Scottish Festival Peeves?

[Lallans]

Ok guys, I'm sorry I posted to this thread and helped to send a few people over the edge with sarcasm and observational humor. Can't we all just go back to being a loving group of kilted brothers. Let's make up, blame the Irish and move on

PS The blaming the Irish thing was also a joke, it happens to them enough.

You may have a point, though, about the Irish. I got reported for making a joke about another group of Scotland's neighbours- whom I now don't dare name even in this context. Will you get the same?

BTW, I have it on good authority, good as any, that Scottish Brownies are offended by the exclusion of leprechauns from groups welcomed at the Games. There has always been some intermarriage.

[Andy Proffitt]

You may have a point, though, about the Irish. I got reported for making a joke about another group of Scotland's neighbours- whom I now don't dare name even in this context. Will you get the same?

BTW, I have it on good authority, good as any, that Scottish Brownies are offended by the exclusion of leprechauns from groups welcomed at the Games. There has always been some intermarriage.

You know a long leggedy beastie, the thing that goes bump in the night and I were talking about that the other day. We like the Brownies to come to our games, they help with the overnight cleanup and are grand little chaps, while the leprechauns just run around telling everyone to stay away from their gold and that the shady seat in the beer tent is theirs. Don't get me started on the hobgoblins.....

[CameronCat]

You know a long leggedy beastie, the thing that goes bump in the night and I were talking about that the other day. We like the Brownies to come to our games, they help with the overnight cleanup and are grand little chaps, while the leprechauns just run around telling everyone to stay away from their gold and that the shady seat in the beer tent is theirs. Don't get me started on the hobgoblins.....

Right, then...I believe it's game, set and match to Mr. Proffitt.

Nicely played!

[Lallans]

With all that gold, why would the leprechauns want to work? I mean, have you checked the performance of gold futures lately?

[wildrover]

When the "Captain Jacks", "Tablecloths", and "ScotGoths" walked by, she'd raise her eyebrows and give me the "You want to be one of THOSE people?" look.

That's a bummer. It might help next time if you chill near the solo piping events...you may find a bit of cookie cutter clothing, but that aside, "traditional Highland garb" is required for competition at games, USPBA sanctioned or not. No pirates, no tablecloths, no goths. Since you mentioned taking up the pipes, that'd probably be the best place for you and your wife to take notes.

OK, for instuctional purposes, let's put together a list of stuff you guys find intolerable at a Highland games event.

Oooh, a list! I love responding to lists! Especially snarky ones.

Too many pipers. Inconceivable! Unless we're tuning before solos. Then, every piper needs his or her own acre, and this is MY acre, so GTFO.
"Modern" celtic music. We have no Ozzy-style, headbanging rock out smiley. We need one, for times like this.
Fat athletes, or maybe fat people in general?I don't care.
Irish dancers.I would notice this a LOT more if there were actually any of these girls in my age group.
The Irish in general it seems...Too bad the "Scotti' brought the games tradition with them from Ireland!Sing Loud, Sing Proud.
People who wear their Highland dress funny or wrong.Ignorance is only annoying if it's self-imposed.
People who just dress funny.YOU dress funny.
People who like to drink.I'm not an alcoholic, they go to meetings.
Pirates. Disney ones in particular.Yeah, it's getting old. I wish more girls would dress up like Keira Knightley (sp), though...
Mythological creatures like fairies or elves etc.. Guess that would go doublr for Leprechauns, since they're Irish.Sorta annoying, if they're not part of the floor show.
Renfaire folk in garb of any kind.Bodices, bustiers, corsets, fishnets, up-dos, chainmail bikinis, oh yeah and tight-fitting vinyl clothing. I am not with you on this one. I will suffer the indignities of a goofball drama student with fake accent and foppish flourishing, so long as his classmates are dressed in the aforementioned goodness. In fact, since it sounds like we're controlling entry now, we'll do like the big clubs do...for example..."Sir, you can't bring that accent in here without at least two accompanying single girls in red vinyl corsets."
LARPers, actually I'm with y'all on that one. They are invading SF cons and faire too.When the "vampyres" start attending Highland games and Celtic festivals, I'm leaving.

We need a snark icon. Probably something that looks like a spindly-legged shorebird. With all the snarking that goes on around here, the fashion industry should give us an honorary award as "kilted sartorialists".

[ABG0819]

Does anyone else see the irony and hypocrisy in ranting about someone wearing a "jacobite" shirt or white hose to highland games because it is anachronistic and somehow just insulting to all generations of Scottish heritage (sense the sarcasm). Yet these same people talk about wearing a kilt t-shirt to games. Were t-shirts common highland attire in the past????? Seems to me, judging by the week I spent in the Scottish Highlands several years ago, that t-shirts would be a bit cold in the snow and ice of a Scottish winter.

