

I was merely responding to your use of the word "wounds", and the implications of it.

Thank you for your kind words. I have been widowed now for 2 years, so the sting of loss is tempered and indeed my reasons for seeking out this forum at the suggestion of friends, was partly to get back out into the world.

[Cornet]

Hello Cornet, might I suggest something to you?

Take your time, sit back and get acclimatised, get to know the internet players here, get to know the hot topics that can and do erupt here from time to time, and get to know the jokes and the jokers. You have arrived at the end of one of these eruptions and those that have been here a while have buried the same dead horse all too often to want to do it again , for a while at least! Most of the time we really do, honestly we do, get along pretty well together, even though there are strongly held cultural and national beliefs and inevitable differences that arrise from that, that lurk behind the scenes and even then they usually cause little trouble. Give it time to get to know us?

Thank you for your wise and sage advice. I myself have some personal opinions about the propriety of wearing tartan. There is a culture to them and I believe that it behooves a potential wearer well to find out and know the history and rights associated with each. Even within my own family name (I am Campbell) there are 41 different tartans registered, but they do not all apply to a person merely because their name is Campbell. For those people who do not have a personal or family standard, there are national, provincial, group and association tartans from which they choose. I freely admit that I find it impolite to wear colours to which one is not entitled.