Fake Scots Titles

**Bluescelt** · 13th February 11, 07:42 AM

As Jock said, people doing this for a bit of fun is not a serious matter. But to spend money for a worthless and meaningless piece of paper puzzles me. I know the vast majority of the people doing this have no intention of perpetrating the fraud of being a Laird or any other titled person but after reading up on this I'd hate to see some unsuspecting person get prosecuted for using a false title in Scotland.

**Sketraw** · 13th February 11, 10:27 AM

Sorry, but in my opinion I dont see these peddlers of fake titles and their so called claims of land preservation of a bog in Caithness, for example, as a bit of FUN! To me it is degrading to Scotland and also devalues people with real Lairdships and other titles and makes it difficult for people to understand what is genuine and what is not.

If you purchased an item from a shop £29.95 and it didn't do what it said on the tin, you would have something to say, wouldn't you? Or, even worse, you bought something, thinking you owned it and found out in reality it wasent yours!

**Jock Scot** · 13th February 11, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Sketraw

Sorry, but in my opinion I dont see these peddlers of fake titles and their so called claims of land preservation of a bog in Caithness, for example, as a bit of FUN! To me it is degrading to Scotland and also devalues people with real Lairdships and other titles and makes it difficult for people to understand what is genuine and what is not.

If you purchased an item from a shop £29.95 and it didn't do what it said on the tin, you would have something to say, wouldn't you? Or, even worse, you bought something, thinking you owned it and found out in reality it wasent yours!

I hear what you say and of course you are quite correct. However the people buying their wee plot, from what I can see, have no great expectations and do just regard it as a bit of fun. The vendors do and have taken advantage of this and if this profitable racket could be stopped then all to the good.

But the above pales into insignificance when compared with the bogus major titles and pedigrees that some parade around with, who take advantage of peoples goodwill etc in a major way. These in my book are the major villains of this rather sad situation, particularly as threats of violence are bandied about.

**Sketraw** · 13th February 11, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

But the above pales into insignificance when compared with the bogus major titles and pedigrees that some parade around with, who take advantage of peoples goodwill etc in a major way. These in my book are the major villains of this rather sad situation, particularly as threats of violence are bandied about.

You are correct Jock, however it is one of the few historic Scottish Titles left and some do misuse the Laird title by converting it to Lord for one thing and do use it for villainies purposes as well as self aggrandisement.

**Jock Scot** · 13th February 11, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Sketraw

You are correct Jock, however it is one of the few historic Scottish Titles left and some do misuse the Laird title by converting it to Lord for one thing and do use it for villainies purposes as well as self aggrandisement.

We are not going to disagree there. These sad fellows who are causing such upset with our traditions makes me glad to be a "Mr." and that is just dandy for me!

**xman** · 13th February 11, 02:21 PM

I'd want to be Thane.

**ohiopiper** · 13th February 11, 09:50 PM

Doesn't U.S. law forbid a U.S. citizen from recieving titles from a foreign nation, other than those awarded for work in the arts or humanities? For example, an Ohio man was recently awarded a knighthood from France into an order that bestowes knighthoods based solely upon performance in the performing arts. By contrast, an American, if I am correct, cannot be knighted by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, as it would be a violation of U.S. law.

Or am I wrong? And would not titles of lordship fall under this category?

**gilmore** · 14th February 11, 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by ohiopiper

Doesn't U.S. law forbid a U.S. citizen from recieving titles from a foreign nation, other than those awarded for work in the arts or humanities? For example, an Ohio man was recently awarded a knighthood from France into an order that bestowes knighthoods based solely upon performance in the performing arts. By contrast, an American, if I am correct, cannot be knighted by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, as it would be a violation of U.S. law.

Or am I wrong? And would not titles of lordship fall under this category?

You are partially correct. The US Constitution prohibits US citizens who are government officeholders from receiving foreign titles without the approval of Congress. Ordinary US citizens can, and do, receive all sorts of foreign honors (or honours, depending on who is handing them out.) I am not aware of Congress doing so lately, not since World War II, when legislation was passed that allowed, I believe, anyone serving in the US armed forces to receive foreign honors.

Americans and other non-UK subjects are not knighted by HM the Queen, but that is a British custom, not American. Instead, they are given honorary knighthoods, as were Rudi Giuliani, Bob Geldorf, and many others.

Quite a few Americans are given knighthoods by the Knights of Malta, a sovereign entity, and papal knighthoods and titles of nobility, the Vatican also being a sovereign state. Or they were. I don't know if the present pope or the last one ennobled anyone. Pope John Paul II broke with tradition and didn't ennoble his own family. At the time he was quoted as saying something like, "They are Polish peasants. They wouldn't know what to do with a title."

**Andrew M. Stewart** · 16th February 11, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by Sketraw

Sorry, but in my opinion I dont see these peddlers of fake titles and their so called claims of land preservation of a bog in Caithness, for example, as a bit of FUN! To me it is degrading to Scotland and also devalues people with real Lairdships and other titles and makes it difficult for people to understand what is genuine and what is not.

If you purchased an item from a shop £29.95 and it didn't do what it said on the tin, you would have something to say, wouldn't you? Or, even worse, you bought something, thinking you owned it and found out in reality it wasent yours!

I don't know a lot about these scams but it seems a bit odd to me that because some North American bought a tiny price of dirt in the Highlands they think that they would actually get some sort of title with it! What about every common house owner in say Inverness? Would you think them all lairds and dukes as well?? Am I missing something here?

**Sketraw** · 16th February 11, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew M. Stewart

I don't know a lot about these scams but it seems a bit odd to me that because some North American bought a tiny price of dirt in the Highlands they think that they would actually get some sort of title with it! What about every common house owner in say Inverness? Would you think them all lairds and dukes as well?? Am I missing something here?

No you aren't missing the point at all, it is a ridiculous concept but people are dragged into it because the land is supposedly purchased is on a Scottish Estate already. Thing is a lot of the so called estates are even made up!!

Take a look at the first video here http://www.scots-titles.com/?page_id=169 to see the market they are aiming at, and if you want to have a sad laugh look at some of the rest. Again it makes Scotland and its people look like twats!!