Man Denied Admission to Busch Gardens for wearing a kilt

[tundramanq]

Albuquerque was a person driving around town with a fake police vehicle and uniform impersonating a Cop. Knowing a lost kid will probably trust park staff and that kilts are uncommon on the street, I can empathize with Busch Gardens on one side. But the kids need to know to look for the identification badges that all the staff members must wear.
I will bet that Disney has a similar policy about guests dressing like Goofy or Snow White.

[Jock Scot]

A theoretical point I know, but I wonder if the gentleman in question had dressed himself more traditionally in kilt attire and therefore perhaps more recognisable to the park staff he could well have avoided the resulting upset? When all said and done his outfit was hardly a typical outfit.

[Flavia]

After reading the email he sent Busch Gardens I think he shot himself in the foot with his closing. He states that wearing the kilt was not done as a costume but then makes a mockery of himself by giving himself a title and then listing positions held in various "organizations" that, to me, sound like they exist only in his mind and perhaps the minds of his role-playing friends. He would have been far better served had he omitted that part of his email. He also would have benefited by having someone check his spelling and grammar.

I totally agree with you, but it still does not take away from the stupidity of the "doorkeepers" & the stonewalling response from corporate. Even idiots can be unfairly treated.

[Flavia]

Albuquerque was a person driving around town with a fake police vehicle and uniform impersonating a Cop. Knowing a lost kid will probably trust park staff and that kilts are uncommon on the street, I can empathize with Busch Gardens on one side. But the kids need to know to look for the identification badges that all the staff members must wear.
I will bet that Disney has a similar policy about guests dressing like Goofy or Snow White.

True, but this guy looked...let's just say "extremely CASUAL." I don't see anyone confusing him with a park employee. AND their "No Costume" "rule" was being broken by lots of other guests. That's why I'm not buying it.

I don't actually think anyone set out to "insult his heritage". That's ascribing too much agency to the guards. But they were dumb & doubled down on it, which was bad, & then higher-ups just made it worse. Corporate's response was almost mocking.

[Flavia]

There is more from the horses mouth ("Sir" Hex Nottingham) here: http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/Ho...ticleID=161122

A snippet:
".. in March 2013 I was knighted under the Sword of Britain and ordained in the center of Stonehenge by the Druid King of Britain, Arthur Pendragon."

Well, I didn't say the guy wasn't a doofus I just agree with him that the park was wrong.

[MacEanruig]

I cannot help but think that the gentleman (Sir Hex Notthingham) is purposely milking this for his 15 minutes of fame.

[Flavia]

A theoretical point I know, but I wonder if the gentleman in question had dressed himself more traditionally in kilt attire and therefore perhaps more recognisable to the park staff he could well have avoided the resulting upset? When all said and done his outfit was hardly a typical outfit.

I, personally, would have thought that "more regular kilt attire" would have been MORE of a reason for him to be confused with workers in the park. I am sure that the workers. there, look less..."off" than he did.

[Flavia]

I cannot help but think that the gentleman (Sir Hex Notthingham) is purposely milking this for his 15 minutes of fame.

And he could also be one of those who like to try to find "REVERSE DISCRIMINATION!" But I get the feeling that he was someone whose outing was ruined and he's lucky enough to have a reason that other people will listen to.

[Jock Scot]

I, personally, would have thought that "more regular kilt attire" would have been MORE of a reason for him to be confused with workers in the park. I am sure that the workers. there, look less..."off" than he did.

In that case, the park staff should be congratulated for not letting the fellow in. He is obviously an attention seeking buffoon.

[AFS1970]

Just looking at the picture attached to that news video, makes me think the guy has little if any knowledge of his "Celtic heritage" nor what is and is not a costume.

We have had many discussions here about boots and kilts, even about T-shirts and kilts, which I assume would also apply to similar sweatshirts and kilts. But the fact that he, like so many clueless ren faire attendees think they need to wear a woman's sash with their kilt is what to me marks it as a costume, even if an unintended one.

Oddly enough I will be at Busch Gardens around Christmas time and while I will likely have my kilt with me, I had not thought of wearing it to the park.