Bagpipe ban for tat shops

[Cowher]

(snip) which has elicited the response of wishing Scots people go and drown themselves. (snip)

I'm not actually wishing anyone to drown themselves. It's a figure of crude speach. Like "go screw" "sit on it" "go pound sand" and so forth.
I ment no I'll will to anyone. Im just trying to say I don't care if anyone likes that I wear a kilt or not. I like it. It means a great deal to me and I wear it with pride.

Cheers

[Bugbear]

To me, tartan tat in Scotland is Scotland's issue, rather than mine, to deal with.

Phil, I am not in any way an expert.. in anything... and I am certainly not in any way a Scot.

I do, how ever, acknowledge and have some level of awareness of Scotland's contributions to the modern world, having read a few books on the subject.

These discussions always leave a question in the back of my mind. How has the rest of the world contributed to the development of modern Scotland in a positive sense? Sometimes I am left with an underlying, emotional feeling that Scottish culture views itself as a one-way street going out to the rest of the world, but the rest of the world tarnishes Scotland with it's influence.

Just as I have often gotten the underlying, emotional sense that some other people on the forum have a point of view that they own, heritage wise, all kilts and have bully rights over everyone else's kilt wearing practices, even, perhaps especially, if it is one of the non-Scottish types of kilts.

Let me make it very clear, though, I am talking only about my emotional "knee jerk," and "gut" reactions to some things stated here on the forum, which I often set aside and try to analyze. I've embarrassed my self too many times posting a gut reaction.

[madmacs]

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

Yet...

They just havent caught up to the new traditional trend being set in edinburgh...

[Cowher]

These discussions always leave a question in the back of my mind. How has the rest of the world contributed to the development of modern Scotland in a positive sense? Sometimes I am left with an underlying, emotional feeling that Scottish culture views itself as a one-way street going out to the rest of the world, but the rest of the world tarnishes Scotland with it's influence.

Well said!

[Bugbear]

Again, so it is very clear, I was only talking about an emotional reaction that wells up when I read some statements and discussions. I was not trying to say that is what Phil and others are saying. I don't seem to have control over those gut emotions and feelings coming up, only how I react to them, or try to quell them

[billsides]

I'll am re-visiting Edinburgh's Royal Mile next week and I'll bet more even tat is there since my last visits in 2007 and 2009, simply because the country's economy is worse. Tat provides employment and they sell what most people will buy, few want expensive kilts as they cannot justify it. The horrid music did not bother me, I simply bypassed these shops to spent my money in more pleasant ones. The stock along the footpaths was invariably poor quality and kilts were often weather affected but they, along with the abundant flower pots, added badly needed colour to lighten up the otherwise sombre sandstone buildings! Most of the shops with stuff littering the footpaths had decent kilts and ladies skirts and jewellery hidden right at the back of the store.

A bigger issue was the severe lack of toilets for the evening festival crowds. Decent toilets were near the castle but were barracaded off during the tattoo. Those under the tattoo stands were too few in number. In 2009 my wife spent 40 minutes standing in line there for about half a dozen portable toilets for the women! The men's was quicker but sheer numbers meant the door was open constantly and, with no screens inside, passers by saw all! Seating may be improved for the tattoo this year but the toilets appear untouched. I saw many very distressed people along the street refused restaurant toilets after they could not find public ones. Restaurants invariably only let people having a usually poor quality over priced meal use theirs. There were public toilets in Bridge St and in Waverley station but they are well down the street and not obvious. I suggest Edinburgh council has bigger problems than tat and the low quality kilts lining the Royal Mile, it seems they intend to preserve its ancient name of "Old Reeky" as visitors do relieve themselves in the many alleyways when they cannot find a loo!

I am going back again because I love it. It is unique and some tat is vital to ensure it survives. There are many stores selling decent locally made hand made kilts and variations of them plus quality Scottish produce and pricing can be very attractive. Most quality stores will still have a bit of tat scattered around but without the blaring music so it can be more pleasantly sorted through and their prices should be no different. The Royal Mile of course is but a tiny part of Scotland, a country which has much to crow about. Of course I am travelling way beyond Edinburgh, but it is a hell of a good place to start any visit!

Bill Sides Melbourne

[Phil]

To me, tartan tat in Scotland is Scotland's issue, rather than mine, to deal with.

Quite correct, and the original post was about just exactly that. The purpose of posting was because it is a kilt-related subject which may have been of interest to some on this site. Remember that the membership here is not exclusively from one country and that many threads may have little or no relevance to some as a result.

Sometimes I am left with an underlying, emotional feeling that Scottish culture views itself as a one-way street going out to the rest of the world, but the rest of the world tarnishes Scotland with it's influence.

I would prefer not to get into a discussion about nations regarding themselves as a "one-way street" as I believe that way leads us into a minefield where we should not be treading. Suffice it to say that every nation holds itself in high regard in comparison to others on this planet and, conversely, tends to be blinkered about some of its attitudes and actions.
What I would say, however, is that I think it important to draw attention to the true nature of Scotland's people rather than the false stereotype which, sadly, is too often presented as reality and believed by those who do not take the trouble to seek out the truth. I believe this is important, not particularly at a touristic level, but for individuals who may be considering business or investment decisions to understand the actual potential of the society involved.

[Phil]

A bigger issue was the severe lack of toilets for the evening festival crowds.

You have touched on a major issue, not just here in Edinburgh, but in most of our towns and cities. Young people, in particular, after they leave a pub on their way home after a night out have virtually nowhere to answer the inevitable call of nature. I take it that things are much better organised in your home city with a plentiful supply of toilets but here it seems the Council have no interest in providing such facilities. Why this should be I have no idea, although unsupervised toilets do tend to get used for all sorts of purposes, mostly illegal, beyond their actual function so perhaps cost is the issue here. Nevertheless, for a city that leads the way in tourism this is a shocking lack.

[Bugbear]

Quite correct, and the original post was about just exactly that. The purpose of posting was because it is a kilt-related subject which may have been of interest to some on this site. Remember that the membership here is not exclusively from one country and that many threads may have little or no relevance to some as a result.



I would prefer not to get into a discussion about nations regarding themselves as a "one-way street" as I believe that way leads us into a minefield where we should not be treading. Suffice it to say that every nation holds itself in high regard in comparison to others on this planet and, conversely, tends to be blinkered about some of its attitudes and actions.
What I would say, however, is that I think it important to draw attention to the true nature of Scotland's people rather than the false stereotype which, sadly, is too often presented as reality and believed by those who do not take the trouble to seek out the truth. I believe this is important, not particularly at a touristic level, but for individuals who may be considering business or investment decisions to understand the actual potential of the society involved.

I understand where you're coming from.

I'm only thinking of all the Scots that have left pieces of their culture and lives imbedded in my own culture and history. Hopefully that counts as something; at least it does to me.

[Phil]

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.

I have to admit that I had not noticed the Indian (sub-continent) music but even the pipe music palls after a few times around. When they had a shop in Hanover St. I well remember hearing the noise when I was inside the Crabtree & Evelyn shop across a busy street from it. Plus the same tune seemed to come around and around. Pity help local residents and shopkeepers who have to thole( put up with) this day in, day out.