What are we allowed to post in this section?

[Tobus]

TCHD, for example, is an entirely XMarks concept from all that I've read..and has its spread as to the actual definition.

The term THCD is an XMarks term, but the concept is not. We can call it whatever we like, but there is an existing tradition in Highland dress, and that's what we would like to be able to discuss.

Still, if the OP is to discuss a type of jacket in the TCHD thread because that is the theme of the OP, then so be it and perhaps/perhaps that should be stated clearly at the outset (Not to discuss argyll in gerneral, but argyll as worn TCHD, I've been pondering .....")

That's great if one of us is starting a thread and we want to limit it to that context. But what annoys me is when someone else posts a question like "do these hose work with this outfit" in the accessories forum, and no one has any idea about what context they are asking the question. So we inevitably have to ask. The answers to such questions are much easier to provide when the questions are asked within a specific context. And it seems to make good sense (to me, anyway) to allow the subforum to be the context. Traditional, contemporary, historical, military, etc.

The problem comes in the myriad ways to categorize data - which is being said many ways in this thread. I think we have to give Steve the benefit of the doubt on the newly minted sub-forums and allow the respective traffic on each determine their validity. Our part will a judiscious choice on just where we want to place that OP forming (or perhaps fermenting ) in the brain.

That would be a great idea if they weren't all locked.

[davidlpope]

My suggestion for the new sub-forums, based on the work done by Nathan and Colin:

Historical: This section is for discussing approaches to wearing the kilt from a bygone era—whether accurate, theatrical, or anachronistic.

Traditional: This section is for discussing approaches to wearing the kilt as Scottish Highland attire that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Contemporary: This section is for discussing approaches to wearing the kilt as everyday clothing and/or street wear that privileges personal interpretation.

[Semiomniscient]

This makes sense and is in no way divisive as some would seem to put it. Additionally, it is descriptive for newer members who want to focus on one aspect or another--whether they're interested in wearing a kilt to a Highland Games or reenactment or a concert.

[MacLowlife]

I see all the new sub-forums. I dunno Steve, is the "kilts" topic big enough to support all those sub-forums? It seems to me like a lot of the sub-forums already get very little action. I think I grok what you're trying to do, though. Maybe we should just try it for a while and re-evaluate in a couple of months.

As an aside, I don't think that Steve is trying to "run-off" anybody. He's just doing the best that he can to create a generally supportive environment and sometimes that's not so easy. Maybe instead of assuming the worst, that Steve Ashton is "Out to get'cha'" we should all ease up a bit and not aim accusations at him. See what he's thinking of, or trying out, and give constructive feedback.

Agreed, Alan, especially about too many sub forum categories. As to "out to getcha" I think the effect has been to run people off, whether or not that was the intent.

If anyone ever really categorized discussions of kilt wearing on the way they are made, (as opposed to how they are worn) it is news to me. To discuss a 9 yard kilt in one sub forum and a 5 yard sport kilt in another and one of Steve's pocketed kilts in a third is fine- IF YOU ARE THINKING OF GOING INTO THE KILTMAKING BUSINESS. But for the people wearing kilts and wondering if a particular "accessory" is in or out of bounds, I think we can easily live with divisions for historical, traditional and contemporary. If we are going to have a category for uniforms and one for athletic kilts and one for costumes and um Police Pipe Bands and one for what was it, romanticized notions of how kilts were once worn based upon illustrations, where will it all end?

I was happy enough to have the traditional kilt subforum. I thought I knew what that meant. And, until the great purging, I think most people did. Call it whatever works, but then, PLEASE let people post what makes sense to them.

[Nathan]

It seems strange that I am now being accused of taking something away from someone. When in fact that thing I am being accused of taking away never actually existed in the first place.

Strange.

I said that there are no forum sections on X Marks dedicated any particular fashion. Then a suggestion is made to improve the forum by changing the topic of a forum section from the way a kilt is made to how and when it can be worn.

This would in fact increase the opportunity for those who dress in one or another fashion to post in more places than ever before.

That seemed like a pretty good suggestion to me.

If you don't agree with the suggestion I can turn off these new sub-sections. Or, if you wish we can tweek the descriptions of the sub-sections. You may notice that what said costume wear now includes vintage wear at the suggestion of one of our members.

That is disingenuous. All the threads you recently moved had sat there happily for over a year undisturbed. The space did exist right here.

I'll ask again, what is actually kosher for this subforum? I'm not a kilt maker and I don't particularly care how the kilt looks under the hood. I like the overall look of a tartan kilt worn in a traditional way and I'd like to discuss the finer points of that with comrades who feel the same way.

[Steve Ashton]

"All the threads you recently moved had sat there happily for over a year undisturbed."

This is not strictly true. The Jacket thread that was moved to the Accessories section was originally posted on the 14th of Oct. It was moved on the 16th of Oct.

The Tradition and Change thread was originally posted on the 4th of Nov. and moved to General Kilt Talk on the 6th of Nov.


In total there were only four threads moved. Each was about something other than the kilt. The "For Jock" thread was about a Tartan covered chair.

[Steve Ashton]

Another suggestion has just been made which I feel was a very good, and valid one.

You will now see a forum section for your review titled "You wear a kilt as an outward symbol of your cultural identity"

[macwilkin]

Another suggestion has just been made which I feel was a very good, and valid one.

You will now see a forum section for your review titled "You wear a kilt as an outward symbol of your cultural identity"

So where do you post then about Burns Suppers, St. Andrew's Balls, Caledonian Society meetings, etc. which are special occasions AND an outward symbol of cultural identity?

Colin's suggestion is much better, in my opinion.

[IsaacW]

From another thread but very germain to this one was well...

I must also confess to having never been able to understand* how a place called X Marks the Scot is not a distinctively Scottish site where traditional ways of wearing Highland Attire must struggle for validation.

A very valid point. The entire site/forum should simply be called X Marks the Kilt, as that seems to be the entire focus with little regard to anything, unless it is KILT focused. It is an item, nearly stripped of its meaning... A hollow symbol.

[Alan H]

The site is named "X Marks the Scot" because almost a decade ago, now, the former owner of the domain named it that. Hank named his forum "X Marks the Scot" which is an obvious play on words..."X Marks the Spot". In the beginning, a significant part of the forum was posting pictures of guys wearing "kilts"...and note that I've put quotation marks around the word -kilt-, there...... extremely badly, and making fun of them. This got mean-spirited pretty fast (I had my own turns at being mean, I have to admit it) and so after a while, that was dropped. In the interim, general kilt discussion blossomed and grew.

I quite doubt that Hank envisioned that his jocular poke in fun at gents who go to the Games and Ren Faires and wear the kilt pretty badly, would evolve through the course of nearly a decade, into the immense site and community that it has. However, that's the name of the domain, and the world knows the place by that name and I think it's a bit much to suggest that Steve drop it, now.