"Jacobite" garb

[Harold Cannon]

I would think that a period correct firearm would be an ok topic of discussion in this area of the forum as it is an almost a standard piece of equipment in many peoples eyes.

[Steve Ashton]

The rules here are not arbitrary. There are only 12 and they come from over 10 years of experience. Those who have been around for a while can remember why Rule 11 exists. Time and time again a thread or post is made in all innocence over a particular type of weapon or its use. Before long the issue of gun rights or hunting rights is being hotly debated.

Those who have been around can remember the hunting photos with a member looking through the hole that their gun can leave in an elk or deer. And not a kilt in sight.
Those, who care to remember, can recall the lengthy and very hot threads where the US Constitution's 2nd amendment was debated. And not one word about the kilt.

This forum is large and very international. Not everyone lives in the US. Not everyone is a hunter and not everyone comes here to discuss those other topics.

But everyone does come here to discuss their kilts.

The original intent of Hank, when he started X Marks, was to give those, who want to discuss the kilt, a place to enjoy some time with others with the same interest.
The strength of X Marks has always been that we have continued to keep our focus on the kilt.

The internet is a vast, varied and wonderful place. You can find a forum to discuss any topic of human experience. But forums about kilts are pretty rare. I can personally cite four cases where we have lost one of these rare kilt forums because it was allowed to be taken over by a few members who forced the discussions in a different direction. Before long the forum was no longer a kilt forum.

Hank placed his trust in me to keep X Marks true to his original idea. A kilt forum. A place where anyone with an interest in the kilt could spend a few enjoyable minutes with other kilt lovers. Insuring that X Marks is still here for the next generation of kilt lovers is my only job here.



In the past we have had other members choose to leave because they were not allowed to take this forum in a different direction.
Time and time again they have posted their farewell messages telling us how unfair our rules are. Now you can see why we have;

Rule #7
- Too often ‘farewell messages’ are bitter and full of disappointment. Farewell messages will be deleted.

But you know what? I believe that this particular one should stay for a while because it proves that each of the rules here were created for one reason. To keep this forum enjoyable for all by keeping our focus on what brings us all here in the first place. The enjoyment of our Kilts.

[creagdhubh]

That is a shame Brian.

I agree.

[Jock Scot]

I would think that a period correct firearm would be an ok topic of discussion in this area of the forum as it is an almost a standard piece of equipment in many peoples eyes.

Perhaps this is the time to raise a question here, particularly as Steve has chosen not to invoke rule 7 to the letter.

Whilst I fully understand that the kilt is the primary topic of a kilt forum and Steve and the moderators have, on the whole, been consistent on maintaining that line. However we are talking historical Jacobite matters in this particular thread, so I think(?) a passing comment about weaponry , in a kilt context is not unreasonable, and fair enough.

Now firearms do tend to lead us astray from time to time here on this website and alarm bells ring loud and clear and again, fair enough. Where the alarm bells fail to ring and this is an inconsistency in the policing by the moderators, is that Lochaber axes, targes, dirks, broad swords and assorted sharp pointed lethal weapons are not policed here with any vigour at all. OK, not regular topics here, but not uncommon either. Surely if firearms are banned when discussed outside a kilt context, then surely the same should apply to sharp pointy weapons too? To my mind there is not a level playing field here.

Just asking?

[Harold Cannon]

Well said Jock!

[creagdhubh]

Well said Jock!

***

[SlackerDrummer]

My point exactly, Jock. If one cannot put things in context one really ought not venture onto the Internet.

[ShaunMaxwell]

I recently ran afoul of the "no weapons" rule (which honestly, I'd forgotten existed) when I posted a thread to the "Miscellaneous" forum about a celebration of Texas Independence Day I attended, which included photos of people firing a salute with muskets and cannons. Someone complained, and my thread was removed.

Hilariously, to my mind at least, I was invited to "edit the photos to ones without any weapons" and repost.

Having now edited the photo, I repost as a salute to Woodsheal:



And lest there be any confusion, that's not artillery, it's a bottle of Laphroaig, and it's projecting joy, not anything harmful.

Cheers!

[Singlemalt]

I agree Jock, as a hunter and a shooter I enjoy talking about fine firearms but would not bring any such discussion of modern arms to this forum. There are dozens of places on the internet dedicated to those topics where I would get more engagement, probably better information and I would not be hijacking the purpose of the forum.

On the other hand a brief mention of a historic weapon of the type used by Jacobite supporters or even an interesting old Scottish made shotgun with Celtic engraving seems to me to be in line. I have certainly seen many threads veer further away from the kilt than these examples without reproach.

[Singlemalt]

"And lest there be any confusion, that's not artillery, it's a bottle of Laphroaig, and it's projecting joy, not anything harmful."

Takes the concept of a shot of whiskey to a whole new level!

Cheers!