I find this offensive, and I'm not even Scottish.

[dfmacliam]

Now that is funny...

[St. Amish]

Halloween is all about stereotypes and caricatures.

My fiance, the RN, would never, ever wear a "sexy nurse" costume.

Firefighters don't get offended at the cheap plastic helmets that kids wear when pretending to be them for one night a year.

I agree that if someone were wearing this get-up and trying to pass it off as "authentic" Scottish wardrobe, I would be greatly offended. If I saw this guy at a Halloween party, I probably wouldn't even say anything. The look on his face at the next party when I wore my kit would be enough.

[MacDonnell1973]

It is absolutely rediculous and a bit vulgar in my humbled opinion. If I ran into someone sporting that get up I would let them know my opinion as well. Its as bad as when I where my kilts and am asked if I am going to a costume party. Aaaargh!

Bill

[Dall_Piobaire]

Title says it all.

This is a funny costume-- music hall stuff like Sir Harry Lauder used to wear-- and it's intended to worn once and then consigned to the dustbin of last year's costumes. It pokes a bit of fun at those guys who show up at Scottish events dressed like an extra in the movie "Rob Roy"-- I don't think anyone should get too worked up over that. I know I don't.

Now here's my question: Is it better to carve a jack o'lantern with a Sagan Ashla's, or a sgain dubh? If I carve it with my sgain dubh will people know I come in peace when I'm out trick-or-treating? If I carve it with my sgain achlais will they give me more goodies out of fear of my bellicose pumpkin?

Well, technically speaking, since the Jack O lantern was intended to scare evil spirits off on one's way home from the Samhain costume contest, it would be sheer folly to use the sgain Dubh as this could never be viewed as a scary weapon. One must carve one's scary Jack O lantern with a tool that one uses with the intent of being threatening. So that would mean one would have to use the Sgain Ashlais. But that was something that didn't really exist, or did only up until people got tired of having armpits that smelt of pumpkin!. Unless of course RLS wrote of it's use during a later period in his romanticizing of Jacque Du lanterne.

[McClef]

It is as serious a costume as a "Jimmy Hat" is - not to be taken as suitable for everyday wear.

I wouldn't call it offensive but apart from limited circumstances like Halloween or a fancy dress where equally cheap and tacky stuff might be worn, it's not something to be worn in the street.

[O'Callaghan]

ya should try carve a turnip into a lantern like they used to here in the old days, i think folk only really use pumpkin now in scotland after getting the fad from across the pond at least with the tumshae ya can mix it with yer mince and tatties

Exactly correct

[NewPiperinNY]

Halloween is all about stereotypes and caricatures.


Firefighters don't get offended at the cheap plastic helmets that kids wear when pretending to be them for one night a year.

Good thing Batman doesn't either... though I pretend EVERY night...

[Panache]

Yeah, I was in Party City the other day with my kids and someone came over to me and said "Wow! That kilt looks so real!" to which I responded "...well... there's a good reason for that..."

Nighthawk,


Last year on a rainy October afternoon I stopped by a party store / costume shop for a couple of things. This young man ran up to me with a delighted look and wanted to know where I found the costume Inverness cape. He had always wanted one but their price was well beyond his means. I sadly shook my head as he realized it was the real deal!

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[beloitpiper]

It's a caricature, just like all Halloween costumes. Nothing to get upset about. Now, if you seen it worn at the Highland Games...then you have a problem.

[The_Tailor]

Perhaps I ought to restate myself, I probably wasn't offended per se, more of a 'I find this vulgar and unfunny'. I'm all for caricature and such, but I feel this is just a bit too far.

I present this as an argument, what if I were to dress up as any of the following for halloween;

1) bedsheet/towel around my head, long flowing cloth robes, as an arab or a sikh?
2) Even better with the above have a plastic AK-47 or Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher? That's a stereotype lately
3) How about I sqint my eyes and talk in pidgin English/fake Chinese all night while wearing old Chinese dress.
4) walk around in old soviet military dress with a vodka bottle, red hammer and sickle t-shirt maybe.
5) An american military uniform covered in fake blood? With plastic firearms of course.
6) A electric wheelchair and laptop with TTS software, ala Stephen Hawking?
7) forego the laptop with the above and wear a tracksuit with the special olympics logo?

You see, these are all things that could be stereotyped, as groups that I respect (maybe not so much #4 or #2), yet I would never dream of doing something like that for halloween. I respect Scottish heritage and culture. Therefore, I would not be pleased to see the 'Hot Shot Scot' costume being worn. If you took away the shot glasses, I might be okay with it.

As far as dressing up as a firefighter, or policeman, or any given sports regalia, or a military member, I can see wearing such things, particularly on children. I see those as being worn as an emulation of a 'hero'. Same thing as wearing a superman / batman / spiderman/ cinderella / snow white costume.