Fake "Laird" Title Purveyors Get Schooled on Twitter

[artificer]

Why don't we buy a fifth of Laphroig and they will give you a square foot out in their back lot and a Google Earth pic to show you where it is. If ever I get to Islay, I'm going to stand on my land, although I will have to curl up my toes to fit into it. The picture should be great. Thanks for the laugh today.

JMB

I've long lamented that you can only ever claim ONE square foot. It's a pity, really. Since Laphroaig is my favorite Whisky I've collected any number of the 'Passports' over the years and could probably lay claim to several acres of Islay at this point.

ith:

[BobH]

This has been an interesting thread to read. I had not heard of this organization before.

It seems that the main complaint of the rabble is the selling of titles. So what - if someone thinks he/she can purchase a real title for about 30 pounds, we can take it for granted that they are less informed about issues of nobility than the average person.

I did take some time to research Highland Titles and I didn't find them much different from The Nature Conservancy, a charitable organization registered in the U.S. for the purpose of protecting nature. What's the difference you ask - for your annual membership fees The Nature Conservancy sends you a monthly newsletter and a magazine every other month; for a one time fee Highland titles appears to send a document showing your membership and declaring your are a lord or lady. Either way, the income goes toward preserving some aspect of nature.

In addition to the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, and Arbor Day Foundation; I believe I may have to add the title of Lord as another way to support conservation worldwide.

Bob

[artificer]

BobH,
the primary issue, as I understand it, is that in the UK, and especially within the confines of Scotland, Lairdship (as well as the right to display arms) is strictly regulated by the Lord Lyon.
In the US anyone can 'self-grant' arms and register them with any number of non-legal entities, or even in foreign countries. In Scotland, it's the Lyon or NOTHING, so selling (or rather, not selling, but apparently pretending to sell) land
with the idea that you can become a "Laird" of said land by not-exactly-owning a square foot of turf becomes a legal issue.

Cute, sure, as a joke. If the funds go to actual conservancy, all the better. But it should be sold as-is rather than vending the illusion of Laird-hood.

ith:

[California Highlander]

This has been an interesting thread to read. I had not heard of this organization before.

It seems that the main complaint of the rabble is the selling of titles. So what - if someone thinks he/she can purchase a real title for about 30 pounds, we can take it for granted that they are less informed about issues of nobility than the average person.

I did take some time to research Highland Titles and I didn't find them much different from The Nature Conservancy, a charitable organization registered in the U.S. for the purpose of protecting nature. What's the difference you ask - for your annual membership fees The Nature Conservancy sends you a monthly newsletter and a magazine every other month; for a one time fee Highland titles appears to send a document showing your membership and declaring your are a lord or lady. Either way, the income goes toward preserving some aspect of nature.

In addition to the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, and Arbor Day Foundation; I believe I may have to add the title of Lord as another way to support conservation worldwide.

Bob

If you dig a bit deeper, turns out that unlike the Nature Conservancy, which is accountable for the land it buys for preservation, "Highland Titles" doesn't actually account for how it "conserves" anything and because those 1 sq foot plots are not legally sold, they can be "virtually" sold many times with no benefit to tree, loch, fin, fur, or feather.

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/he...ncoe-1-2125806

http://www.andywightman.com/archives/4152

[BobH]

Thanks for the explanation. That makes the several posts easier to understand.

Bob