Scottish Festival Peeves?

[Kilted in Maine]

I remember my first “kilted” Highland Games just a few years ago –

- SWK standard just out of the package the week before (I did know enough to take the basting stitches out)
- White soccer socks
- Leather deck shoes
- Clan Dunbar T-shirt
- No belt, No sporran

I thought I looked great! Walking around with my head high, chest out, and a smile from ear to ear!

Looking back at the pictures I laugh and shake my head. I have learned so much since (mostly from this site). Although my attire has improved, I am sure some purists would still scoff at how I put myself together.

But guess what my smile is just as wide as it was that first day – Because I am having FUN, and have the photos to prove it!!

[BoldHighlander]

I remember my first “kilted” Highland Games just a few years ago –

- SWK standard just out of the package the week before (I did know enough to take the basting stitches out)
- White soccer socks
- Leather deck shoes
- Clan Dunbar T-shirt
- No belt, No sporran

I thought I looked great! Walking around with my head high, chest out, and a smile from ear to ear!

Looking back at the pictures I laugh and shake my head. I have learned so much since (mostly from this site). Although my attire has improved, I am sure some purists would still scoff at how I put myself together.

But guess what my smile is just as wide as it was that first day – Because I am having FUN, and have the photos to prove it!!

[Zardoz]

The RenFair kiddies absolutely kill me. One kid at our games had a Renaissance Hat, the ubiquitous poofy shirt, tartan plastic tablecloth kilt, sword (non-Scottish of course) and moccasins. The worst thing was he was running around talking to everyone in an extremely poor, fake Elizabethan-English, and generally behaving like the drama student he probably was If you want to look like an idiot, ok that gives us something to talk about, but don't run up to everyone you see and blather at them.
.

The poorly done fake accent thing annoys me a little bit at actual renfairs, so I'd likely go off on anybody that did it at me outside the faire gate!

[BoldHighlander]

The poorly done fake accent thing annoys me a little bit at actual renfairs, so I'd likely go off on anybody that did it at me outside the faire gate!

I remember a few years ago some kid (late teens - early 20's) going around, dressed like a poor copy of Braveheart/Duncan MacLeod (complete with knee high Doc Martins) carrying a 2-hand broadsword, talking in a "Scottish" accent, actually telling people he was from Scotland.

The only problem, my nephew shared classes with him at the local Community College & knew full well that he didn't actually speak with an accent, and also knew he was a local(!!!)

My nephew called him on the carpert, and needless to say I haven't seen this fake at the games since

[Detroitpete]

But it is all about us.

Pipers? There are Pipers?

Actually I think Highland Games are some provide some of the best 'people watching' ever!

But PLEASE--Its called a C A B E R!

[auld argonian]

Boy...I posted in this thread earlier and meant it to be funny and I check back and I see so many people actually taking this seriously? The whole tone of the question and the poll choices smacked of tongue-in-cheek-edliness and I, for one, wasn't by any means trying to be mean or critical...I thught we were just havin' a laugh at all of the off-center stuff that we see at Highland Games.

Okay...granted...one would think that a party with his kilt on backwards might just figger out after a couple of hours of seeing every other guy wearing his right side out that he might have it wrong....and as for Captain Jack, he shows up at everything including the comic con...it's almost beginning to become a tradition...

Lighten up.

Best

AA

[Vegan Scot]

Just to clarify a few things on the issue of being judgmental, I thought the first post, mine, set a pretty decent precedent for how seriously the thread and poll would be taken.

Just got back from the local Highland games here in Utah. Saw a few things that made me chuckle (especially when I walked past bathroom mirrors ). Thought I'd post a lighthearted poll to see which of the following the Rabble regarded as the most grievous (and/or common) offenses one could commit. I'm sure I've left out some particularly egregious faux pas so feel free to add on or elaborate!

Not to mention the fact that I felt the overstatement of "committing grievous and egregious offenses" would be tip off enough to as to how "sincere" I was in posting this in the first place. Maybe my humor is too vague.

[Alan H]

I get the humour aspect. I also laugh a lot. Not to worry.

The poll just hit a nerve, which is partly rubbed raw from things that go on at X Marks and partly rubbed raw from stuff I see too much of, in "real life".

[Zardoz]

Just to clarify a few things on the issue of being judgmental, I thought the first post, mine, set a pretty decent precedent for how seriously the thread and poll would be taken.
Not to mention the fact that I felt the overstatement of "committing grievous and egregious offenses" would be tip off enough to as to how "sincere" I was in posting this in the first place. Maybe my humor is too vague.

Well I took the original post and poll in the spirit of humor and fun, but I know that no statements on this site can be lighthearted enough to not get somebody all fired up, and almost any thread can devolve into hot mess.

[AFS1970]

WHen I bought my Kilt I bought a formal wear package. For quite a while, it was all I had, it came with white hose. I was gently told by some folks that I should get another color for day/informal events. I did. Currently I usually wear black hose, although I have a pair of blue also. I actually need to get new white hose. However in the various threads about what is and is not proper, I actually learned something that I had never learned before right here on XMTS (it was not about hose, but was about Highland dress).

For me getting less formal was a stretch. The first time I wore my black sneakers with my Kilt to an outdoor festival, I was sure someone would scold me for not wearing brogues. Guess what no one did. I had the benefit of learning allot in my local Saint Andrews society, and I am glad for it. If I can help someone quietly and with some dignity to wear something correctly I will. However the guy with the basting stitches still in or the backwards Kilt is probably going to take the advice. The guy dressed as Jack Sparrow likely thinks he is doing nothing wrong. I have often asked why a pirate from the 18th-19th century would be at a ren faire about the 14th-16th century, and all I have got was they had pirates back then too.

I have played in many LARPS, although mine were all futuristic and not the vaguely historical wizardry type. Although I have met people who think that they are being historical while casting spells and wearing pointy ears and wings. These people often seek out festivals and advertise themselves as historical groups, and well meaning festival staff say OK, come on down and do your thing.

Also, just playing devils advocate here, it is not OK to say no to the skinheads but say pirates, faeries, and drunks are welcome to have fun in their own way. We are all, no matter how hard we deny it, judgmental in our own ways. I remember when I was a kid the local biker club started coming to our local games. Guess what, they came had a picnic, competed in some events, and didn't bother anyone. I still remember hearing allot of remarks about what "those people" are doing here.

I wonder why, much like the various Kilted at work/graduation threads, it is just fine to do what you want to Scottish culture, but if I did the same at any other cultural event I would be publicly stoned for offending other peoples national origin.