Scottish Festival Peeves?

[Alan H]

Personally, I think this poll just brings out the uptight PITA tendencies of too many of our members.

The Ren Faire people, the fairies, the guys wearing OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!!! white socks , the pipers, the athletes, the re-enactors, the guys who wear their Prince Charlies...WHAT-ever and whoever they are...

... are not hurting you. They are out to have some fun just like you are, and if you get all worked up over little stuff, then I pity you for the days when something REAL to get angry about actually comes along.

Chill out.

[macwilkin]

Personally, I think this poll just brings out the uptight PITA tendencies of too many of our members.

The Ren Faire people, the fairies, the guys wearing OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!!! white socks , the pipers, the athletes, the re-enactors, the guys who wear their Prince Charlies...WHAT-ever and whoever they are...

... are not hurting you. They are out to have some fun just like you are, and if you get all worked up over little stuff, then I pity you for the days when something REAL to get angry about actually comes along.

Chill out.

Respectfully, Allen, but I personally feel that there are valid concerns about how Scottish customs & dress are being, for lack of a better term, corrupted by these other groups & what-not. Like it or not, this is a matter of people's heritage, and that does invoke strong feelings with legitimate concerns behind them. One should be judgemental, even those speaking out against it.

T.

[macwilkin]

That should be "one should NOT be judgemental..."



T.

[Alan H]

Neo Nazi, White Supremacists groups I can do without.

A few guys showed a sense of humour about the issue. Thank God.

The rest of it smacks of so much "holier than thou" attitude that it makes me sick.

Todd, if you all are so horrified by how awful the Games are here in the USA, then buy a plane ticket and go to Scotland and attend the events THERE. THere...THERE in the Ancestral Motherland where Everything is So Much Better.

[Lallans]

Also, for anyone who attends the Gatlinburg games, mud.

For a recent Games in Ontario, first we had 2 days of mud and then tornadoes. Muddy tornadoes.

[Alan H]

Todd, this whole thread is about being "judgemental".

If you...or anybody else just retches at all the horrible things like WHITE SOCKS and....Oh My God....someone wearing a great kilt improperly at the Games. If that is just SO horribly offensive and awful and insulting to the Immortal Memory of our Ancient Forefathers...

...then start your own bloody event and screen the attendants. Make people APPLY to attend, and pictures are required so that you, and you...and you and you.... the adjudicators of what is proper and what is not, can decide if the applicants are qualified enough, knowledgeable enough, ONLY patronize Scottish vendors (of course) and respectful enough to attend your hallowed event.

[Alan H]

At least the thread is entitled "nit-picking" which shows some vague sense of how relatively unimportant the topic really is.

[YoungMan]

Alan,

I think that what most of us bemoan is not the existence of many of the aforementioned groups, but the watering down of traditional Scottish gatherings. There are Renn Fairs, LARP games, etc. designed specifically for these people to enjoy their particular pastimes/hobbies. We would simply prefer that Scottish gatherings reflect a celebration of traditional Scottish culture.

I'll draw a poor parallel to SEC football. I love going to TN games. One of my pet peeves is that no matter who TN is playing, there's always some guy from Ohio State dressed head to toe in Buckeyes gear. If it's TN-AL weekend, then he's obviously not there to celebrate the tradition of that historic rivalry. I don't begrudge him his love of Ohio State (well maybe a little), but I would prefer he either join the celebration as a neutral spectator or try to learn something about what we're excited about. Showing up in your gear just bc there's a football game happening and you can is poor form in my opinion. The same goes for cultural gatherings.

[macwilkin]

Neo Nazi, White Supremacists groups I can do without.

A few guys showed a sense of humour about the issue. Thank God.

The rest of it smacks of so much "holier than thou" attitude that it makes me sick.

Todd, if you all are so horrified by how awful the Games are here in the USA, then buy a plane ticket and go to Scotland and attend the events THERE. THere...THERE in the Ancestral Motherland where Everything is So Much Better.

Now you're putting words in my mouth. Do I grimace at some things I see at games & festivals? Sure -- but i'm not going to lose sleep over it. My point was that you were being a little judgemental in criticizing what you perceived to be judgemental attitudes.

I appreciate people having a good time, but remember that many people's knowledge of Scottish culture is shaped by what they see at games, and there may never be another oportunity to present the other viewpoint.

I'll admit a bias, as I saw a similar thing in Civil War reenacting: people claiming to be "educating the public" with no thought to historical accuracy -- and who did the public flock to? It wasn't the folks to tried to do things right?

Much like yourself, I'm simply presenting an opposing viewpoint.

T.

[Alan H]

Alan,

I think that what most of us bemoan is not the existence of many of the aforementioned groups, but the watering down of traditional Scottish gatherings. There are Renn Fairs, LARP games, etc. designed specifically for these people to enjoy their particular pastimes/hobbies. We would simply prefer that Scottish gatherings reflect a celebration of traditional Scottish culture.

I'll draw a poor parallel to SEC football. I love going to TN games. One of my pet peeves is that no matter who TN is playing, there's always some guy from Ohio State dressed head to toe in Buckeyes gear. If it's TN-AL weekend, then he's obviously not there to celebrate the tradition of that historic rivalry. I don't begrudge him his love of Ohio State (well maybe a little), but I would prefer he either join the celebration as a neutral spectator or try to learn something about what we're excited about. Showing up in your gear just bc there's a football game happening and you can is poor form in my opinion. The same goes for cultural gatherings.

Then get on your local Games Organizing Committee and demand that such people not be allowed in the Gates. That's right....if someone shows up, ready to pay to get in, but they don't dress according to the standards determined by the committee, if an athlete isn't in good enough shape, if a piper doesn't play in tune well enough, if there is a *hint* of "re-enactor", if any faerie makeup is seen, then kindly send them packing. In fact, you might print up a couple thousand brochures to hand out, educating people on Scottish Culture. You will need a couple thousand, because you're probably not going to let in very many people. Those who are denied entrance at the Gates are given a pamphlet free of charge so that they may come to a more thorough understanding of the importance of this cultural event.

Don't stand for the "watering-down" of the Culture. Make a STAND. If people can't be respectful, can't dress properly, can't get in shape to do the athletics, can't practice up to be a Grade I piper, and so on, then kindly refuse to take their entrance fee, and send them packing....with a smile, of course. Create your very own, pure, Celebration. GO for it.

Of course, I won't be allowed in the Gates. God forbid, I might wear white socks and though I call myself an athlete, I actually carry a spare tire around my ample gut.