Is X Marks the Scot a Clan?

**Kid Cossack** · 16th August 07, 02:45 PM

Non per cruor tamen per sententia

"Not by blood but by choice."

**ChromeScholar** · 16th August 07, 02:53 PM

gilmore

I disagree with you. I imagine that the early clans were probably made up of people who lived in one area, bonding together for a common cause (survival) rather than the fact that they were all related by blood.

In any case, what started a thousand years, or more, ago has limited applicablility on life in the twenty-first century. The fact is, in terms of the internet community (virtual society, as it were), x-marks is a group of people gathered together in support of a common cause (kilts, rather than survival).

In fact, if you look up the definition of the word clan (I used Merriam-Webster) one definition is:

a group united by a common interest or common characteristics

If x-marks ain't a clan, I don't know what is. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that the members of x-marks (the regular participants) have more real clan spirit than many people who claim the "right" to wear this tartan or that tartan.

Non per cruor tamen per sententia

"Not by blood but by choice."

Nice. I like that.

**Panache** · 16th August 07, 03:02 PM

I didn't mean we should approach the Court of Lyon or anything here.

I was merely musing at what in the modern world clan societies have become and how this forum fulfills many of the most noble of those traits.

Let the good fellowship continue and let us not get too bogged down with seriousness here.

By the by Steve, a good option. I'm sure she would be flattered.

Cheers

Jamie

**gilmore** · 16th August 07, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by ChromeScholar

gilmore

I disagree with you. I imagine that the early clans were probably made up of people who lived in one area, bonding together for a common cause (survival) rather than the fact that they were all related by blood.

In any case, what started a thousand years, or more, ago has limited applicablility on life in the twenty-first century. The fact is, in terms of the internet community (virtual society, as it were), x-marks is a group of people gathered together in support of a common cause (kilts, rather than survival).

In fact, if you look up the definition of the word clan (I used Merriam-Webster) one definition is:

If x-marks ain't a clan, I don't know what is. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that the members of x-marks (the regular participants) have more real clan spirit than many people who claim the "right" to wear this tartan or that tartan.

Nice. I like that.

You miss a couple of points.

One is that Scots clans no longer exist in the form in which they rose to prominence, and new ones are not being invented.

The other is that a social organization one is a part of not by choice is a far different thing than one that one chooses to belong to. "Clan spirit," what ever that may be, is not at all the same as "team spirit", or the spirit of groups of like-minded people who choose to band together based on the common interest in a fetishized piece of clothing. If you have experienced both you can easily understand the difference.

**Peter C.** · 16th August 07, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kid Cossack

Non per cruor tamen per sententia

"Not by blood but by choice."

I like that too Kid Cossack.

I also totally agree with ChromeScholar.

My link with Scotland and the Scots is through living in Scotland as a child, many visits since, and great friendships. I have never felt the need to see if I have any blood ties because I am very happy with the culture I was brought up in and any blood ties would never feel as strong as the experiences I have had in my life that draw me to Scotland and the kilt.

Now the suggestion of an xmarks clan, should it come to fruition, is so inviting I find myself thinking for the first time about getting a kilt made from a tartan that belongs to a clan I actually belong to.

Now I know how you guys feel

Peter

**acstoon** · 16th August 07, 03:18 PM

I play a lot of online-first-person-shooter games (MOHAA, BF2, DCF, etc)
In the gaming world, a team of players, who join together in a coherent unit, with a leadership hierarchy, is a gaming clan.
(for example, I belong to DbD clan[Death before Dishonor], there are 3 leaders of the clan).
Players who join together, as a team, without leadership ranking, are considered a gaming community (ex: Warhaus community, which I belong to, has no designated leader)

Just my unsolicited 2 cents...

P.S.
I took a color reading of the dandelion (pink):
the average cmyk value is c8 m57 y20 k0, so it leans toward the magenta.
I didn't check any Pantone values, as I'm being silly enough.

**ChromeScholar** · 16th August 07, 03:21 PM

One is that Scots clans no longer exist in the form in which they rose to prominence, and new ones are not being invented.

Change happens. IMO, the fact that the Lyon Court is not creating new "official" clans has no bearing on us at all.

"Clan spirit," what ever that may be, is not at all the same as "team spirit", or the spirit of groups of like-minded people who choose to band together based on the common interest in a fetishized piece of clothing. If you have experienced both you can easily understand the difference.

I know quite well what it is, since veterans of the military probably know better than any other group what the mindset of the military-oriented clans was.

In any case, as was pointed out in the opening thread, X-marks meets all the qualities of a clan, except for blood kinship. I suspect that if you were to honestly hold the various clans up to the same identifying marks used in the opening thread, very few of them would meet the same qualifications to the same level. I also suspect that the same protests you have raised are equally valid for a large number of the "official" clans.

Now the suggestion of an xmarks clan, should it come to fruition, is so inviting I find myself thinking for the first time about getting a kilt made from a tartan that belongs to a clan I actually belong to.

Now I know how you guys feel

And that is a fabulous illustration of what a clan should be in the internet age. The knowledge that you belong...

**Peter C.** · 16th August 07, 03:36 PM

If the definition of a clan is a group united by a common interest or common characteristics, then we are one whether we like it or not. There are no rules about clans or tartans so why do people have to tell us what we can or can't do?
We can be a clan if we want to, or we can just have fun talking about it. We are as free as the dandelion.

Peter

**ChromeScholar** · 16th August 07, 03:41 PM

Yep, that about sums it up.

**Hamish** · 16th August 07, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Panache

I rather like the idea of the dandelion as our plant badge.

The dandelion has many uses, it is hardy, flourishes everywhere, spreads, it is bright, it is something easily obtained, it bears one of the colors of the X Marks the Scot tartan, it is a plant for everyone rather than the few, and best of all...

..IT ISN'T PINK!

It has my vote!

Cheers

Jamie

One characteristic you omitted there Jamie: and anyone who picks its flower will surely wet their bed !!!!

As children we were all taught this.