Privacy and the Highlands Ethos.

[Larry124]

In the USA there is a mountain regions (east to west) ethos (religious and cultural) that highly values privacy.

An aspect of independence/freedom.

Same in the Scottish Highlands?

Hard to maintain on a web forum since sharing opinions and beliefs and preferences is (and must necessarily be) the substance of the content.

Equally hard to maintain when your kilt is the center of attention, like it or no.

Some touchiness now and then should be no surprise.

Example: I once asked a (USA Appalachian Mountains) man his opinion. Without hesitation he replied: "What do you think?"
Ain't giving anything away to a stranger.

[Panache]

Larry,

Interesting thought.

From my perspective there is a perception of the Scots being often seen as dour as a people, certainly not very open to embracing strangers.

When one thinks of the clan system which was based on blood, faith, and trust I think you are right in saying there was a certain amount of privacy involved.

On the Internet one can dance from one place to another.

One can assume all manner of guises and, as long as the groups involved are unaware of each other, one can pretty much do as one pleases.

This anonymity allows all sorts of Freedom to do what one will.

In the old days your word was your bond.

Today that bond is harder to perceive.

It may be good here, but poor there.

For good or bad , the truth is, there is far less privacy and one's acts can easily haunt one later.

Best to be as you are, speak as you are, stand for what you are, and live as what you are.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Larry124]

...Best to be as you are, speak as you are, stand for what you are, and live as what you are.

Aye, I'm wi' you.

[Arlen]

Let me tell you, as a Scot who moved to America... YES!!!


One of the main culture shocks for me when I visited here was how openly friendly people are here.
In Scotland it's considered polite to let people have their privacy and let them be.
It's certainly not a lack of friendliness.

[Bugbear]

Many times you have to create your own privacy here, even if it is learning to stare blankly at a wall and not hear things being said to you, or to avoid responding with your own thoughts. In some situations one has to have a persona for one's own good or to keep things peaceful.

That's not to say every region in Amarica is the same.

[Jock Scot]

Let me tell you, as a Scot who moved to America... YES!!!


One of the main culture shocks for me when I visited here was how openly friendly people are here.
In Scotland it's considered polite to let people have their privacy and let them be.
It's certainly not a lack of friendliness.

Got it in one Arlen! You will find the Scots courteous and helpful almost to a fault(most of the time), but unless you have known a Scot for a long lifetime you will never know ALL there is to know about them and even then, perhaps not. I suppose that is probably why I use a "nom de plume" here, it is just a natural thing to do to keep a bit of ourselves to ourselves.

[Bugbear]

There's been times I wish I had started out with a pin name here, but I've been quoted so many times, it wouldn't really matter if I hat it changed at this point.
Oh well...

I'm not so sure that we Americans really show all of who we are... I do have to admit that there are quite a few of us who do not have a good sense of other people's privacy,; that rudely disrupt and butt in to other people's lives, rather than being quietly observant.

[DryFly]

I think that the online forum actually allows us to walk the private/public line rather successfully. Just like the local tavern(s) in small town US (and Scotland?) we arrive to enjoy discourse with a group that we are comfortable with. We sit at our computers with an ice water, ginger ale, malt beverage, fruit of the barley or like this morning a cup of coffee to weigh in on the topic at hand. We only know most of our "pub mates" by what we see here. A few we know better. We are allowed to keep as much of ourselves to ourselves as we deem prudent.

In the meeting on neutral ground we are able to slowly observe and hopefully appreciate those cultural differences.

[sydnie7]

On two recent Amtrak journeys, I've sat near women who -- total strangers on the train -- start chatting, find common ground, and continue to talk for several hours straight. I've overheard intimate medical details, tales of woe concerning offspring including drug addiction and abuse, and various other facets of their lives that I certainly wouldn't have been airing out in public, to a near-stranger.

Who to blame? Soap operas? The talk-show/"reality" TV culture? Self-help gurus? I don't know where it comes from, but there must be some balance between being an open and approachable people and maintaining a modicum of privacy about oneself.

I (and Bob, on my behalf) have been known to ask folks to stop talking about their latest surgery while we are trying to enjoy a meal. . . glad to know it's not just me.

[pdcorlis]

I have found that Scots are almost always very courteous and helpful but also very reserved compared to most folks here in the states - but I would say that is equally true for many across the British isles.

After spending a few weeks knocking around out of the way locations - away from the heavily touristy spots, the sudden appearance of an "American loudmouth" on the scene is both startling and unsettling to this Idaho kiltie.