An Open Question for 'Jock Scot' (and Scots)

[Sir William]

THE thing that I just don't get is that there are some people who were born in the USA with Scottish connections a few generations away, and they spend pots (and pots) of money to buy (only) bespoke highland garments (kilts, jackets etc(and are a bit "snobbish" about this)), some even spend more and more pots of money to get official documents signed to make them "someone" in their clan (to which they are legitimately entitled). These people give the impression that, from the bottom of their heart (and their wallet) they desperately want to be Scottish. Do these people know that no matter how much money they spend or how many documents they pay for they will NEVER be a Scotsman?

Short answer...no!

Long answer: In their minds they are Scottish-American, which is the best of both worlds. They are annoying to us as well. The only thing worse are those among them who aspire to the nobility. For a country that parted ways with Britain in a rather nasty way, we have this unfathomable interest in the Royal family.

[Brett]

Jock, I would imagine few answered "fun" to the question of why we "play at being scots"? early on because it was simply the first and most obvious reason.

Harley riders dress up like pirates because it's fun, my kid wears his power ranger costume to the mall because it's fun, I wore a davey crocket coon skin cap and buckskin jacket as a child because it was fun.

Let's be clear non-scots and native scots alike wear the kilt first and foremost because it's fun. It makes going to a dress-up occasion or even to the pub a little more festive. I admire those who wear the kilt daily as it would seem to inject a little fun into everyday life.

If a native Scot tells me he wears a kilt for any other reason other than "it's fun" I might question his sanity. That would include pipers as well, as I can't imagine anyone deciding to learn the pipes and wear a kilt for any other reason than fun.