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13th July 14, 03:48 AM
#1
Well, Jock, I have heard an expression, whether tongue-in-cheek or not, that says "Two types of people wear the kilt... Scots in America, and Americans in Scotland." Your neighbor's son may be manifesting that perception.
On the flip side, I've been asked on more than a few occasions, while wearing the kilt, if I was from Scotland. So both sides of that coin may be perceived as truer than we'd care to believe.
Last edited by unixken; 13th July 14 at 03:50 AM.
KEN CORMACK
Clan Buchanan
U.S. Coast Guard, Retired
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
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13th July 14, 01:15 PM
#2
 Originally Posted by unixken
Well, Jock, I have heard an expression, whether tongue-in-cheek or not, that says "Two types of people wear the kilt... Scots in America, and Americans in Scotland." Your neighbor's son may be manifesting that perception.
On the flip side, I've been asked on more than a few occasions, while wearing the kilt, if I was from Scotland. So both sides of that coin may be perceived as truer than we'd care to believe.
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) wrote that, or something very close to it, in his Devil's Dictionary 100 years ago.
Perhaps the closest we can come is "aloha" shirts on people who live in Hawaii.
Some take the high road and some take the low road. Who's in the gutter? MacLowlife
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13th July 14, 08:34 PM
#3
 Originally Posted by MacLowlife
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) wrote that, or something very close to it, in his Devil's Dictionary 100 years ago.
Perhaps the closest we can come is "aloha" shirts on people who live in Hawaii.
Odd that you mention that...
When I was in the Solomon Islands (SCUBA diving) I noticed that a
high proportion of the natives were wearing aloha shirts -- possibly
because they come in XXXXXXL -- even on the aeroplane going there
a fair percentage of men of Polynesian ancestry (based on appearance)
were wearing Hawaiian shirts( what we call them here.)
So, I'm not sure that it translates.
-Don
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13th July 14, 08:49 PM
#4
You've got me there, Aussie Don.
McMurdo, I think people who depend on tourists almost always have a love-hate relationship with them. Love for the livelihood and something less than love for all of the headaches- not to mention the complete dependence that so many tourist economies create.
But maybe our Scots friends can take a lesson from the Solomon Islanders and wear the kilt ANYWAY. It sounds as if many do, at least on special occasions.
Some take the high road and some take the low road. Who's in the gutter? MacLowlife
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13th July 14, 10:36 PM
#5
 Originally Posted by MacLowlife
McMurdo, I think people who depend on tourists almost always have a love-hate relationship with them. Love for the livelihood and something less than love for all of the headaches- not to mention the complete dependence that so many tourist economies create.
But maybe our Scots friends can take a lesson from the Solomon Islanders and wear the kilt ANYWAY. It sounds as if many do, at least on special occasions.
MacLowlife and McMurdo have a great point. I agree totally.
The fact that so many tourists buying and wearing kilts (or aloha shirts, or French barretts, or Kentucky coon skin caps, or Arab keffiyahs) makes it totally ubiquitous. The identity becomes a casual thing. However, that should not be a bad thing. It should be a badge of honor. For instance, Americans love Scots. Upto 10% of the population has Scottish ancestry (more people than in all of Scotland). Not that many people weart kilts, but many of them do. Appalachia (specifically West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky) is so deeply rooted in Scottish ancestry that college courses are taught about the subject. It's kinda sad that we may have inadvertently tainted our heritage by supporting it.
"Never rise to speak till you have something to say; and when you have said it, cease."-John Knox Witherspoon
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13th July 14, 11:10 PM
#6
I used to live in the heart of Hollywood. Believe me. I get the thing about tourists, honestly, probably just as much as anyone in Edinburgh or Glasgow or anywhere else.
The fact is that if we are all respectful abroad then perhaps we can take the edge off for the locals.
I remember that the main attractions were always filled with tourists. If I wanted to unwind with my friends then we would go to our own pub, for example, off the beaten path.
No kilts (maybe one or two in a blue moon) but anyone wearing a "Hollywood" t-shirt was a dead giveaway.
The Official [BREN]
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14th July 14, 03:16 AM
#7
I think Jock pretty much has it right, though I'd say it's not necessarily about looking like a tourist, it's slightly wider than that. I think it's about needing a reason.
The 'uniform' of the average Scot is pretty much the same as the rest of the world. T-shirt, blue jeans, trainers (sneakers) and given our climate, some form of sweater or jacket. Now if you ask me, none of that is particularly elegant or even comfortable, but it is safe. If you dress like that, you will not stand out. You will look like everyone else on the street or on the television. You don't have to think much about it, it's all readily available, and it's cheap (or expensive, if that's your preference).
Where I live, there are few tourists so a kilt wearer would probably not be taken for one, but an assumption would be made that there was a reason for them wearing a kilt. Common reasons might be as follows:-
They are attending an event such as a wedding, Burns supper, ceilidh, Highland Gathering, formal dinner, etc.
They are a member of a pipe band.
They are celebrating a sporting event.
They are making a cultural/political statement ("I'm a proud Scot").
They are mildly eccentric.
One might well get asked 'Why are you wearing a kilt?', but one is unlikely to get asked 'Why are you wearing jeans?'. One can see how, outside of the highlands at least, there is some justification in this. The kilt is not the traditional garb of the lowlander so if the kilt is worn it is generally for some sort of reason, and most likely one of those I listed above. Within the highlands, less so, though not much less so. I have seen the very occasional highlander in a kilt who looked genuinely like he was an everyday wearer, and I have known only one lowlander who was (and still is) an everyday wearer.
In the more touristy areas such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Fort William, etc. I could see that not looking like a tourist would be a consideration. I would not wear my kilt as day wear in Edinburgh for example for that very reason.
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