Full mask sporrans revisited...

[Father Bill]

Okay guys, I've been reading the last dozen or so posts. Time to let it go.

[Manxstralian]

So, to "re-rail" this thread, and despite the aesthetic considerations, it seems that the issue is ostentation, and if there's one thing I've learned from reading the posts of Jock and other Scots on this site, ostentation in Scotland is "not done" (such as buying new kit, or wearing something which is obviously new).
We colonials seem to have a different perspective, as perhaps class is a more fluid construct (?) and our social mores are perhaps more suited to social climbing (something which seems to be less possible in the "old country", at least from what I can gather). If I'm off target, I'd be interested to read how (assuming it doesn't violate any forum rules).
So in Scotland, one would not want to appear to be "putting on airs", while in the rest of the world (as it relates to this forum) people are more likely to say "look at my awesome new purchase!" and would not mind telling people how much it cost. Maybe?

That said, the issue of wildlife preservation would prevent me from purchasing (all donations gratefully accepted! ) a sporran made from a wild animal from a country that I only visit, and don't live in. As always, others may have differing opinions, and I do love the look of full mask sporrans, just not attached to me.

And with all due respect to Father Bill (please feel free to delete this is required, I may have come to the party too late), while I never weigh in on this topic, it seems that those who live in Scotland have a linear and unbroken connection to the land, where as I (speaking only for myself) know and feel every minute of every day that I'm Australian (born and raised), but I don't come from Australia. I think that's a very distinct difference with massive emotional connotations relating to identity, and one that can't be explained very easily. Hence the diaspora.


Cheers to all, I hope this doesn't offend anyone,

Cameron

[Nathan]

Some keen observations Cameron!

So in Scotland, one would not want to appear to be "putting on airs", while in the rest of the world (as it relates to this forum) people are more likely to say "look at my awesome new purchase!" and would not mind telling people how much it cost. Maybe?

I'm certainly guilty of this! I can't resist a deal, nor can I resist the desire to share my good fortune with a community of friends around the world who can actually appreciate why I'm excited! I could just show up in photos with the nice kit and leave everyone guessing, but the fact that I'm frank about a $40 ebay or thrift shop find is perhaps gauche but is the opposite of putting on airs. To me, putting on airs would be pretending my DIY full mask sporran was a pricey offering from House of Labhran or something...I admit to getting a thrill out of saving a shiny nickel on high quality merchandise. I come by it honestly. My mother is the same way. That said, I'm sure you were speaking generally and I can see how bragging about a very expensive purchase would qualify as putting on airs.

Speaking of full mask sporrans, what animals are a no no?

To me, I think the head has to be relatively small. A coyote, for example, would be far too big to my mind unless it was on a very large gentleman.

What do you folks think?

[ASinclair]

Nathan, I agree the coyote looks too big. To me, the raccoon looks about right.

[Machaggisnz]

Nathan said
To me, I think the head has to be relatively small. A coyote, for example, would be far too big to my mind unless it was on a very large gentleman.

I agree whole hearted lay. To me one of the things that bugs me about the full face sporrans I don't like is a huge head on a small sporran. Proportion is very important to my eyes.

[rondo]

Rondo, if you had stated originally that you dress to please others rather than to please yourself, I would not have taken the trouble to post all that ethicall stuff. I thought that I was helping someone that liked full mask sporrans but didn't like the idea of the animal being killed especially to make a sporran. "They simply are not for me in the circles that I travel" is completely different from "I just can't wear something that was killed simply so I might wear it as an accessory".

You missed the point entirely, we dont live isolated in a bubble.... No one that I know that wears a kilt, wears it for anyone but himself, so don't be an (edited to remove potentially offensive descriptive word)... Further, any person that ignores the ethics of his social circle will soon find himself isolated from that circle. In my social circle, wearing or displaying trophies (animal pelts) is not accepted, so when i say " I just cant wear something that was killed..." It means just that. Finally, I did not ask for, nor do I require your help.
Rondo

[Singlemalt]

While I don't have a problem with full mask sporrans I really don't desire one. They seem just a bit "much" for my taste. However if I did I think I would choose a North American species but certainly nothing as large as a coyote. I would go with either a muskrat or racoon. Both species are abundant to the point of nusance, have lovely fur and are to my eye about the right size. The racoon has the character of the very appropriate bandit mask. I think I read somewhere on this forum that at least some in The Highland regiments stationed in North Americain the 18th century adopted racoon mask sporrans.

[Father Bill]

Fellows, there are two threads going on here. One is about full mask sporrans. The other is about giving or taking offence. So far I am not offended, but would hate to shut down the better discussion for the sake of the ruffled feathers in the other.

Cool it!

Father Bill

[BCAC]

So, to "re-rail" this thread, and despite the aesthetic considerations, it seems that the issue is ostentation, and if there's one thing I've learned from reading the posts of Jock and other Scots on this site, ostentation in Scotland is "not done" (such as buying new kit, or wearing something which is obviously new).
We colonials seem to have a different perspective, as perhaps class is a more fluid construct (?) and our social mores are perhaps more suited to social climbing (something which seems to be less possible in the "old country", at least from what I can gather). If I'm off target, I'd be interested to read how (assuming it doesn't violate any forum rules).
So in Scotland, one would not want to appear to be "putting on airs", while in the rest of the world (as it relates to this forum) people are more likely to say "look at my awesome new purchase!" and would not mind telling people how much it cost. Maybe?

That said, the issue of wildlife preservation would prevent me from purchasing (all donations gratefully accepted! ) a sporran made from a wild animal from a country that I only visit, and don't live in. As always, others may have differing opinions, and I do love the look of full mask sporrans, just not attached to me.

And with all due respect to Father Bill (please feel free to delete this is required, I may have come to the party too late), while I never weigh in on this topic, it seems that those who live in Scotland have a linear and unbroken connection to the land, where as I (speaking only for myself) know and feel every minute of every day that I'm Australian (born and raised), but I don't come from Australia. I think that's a very distinct difference with massive emotional connotations relating to identity, and one that can't be explained very easily. Hence the diaspora.


Cheers to all, I hope this doesn't offend anyone,

Cameron

Cameron,

Nice try to re-rail the thread, but you went off on a tangent to de-rail it again.

I'm not talented enough (and biased strongly in the FOR full mask sporran camp (in case you hadn't noticed! )) to re-rail this thread again, I just popped in to say that I find it difficult to understand when someone says that they don't "come from" where they were born and bred. I could understand someone being born elsewhere (there could be loads of reasons why) if his birth was correctly registered and he was taken home to be raised in his ancestral homeland, but "born and bred" somewhere and not "coming from" there is beyond my comprehension. Sorry.

[BCAC]

You missed the point entirely, we dont live isolated in a bubble.... No one that I know that wears a kilt, wears it for anyone but himself, so don't be an (edited to remove potentially offensive descriptive word)... Further, any person that ignores the ethics of his social circle will soon find himself isolated from that circle. In my social circle, wearing or displaying trophies (animal pelts) is not accepted, so when i say " I just cant wear something that was killed..." It means just that. Finally, I did not ask for, nor do I require your help.
Rondo

What you said and what you mean come across as two entirely different things. It would probably be for the best if we agree to disagree, lest we get this interesting thread binned.