The fact is that we all like to dress up and show off our kilts and other historical and non-historical wear that we have worked so hard to obtain. Perhaps if we are going to stop non-kilties, vikings, and pirates from attending Scottish festivals and highland games that we should post a dress code on all the fliers, websites, and print ads for these festivals.

Are we not engaged in the same behavior that we so often criticize the non-rabble of??? Are we not judging these people solely by there chosen form of dress. Why don't we all relax and buy our new friends a pint or a shot and discuss our differences instead of rushing home to snipe at them from the safety of our locked homes and firesides. (If any of us still use a fireplace).

Graham

[Semiomniscient]

Does anyone else see the irony and hypocrisy in ranting about someone wearing a "jacobite" shirt or white hose to highland games because it is anachronistic and somehow just insulting to all generations of Scottish heritage (sense the sarcasm). Yet these same people talk about wearing a kilt t-shirt to games. Were t-shirts common highland attire in the past????? Seems to me, judging by the week I spent in the Scottish Highlands several years ago, that t-shirts would be a bit cold in the snow and ice of a Scottish winter.

Even people who wear Highland attire traditionally view the garment as modern clothing, NOT historical costume. Jacobite shirts are not historical--but are theatrical in their inspiration (Errol Flynn, et al). Many view these garments as another way of costuming it up... and inaccurately at that. Yes, they can be comfortable. Do they look good? Depends on who you ask, but I personally don't like them. And I've even borrowed one and tried it in recent years. T-shirts are appropriate because we wear them as casual wear (some of us anyway). It's part of dressing-down in the kilt as appropriate to climate and circumstance. T-shirts are acceptable in our culture for public appearances. Costumes are typically not worn as such.

The fact is that we all like to dress up and show off our kilts and other historical and non-historical wear that we have worked so hard to obtain. Perhaps if we are going to stop non-kilties, vikings, and pirates from attending Scottish festivals and highland games that we should post a dress code on all the fliers, websites, and print ads for these festivals.

No one would be required to wear kilts, and a statement of guidance to the effect of stating that a Highland Games is not a costume appropriate affair may go a long way toward educating the public about what is and isn't acceptable without individuals running around as costume police.

Are we not engaged in the same behavior that we so often criticize the non-rabble of??? Are we not judging these people solely by there chosen form of dress. Why don't we all relax and buy our new friends a pint or a shot and discuss our differences instead of rushing home to snipe at them from the safety of our locked homes and firesides. (If any of us still use a fireplace).

Graham

We don't criticize them for dressing in costume at Ren Faires. It is appropriate for the circumstance. The traditional kilt is an accepted albeit ethnic form of fashion. It is not a costume, but modern clothing. I wouldn't have a problem if an African man wanted to show up to a Highland Games in a Daishiki or a Muslim woman in a hijab to share their heritage as we were enjoying ours. Those things are articles of clothing--not fantasy costumes... and while they're not Scottish, they fall into a similar category that Pirate suits simply don't.

[jeremy j starche]

I have to admit, I have -- by choice -- done some of the things mentioned in this list.

Worn a Great Kilt -- sure have. People approach me and ask what and why. Gives a chance to explain where the kilt came from and why it was worn in the first place. The great kilt was a very functional piece of clothing. Modern life has changed and its not as good now, but it is part of the heritage. (I also wear the old fashion soft leather gillie brogues, which often get more comment and questions than the great kilt.)

Jacobite Shirt - Sure have. One of the most comfortable shirts I have. As the temps break that 90F, comfort is very important to me.

Claymore - Again, a conversation piece. Even led to a discussion with someone who had studied to be a Spanish Matador about some of the history and usages of the sword and the differences between a one-handed "cutting" style verses the two handed thrusting.

Black "Irish" Kilt - Not all kilts were Tartan ...

Beret - Personal choice. I don't like pompoms.


But I'd be happy if, at the Games, I didn't have mythical creatures, white supremacy and people selling windows.

[L. Ramsay]

But I'd be happy if, at the Games, I didn't have mythical creatures, white supremacy and people selling windows.

Fortunately I've only encountered the window sales.

I have to say I don't appreciate the notion of vampires (sparkling or otherwise) and people who like to dress up in sheets detracting from the festivities.

[wildrover]

Despite the unusual nature of a kilt...similar to all the other culture-specific daily wear clothing I don't know the names of...it's an article of heritage and culture, not a statement or anachronistic costume.

...Or "cosplay", which I had to look up, and which seemed better defined on UrbanDictionary than Wikipedia.

People make it either or neither of those things based on what they wear with it.

Jacobite shirts, fairy wings, vampire teeth, and too many clan badge accessories make it a costume. Disagree? When was the last time you wore any of that stuff to the mall, with jeans? Not that I have a problem with Jacobite shirts, per se...only that I think they're costume, not "just clothing".

A t-shirt makes it clothing.

A ball gag hanging from the belt would make it a statement .

vampires (sparkling or otherwise)

Sooo...I'm envisioning a hot gothy mess with plastic fangs and glitter makeup. Am I close?

...And where is my snark icon?