The Rules and Exceptions Thereunto.

[Blu (Ontario)]

... To me, the rules and their origins are as fascinating as the tartans themselves...

Equally interesting is the gravity that some folks place on the subject. There's gotta be some real interesting human psychology involved in all of this.

...Sadly, many "rules" evolve from childhood...NEEDING to know what's right so maybe, just maybe we won't get hit, beat, yelled at, whatever for being wrong.
'tis anxiety that drives perfectionism and rules...

A powerful motivator that carries into adult life!


Clothing is more than a body covering... it is a personal banner and yes, written or not, there will always be rules and conventions. By observing and choosing to follow the example of a particular individual or group, we are conforming to their current interpretation or understanding of those conventions. Some rules make a lot of sense. Others are arbitrary and random... set in place by some unseen, undefined, but collectively accepted "hive mind". This is serious matter for some and when others choose not to follow the current praradigm as they see it, they take umbrage. Therefore if we choose to go against convention, we simply have to be ready to deal with the reactions. However we feel about them... we need to know the rules before we break them.

[Sir Robert]

In Psychology there is what is called "legalism' not to be confused with legal or illegal. Legalism is where someone deceides that something is wrong and will go to extreems to enforce his oppionion on others, reguardless of wheather the other person is in the right or not.

Examples of this are vigilanties lynching people. There is of course the problem people being not involved enough either as when a murder is witnessed by a group of people and no one will interviene, call the cops or later testify in court.

[Doc Hudson]

It's easy to blame the English for everything,

But Todd!!!

The English are SO BLAMABLE!!!!

How can anyone resisit such easy targets?

BTW, the above was spoken in jest by another Anglophile.

[Gaian]

It is time to "think outside of the box," or "expand your comfort zone." It is nice to know that there are more free thinkers here. Nothing irritates me more than to have to conform to someone elses idea of convention. Don't just march to a different drummer, beat your own drum! As long as it does not infringe on the rights of others why not give it a try? Be independent, Strike out on your own. You might be surprised who might follow. If you are going to be a sheep, at least be the lead sheep ( what does one call the lead sheep anyway?) So many people are content to be led and are afraid to step out on their own and be noticed. "Just do it!" ( to borrow from a past sportswear ad campaign.)

[Jimmy Carbomb]

It sure didn't take long for the rule whining to show-up again!

We all know that there are no real rules. We all know that, around here, it's common knowledge that guys can wear what they want. That's gone through so many threads that it's become BEYOND boring.

What began as a thread on the "rules" (whether legitimate or not) has drifted into the same-old, same-old.

I guess we can try to get out of the rut one more time...

Campbell Tartan Etiquette:

The tartan of a Highland clan is determined by the clan chief. The clansmen and followers (blood relations and families taking protection from the clan) wear the tartan of the chief. In most cases the sett has been acknowledged for generations and is well known to chief and clansmen alike, but occasionally the chief may pronounce on a new pattern or disassociate himself from an old one. A case in point is the Clan Campbell tartan. The present chief does not acknowledge the well-known Campbell of Argyll, and instead prefers to wear the Black Watch Campbell in ancient colors.

[James]

I surely now will be slaughtered-for it is really so very funny.

If I suggest that the 'unbifurcated garment' that is being worn is a skirt-there will be screams of anguish-threats, and of course strident claims that what is being worn is in fact associated with the wear of a highland clansman, and so empowered as truly masculine/Scottish wear: and the wearer is following an ancient tradition.

Yet if the conventions of the clansman are mentioned: there will be further screams of anguish, at the very suggeston that an individuals right of self determination is being inhibited.

What can a Brit say but: 'Really chaps, a bit off'.

Quite simply there are horses for courses, and if looking to the actual highland occasion: there are certain conventions which should be observed.

If on the other hand dressing in a certain way for whatever reason, that is up to the individual.

However we cannot have it both ways.

James

[possingk]

Here is my question open for all, I found a link here talking about military tartans and who should and shouldn't wear these, according to the posts, any one can wear these although many stated that they wouldn't out of respect for the men and women that were in the branches of the military. How much different is this from the clan tartans that this thread is all about.
As a person who just bought his first kilt, solid black, I am interested in wearing a tartan eventually and have thought I would most likely get something universal like 'Irish National' for my first tartan kilt, however when money permits I would love to get either a PA tartan, where I live, or an American tartan, for the same reasons. I haven't really analyzed whether that is because I wouldn't be comfortable wearing a tartan of a family or group, or if it is just because I really don't have Scottish or Irish roots to find something suitable and in my mind appropriate.
Now please don’t take this as I am saying that no one should wear whatever tartan they feel like, just that in my mind I would think that wearing a family tartan would be like wearing a military tartan for a branch I didn’t serve in.
So for those of you that said you wouldn’t wear a certain military tartan, but will wear a ‘family’ tartan is there a justification for this?
Coming from a guy who wore jeans and a cowboy to his senior prom, a red tuxedo jacket to his wedding, I am all for wearing whatever you are comfortable in. I am just curious what the perceived differences are between a military tartan, and let’s say Clan Campbell tartan since it was just brought up.

Thanks,
Keith

[Bob C]

You wore a red tux jacket at your wedding? And we kilty lads thought WE had balls! :grin:

To answer your quesion, Keith, I would not feel comfortable wearing another clan's tartan. I didn't even feel right wearing the tartan of a clan my family is allegedly associated with. I chose a district tartan, instead.

I do NOT suggest that anyone else needs to feel the same constraints that I do.

[Cawdorian]

My choice of tartan for my traditional kilt was determined by my family history, I chose to wear my particular tartan because it is part of the history of my mother's family, and I like this particular tartan. I could have chosen any of several other tartans of the Campbell Clan or several other clans for that matter. But I chose the Campbell of Cawdor because it represents my heritage and I like the Tartan. This tartan also represents the district of Argyll.

My thought is that you should have some connection to the tartan. It may be a family, district, national or armed forces connection. If you have a personal connection with your chosen tartan it gives you a sense of pride to wear or display the tartan.

I could very easily wear the Scottish National, the Flower of Scotland, the Bruce tartan or even the MacDonald Tartan. I like all of them and have connections to the tartans. It is a matter of personal choice which tartan you select. A good number of us are blessed with several choices.

Jim

[davedove]

I personally have to have some connection to a tartan. For a family tartan I want some sort of ancestral link, although it may be back several generations. For a military tartan, I will wear the US Army tartan (when I can afford the purchase), and I might someday have a Navy tartan kilt to honor both my grandfathers' service in WWI. Even a district tartan I would like to have some kind history to wear it, even if it's only that a branch of my family lived in the region for a few years. For instance, I've got a kilt in the German National tartan ordered, because my mother's mother's family is German all the way.

Note, that this is only for custom made kilts. I'm not counting the easy to get kilts in stock tartans like those at Stillwater. I'll wear those because they are fast and easy to get.

Of course, this has nothing to do with anyone else, just my own preferences.