Familiarity Breeds Contempt

[Nighthawk]

Ah, but common practice does.

No it doesn't. It makes it a fashion trend. Saying that wearing white hose out of familiarity makes it a tradition is like saying that ebonics is a language. It's just an excuse not to do things right.

I was not aware that black hose were a new invention. Here is a picture of me in a PC and black hose. I don't think it looks that bad, does it? Maybe a little too conservative, but that's just me. And, yes, I know it is not the proper sporran for the attire, but it was all I had at the time.

They are indeed a modern convention. They don't look as in-your-face as white, though. Bleached white hose just scream "LOOK AT ME!!" I personally really like the look of black hose. An there's not a thing wrong with that sporran. It looks spectacular with that outfit. Then again, I'm a big fan of that style.

[davedove]

No it doesn't. It makes it a fashion trend. Saying that wearing white hose out of familiarity makes it a tradition is like saying that ebonics is a language. It's just an excuse not to do things right.

This always brings up the question of when does a trend become a tradition. Like it or not, traditions are not carved in stones by holy fire, never to be changed. They can and do change (just like languages do). The main point is when does something become tradition. Some will say, well it's traditional because my father and his friends always did it. Others will say that something is not traditional because their great grandfather would not of heard of such a thing. We have to remember that EVERYTHIGN traditional was at one time a fashion trend. It's just the ones that tend to stay around that get labeled traditions.