Auld Crabbits

[Cowher]

Hi all.

I have been bothered by this for a wile now and I think it's time to confront it. Many of the traditional dress preference continue to refer to themselves as Auld Crabbits.
Auld: old Crabbits: Old Scottish slang for grumpy or miserable.

Why do you continue to demean yourselves? Many of you kick back and give your traditionalist opinion in a traditionalist sub-forum and then disrespect your views, yourselves, and the traditional way of kilt wear.

I had a talk with my cousin once, who was African American. He used the word n!gga when talking to others of the same race as him. I told him he was making himself less of a human by using a racial slur to talk to about or with his friend. He refused to listen. He said he wasn't saying n!gger he was saying n!gga. It was a term of endearment between black people. Years later he was put at odds with his boss when he referred to him as "my n!gga". He admitted to me that after a long talk with his boss that it was a in inappropriate tern for anyone. It is a word of disrespect and should be avoided.

So I ask you. Why do you use the term auld crabbit when referring to yourself? Do you wish to be taken less seriously? Do you feel that if you call yourself a miserable old grump before anyone else does it protects you somehow?


I am not meaning this to be rude or confrontational. Rather I wish this to upbuild and reinstill selfworth to the traditionalist of XMTS.

[Father Bill]

Yeah . . . I think I know where you may be going with this, but speaking proudly as a grumpy old guy, I'm happy to tease myself. While he "n" word to which you compare the situation was originally a denegrative perjoritive term, used to degrade and control a racial group, I joined the Auld Crabbits by choice, smiling in rueful and comfortable recognition of one of my recognized and admitted character faults. Other Auld Crabbits may have other points of view, but that's the way I came aboard.

To me it remains a comfortable and somewhat rueful admission of a personal weakness which nonetheless indicates to me something for which I have no shame but in fact some pride. Thus it is to me not a self-denigration, but rather a chuckling admission of a personal weakness and point of view for which I make no apologies.

You are very kind (and I have come to think of you over time as a kind person) to want us to take pride, but perhaps that's a "politically correct" way of stripping us of an identity in which we take pleasure and comfort and, yes, pride.

Perhaps other Auld Crabbits will develop the concept further, but trust me; for myself, there is no disrespect of self, but rather a humoured, happy comfort and self respect that allows sufficient space for recognition of personal shortcomings and through that, contentment with who and what I am.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I wish this to upbuild and reinstill selfworth to the traditionalist of XMTS.

You're joking, right?

[Cowher]

You're joking, right?

No I'm not.
I think that many give a fantastic opinion. It may seem harsh (it's never easy to tell some one they are not dressed correctly. Or that they have posted in the wrong sub forum.) but then after the appropriate and direct opinion many say oh but that's just the opinion of this Auld Crabbit. To me it sounds like

-here is my honest opinion but don't take me seriously I'm just a jerk-

Maybe I misunderstand the meaning.

FatherBill: I am not comparing the origin of the words rather the justification of using it as a endearing term. Auld Crabbit means miserable old grump. Am I wrong?

Perhaps I misunderstand but that's why I posted this. Educate me. Or if I'm correct I hope to show the few who understand me that their opinion is valued and shouldn't be followed up by a phrase that lessens the importance of their view.

[madmacs]

You're joking, right?

I dont think Colonials get the British psyche...

[macwilkin]

As the person who started the "Auld Crabbit" social group years ago, I'm a bit shocked by the OP's comparison of a harmless nickname to a racially pejorative word that causes genuine offense to some. Cygnus and Fr. Bill's explanations are pretty much spot on as to why I chose the nickname. Any attempt to say we were being "self-demeaning" is incorrect. The OP's opinion is his own, and I respect that, but it is incorrect in my (and dare I speak for other Auld Crabbits here) others views and feelings.

In other words, it's a play on Scottish words and was meant in a spirit of levity. I belong to a Burns Club that takes a similar name, the "drouthy cronies", a line from Tam O'Shanter to describe Souter Johnnie. It doesn't mean that we're all actual drunken bar-flies...well...

While I appreciate your effort, I suppose, rest assured that my self-worth doesn't need rebuilding in this regard. If it does, rest assured that my family, friends and priest are up to the job of rebuilding it.

Auld Crabbit and proud of it,

Todd

[Joshua]

Curmudgeons Unite!

[creagdhubh]

You're joking, right?

Quite! Speaking as an Auld Crabbit, I can't believe this is even a discussion. Let's get back to Highland dress please.

Cheers,

[Bugbear]

Ah, I remember back in the good old days when Todd started the Auld Crabbits social group... I started my first social group around the same time. Sometimes it's nice to know there are others of your own ilk or mind set even if the group posts go quiet.

[robbiethepiper]

Those few of us, auld crabbitts, who are always right are made very grumpy by the unending task of educating those of you who only believe you are right.