"Kilt Don't"s vs. Anonymous Namecalling

[ghostlight]

While I understand that a list of "proper" highland dress suggestions (sometimes accompanied by member submitted photos) can be helpful and sometimes including a list of things to avoid can also be helpful, is it really necessary to post pictures of anonymous third parties for the sole purpose of making fun of them when a member feels that person serves as a "bad example"?

If we need visual indications of "kilt don't"s, why don't some of the members concerned with such things take a picture of themselves, their own spouse or family members, etc. demonstrating a faux pas and then a "correct" picture demonstrating how to correct the issue for side-by-side comparison?

I'm not sure if there are any legal issues involved with taking pictures of anonymous strangers without their consent for the purpose of posting them online without their consent for the purpose of ridiculing them behind their backs, but it doesn't seem like a very mature or "family friendly" thing to do either way.

This has come up multiple times in the very recent past and, at least in my opinion, it seems that it should be possible to present a functional list of "kilt don't"s without doing so at the expense of others.

This isn't very sporting behavior and, frankly, I'm surprised the forum rules don't directly address the topic.

[Panache]

Speaking for myself as a member I have never very much liked the Kilt Dos and Don'ts thread for some of the reasons you give.

It does seem unfair to critique people without understanding the context of who they are or why they are wearing a particular outfit.

Highland dress does seem to have its pitfalls to the new wearer.

Perhaps I should get Glen and we should do a thread with pictures of common dress problems and their solution?

Hmmm....


Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Bugbear]

Post deleted.

[ghostlight]

At least from my perspective, there is a gigantic leap between giving a wink and a chuckle to the general concept of something we don't personally like and actually hijacking someone's personal likeness for no other reason than to attack and mock that specific individual behind his or her back.

Poking fun at a concept can be done tactfully and, if handled properly, can be used to educate. Attacking an individual behind his or her back strikes me as immature and cowardly and only serves to make enemies.

If we, as a community, are going to engage in or encourage this kind of behavior, what exactly have we served by doing so?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I sympathize with what Ghostlight has said, and perhaps I myself may have been one of the more recent offenders with some of my Grandfather Mountain pictures featuring some of what I consider to be "don'ts" of lady's attire.

Just for the record, those particular images were cropped from various "crowd shots" that I had from the Games. I just cut and pasted that collage together to illustrate my point in that thread, and give a visual idea of what I noticed as a common theme at the Games that day.

This is the only instance I can think of where I have posted pictures I have taken myself to illustrate any sort of critical statement. But I do often find myself doing google image searches looking for other photos to illustrate a concept I am trying to illustrate in my post -- good or bad. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and sometimes a visual example (either a positive or a negative example) can be very effective.

I think it is perfectly legitimate to use a photograph of a person as an example of a particular style that one is discussing (either pro or con). I don't think it is good form at all to make fun of or be derogatory towards an individual person, no matter what they are wearing.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Highland dress does seem to have its pitfalls to the new wearer.

Perhaps I should get Glen and we should do a thread with pictures of common dress problems and their solution?

Hmmm....


Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

Great idea, you guys could do an excellent job at that! Some really sharp looking styles!

Matt always looks good as well!

Always better to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. I didn't see the do's and dont's as attacks, more of jest

[pdcorlis]

Yeah - I'd love to have a photo of Jamie wearing his kilt with the pleats in the front...

[billmcc]

...This isn't very sporting behavior and, frankly, I'm surprised the forum rules don't directly address the topic.

Bravo, ghostlight.

[Rex_Tremende]

Thanks for speaking up, Ghostlight. That is the reason that I no longer post to- and rarely read the Kilt Do's and Don'ts thread. I think it's patently unfair and more than a little cruel - though I'll carve out exceptions for some of those ridiculous Halloween costumes for sale.

Regards,
Rex.

[ghostlight]

Matt, my original post was not meant to single you out exclusively (there have been multiple offenders recently), but the thread you mentioned and the collage you posted are some of the contributing factors in my making the comment / suggestion.

I think it is perfectly legitimate to use a photograph of a person as an example of a particular style that one is discussing (either pro or con).

It is perfectly legitimate -- when one has obtained that person's consent or has taken reasonable efforts to obscure the person's individual likeness.

It is generally considered bad form and unethical (and in some cases illegal, although I am not a legal expert and do not pretend to understand exactly where the "line" is drawn) to use someone's specific likeness without their permission in the pursuit of ridiculing them.

If it was not your intent to ridicule the specific individuals, perhaps it would have been prudent to obscure their identifying features while the photo adjustments were being made.

I don't think it is good form at all to make fun of or be derogatory towards an individual person, no matter what they are wearing.

But can you cleanly justify the action as an exercise in constructive criticism if the individual person you are serving up as an example is clearly identifiable and is not involved in the discussion?

The forum rules are very clear that we're supposed to treat one another with respect. Don't we owe that same respect to others who may not be here to defend themselves -- especially if we're going to "throw them under the bus" as bad examples?