What is the Order of the Black Ermine?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Every so offen I see online and even in catalogs a someone in Lochaber selling the "Laird of Lochaber" Title. What they are trying to sell you is a 1 yard square plot of land by a hotel. They then try to tell you that you are now authorized to call yourself Laird of Lochaber because you now own the land (1 square foot of land mind you). The sad part of it is the people buy it.

In my experience most folks buying the "one square foot" are not delusional-- they buy it almost as a gag, and a pretty harmless gag at that. Sure, they may style themselves as the Laird of X, but only with a nod and a wink to the rest of us.

The delusional people are those who fail to do any basic research, and who misguidedly believe that by handing over a cheque for a couple of hundred dollars they will be received into a valid order of chivalry. I actually feel sorry for most of these people because, for the most part, they really do believe they are doing something good; that they are part of some organization that not only espouses lofty ideals, but puts them into practice.

Sadly, for them, the reality is usually a far different matter.

[ghostlight]

In my experience most folks buying the "one square foot" are not delusional-- they buy it almost as a gag, and a pretty harmless gag at that. Sure, they may style themselves as the Laird of X, but only with a nod and a wink to the rest of us.

These particular sellers say the money raised by their Lochaber project is helping to fund a woodland nature preserve. I don't know how extensive the project is, but I think it's a humorous and fun way to encourage people to donate. No harm done, in my opinion.