Bagpipe ban for tat shops

[English Bloke]

... I'm close to Father Bill's mindset in his first post. ... the whole statement came down to this; "Only tourists wear kilts and the locals just look down on them". I decided at that point that I would only wear it over here ...

Another outwith Kilt wearer discouraged. Another Scottish Kilt not sold. It's only a matter of time.

[Phil]

It is intriguing how a post about “tartan tat” shops can develop into two such divergent themes with a soupcon of cultural hubris thrown in to add some spice to the mix.

First of all I seem to have missed the trigger which sparked off a heated discussion over non-Scots being allowed to wear the kilt. I know this has been a contentious subject in the past and that there are a couple of contributors who express the view that kilts should only be worn by a select band of individuals. To qualify you must have lived in a closely defined (their definition of course) area of Scotland since time immemorial. Not only this but heaven forbid that any individual not a member of this select and exclusive group should express any view, whatsoever, concerning the wearing of kilts. I would just say, however, that this is not and never has been my view and if anything that I wrote gave anyone cause to interpret my words as such then I must sincerely apologise.

The second theme that has reared its ugly head results from an innocent remark about the aboriginal inhabitants of America and which has elicited the response of wishing Scots people go and drown themselves. This is not a route that this discussion should take and if my clumsy attempts to explain myself have resulted in such opprobrium then I must, once again, apologise.

The actual point I was trying to get across is that Scots, and by this I include all individuals who live and work within the boundaries of the land known as Scotland, in general prefer not to be seen as some sort of anachronistic kilted society, mired in the beliefs and traditions of a bygone age. Here I can only speak as one of these resident Scots and I would not presume to speak for the Scottish diaspora elsewhere in the world.

[PEEDYC]

Many years ago I was told that the only place to see a "true" Scot is anywhere outside Scotland. It is amazing how Nationalistic and sentimental we become as soon as we leave our homeland. A lot of Scots who never wore the kilt at home all of a sudden become wearers. This is probably why so many people in the USA and Canada and elsewhere wear kilts and why not so many are seen in Scotland.

With me it was affordability that stopped me. I wore the kilt as a boy until it became too expensive to outfit me and my brother. Many years later, having survived a divorce and a couple of redundancies I found that I did have some spare cash and so became kilted once again. I cannot afford a proper 8 yard 16oz tank so I wear what I can afford as long as it looks the part.

I am going to Gambia once again in November and as I will be there for St Andrew's day, Christmas, My Birthday, New Year and Burn's night I will be wearing a kilt. This is when the cheaper "non tank" comes into it's own. I do not like the "modern" non tartan kilts but will take a cheaper version as the sand and dust will take its toll on any clothing. As it will be in the 30's the lighter the cloth the better. I will not stop wearing a kilt just because I cannot afford a tank. The more kilted people the better.

The "tat" has always been around. I remember many many years ago on one of my regular trips to Oban (The Highlands) I saw models of kilted pipers but when you turned them over it said "Made in France".

[English Bloke]

Phil.
Quality post.

[McClef]

The idea sounds great but unless they have people to enforce the regulations with the same deadly efficiency and relish as their parking attendants I doubt that much will change.

[CMcG]

<snip> I don't remember who it was, but the whole statement came down to this; "Only tourists wear kilts and the locals just look down on them".

It might be worth looking for the actual quote because that doesn't sound quite right. I've read the situation to be that most Scots don't wear the kilt as everyday clothing, but rather reserve it for specific occasions. Wearing the kilt outside of those situations in Scotland is mostly done by tourists, which leads people to being treated like... er, tourists

Many years ago I was told that the only place to see a "true" Scot is anywhere outside Scotland. It is amazing how Nationalistic and sentimental we become as soon as we leave our homeland. A lot of Scots who never wore the kilt at home all of a sudden become wearers. This is probably why so many people in the USA and Canada and elsewhere wear kilts and why not so many are seen in Scotland.
<snip>

This is actually quite common among diasporic populations in general. For example, there are various thriving musics, languages, dances, and even martial arts in Canada that have ceased to enjoy popularity in their home countries. Outwith the home country, emigrants need to try harder or else be assimilated to their new location...

That being said, our local Scottish shops don't blast bagpipe music into the streets

The idea sounds great but unless they have people to enforce the regulations with the same deadly efficiency and relish as their parking attendants I doubt that much will change.

If there is a fine associated with enforcing those regulations, then the powers that be will most certainly be efficient because it is good for their coffers!

[Phil]

If there is a fine associated with enforcing those regulations, then the powers that be will most certainly be efficient because it is good for their coffers!

Sadly I think they will only have powers to confiscate the offending sound equipment - so not much recompense there. And only that which is outside their premises according to a spokesman ("Officers will also ensure that no music is played from speakers situated outside of shop fronts."). A quick loudspeaker move methinks.....

On a closely related subject, this appeared in today's paper - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ne...ute.6811576.jp

It seems that Mr Nicholson has an eye for more litigation.

[Mule]

Another outwith Kilt wearer discouraged. Another Scottish Kilt not sold. It's only a matter of time.

oooh no, not me. I'm waiting for a very nice "real" Scottish kilt to arrive. I feel it is very important to support traditional sources and small operations.

CMcG, I could try, however, it was when I first joined X and I was reading everything I could find... I should try and find it though.

[Dixiecat]

This is actually quite common among diasporic populations in general. For example, there are various thriving musics, languages, dances, and even martial arts in Canada that have ceased to enjoy popularity in their home countries. !

One famous example being Cape Breton Step Dance. Believed to be by many to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland where it has long since died out.

Oh, and to keep this on topic, I'd prefer silence in comparison to blaring loud speakers.

[cessna152towser]

I don't mind the bagpipe music but I'm not so happy about the Indian music which blasts out of some of these shops, there is one in Princes Street and one on Nicholson Street which always seem to be playing Indian music when I pass.