Scottish Festival Peeves?

[artificer]

For those who didn't get it, in Glasgow everyone is either addressed as Big Yin if they are tall or Jimmy if not! It's said to make it easier when you've had a few too many whiskeys!

It's funny, I never heard "See You, Jimmy" until not too long ago, I was taught "Stitch this, Jimmy" (typically as the battle cry right before you nut someone and spread his nose across his face), nearly 20 years ago, by a mate of mine who'd spent many a year in various boarding schools all over the UK.

Came in handy once, at uni. THAT'S a different story, for a much different thread.

[Bugbear]

Main pet peeve would be the kilt that's 'waaay too long while the hose are too high (an abomination, as someone put it), and a close second would be those who show up in pants.

I can understand the first being an issue of complaint: high hose, and low hem.

As to the second complaint, ...

[macwilkin]

It's funny, I never heard "See You, Jimmy" until not too long ago, I was taught "Stitch this, Jimmy" (typically as the battle cry right before you nut someone and spread his nose across his face), nearly 20 years ago, by a mate of mine who'd spent many a year in various boarding schools all over the UK.

Came in handy once, at uni. THAT'S a different story, for a much different thread.

The Jocks of the Black Watch used to refer to their sporran badge with St. Andrew & his cross as a "Jimmy".

T.

[EagleJCS]

On the sunglasses issue: if anyone besides me is still wearing contact lenses, they can render you very sensitive to sunlight, almost helpless in fact.

Actually, I've had laser eye surgery (PRK about 6 years ago) and, though I'm glad I don't have to wear contacts/glasses any more (or pay for the "support system" that goes with them), I HAVE to wear sunglasses when I'm out & about in the daytime - doctor's orders. Laser eye surgery thins the cornea ever so slightly, which can cause some severe retinal damage if you're exposed to sunlight (especially bright sunlight) for too long. I'm actually more light sensitive now than I was with my contacts.

I also get the 'halo' effect at night (streetlights and headlights), so I don't like driving at night like I used to.

[artificer]

The Jocks of the Black Watch used to refer to their sporran badge with St. Andrew & his cross as a "Jimmy".
T.

So where do you suppose "Stitch this, Jimmy" comes from??

Actually, I've had laser eye surgery (PRK about 6 years ago) and, though I'm glad I don't have to wear contacts/glasses any more (or pay for the "support system" that goes with them), I HAVE to wear sunglasses when I'm out & about in the daytime - doctor's orders. Laser eye surgery thins the cornea ever so slightly, which can cause some severe retinal damage if you're exposed to sunlight (especially bright sunlight) for too long. I'm actually more light sensitive now than I was with my contacts.

I also get the 'halo' effect at night (streetlights and headlights), so I don't like driving at night like I used to.

I guess I can't be an historical re-creator either (not that I'm so inclined). If the sun is up (ie, it isn't nighttime) I've got sunglasses on. I'm near blind without them from the splitting headache- due to the UV... I donno why, doc doesn't either. My mother has the same issue.

I guess I could wear two eye patches and pretend I'd gone to sea, with middling success

[Dram]

Semiomniscient wrote:

Irish dancers.
Shouldn't be invited to Highland Games. If it were a Celtic festival, that's a different bird. I enjoy watching them, but it's not my culture.
The Irish in general it seems...Too bad the "Scotti' brought the games tradition with them from Ireland!
I get really annoyed when I'm seen in my kilt and someone calls me Irish. I'm not Irish. I don't want to be Irish. If you want to go back into the early middle ages and discuss the commonalities of people, let's remember that a lot has developed since then and Scottish culture is far different from Irish. Besides, if the Irish invented Highland Games, why don't they have Irish weight throwing games?
People who wear their Highland dress funny or wrong.


Then Semiomnicient wrote:

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.[/QUOTE]


You just wouldn't want to see the Irish there. Interesting how you're tolerant, but not.

[Alan H]

If I had to pick one thing, and one thing only: the sun. Seriously, why cant these things happen at night. Everything is cooler, cooler, and less skin-baking at night.

To go further..

Reenactors who are about flash and no substance. I am well versed in the historical use of the Highland Broadsword, in at least 2 diffrent styles. Once we were asked to preform at the Highland Games over here.

It was less then spectacular. Most people dont care if youve had to fully reconstruct your idea of how the Two-hander was used, and what source material you got it from. They just want you to look the part.

Vendors clearly taking advantage of people by charging sky-high prices

The lack of walk-in events. Seriously. I know the Games part are a serious thing, and not everyone can, or should, beable to walk in and say "Hey let me see how far I can toss that thar big stick." But I wish there was more to do. After all, there is only so much money you can spend, bag-pipes you can listen to, Boarder Collies you can watch (( which your not allowed to pet or play with, which is another peeve all together), before I find myself a little bored. Why cant there be games everyone can try?

One word....liability.

Newbie picks up hammer, walks a few feet out of the hammer cage while the judge is busy with something else, does a few winds to warm up, loses the hammer out his hands and sends it screaming at full velocity into the crowd where it collides with a nice 7 year old girls head.

Alternative scenario....newbie who is married to nice lady who's brother is a lawyer, walks on at the Games. He shatters his L4 vertebrae picking up a caber totally the wrong way, despite being told how to do it by the judge and two competitors. The lawyer sues the Games, the Games Organizing Committee, the Athletic Director and the County Fairgrounds.

THAT is why you can't just walk-on to a Games and hope to pick up a caber in competition.

[Alan H]

Yeah. Right. Now I've read most of the thread. There are light bits and humorous bits, but I can't say that I want to be a part of this kind of attitude.

[Bugbear]

Doh! That does it! I'm putting myself on my own ignore list!

* Oh Ruxpins, it won't let me do that...

[Alan H]

Doh! That does it! I'm putting myself on my own ignore list!

* Oh Ruxpins, it won't let me do that...

Well, by changing your handle, you came off of mine, but now you just went back on it.