Scottish identity

[chocoluvva]

Do you feel you have one?

If you're not Scottish living in Scotland, do you think there is a Scottish identity?

I lived in Scotland for 20 years, I'm English.

I think Scots have a huge sense of pride in their country, they will support the national team even though they are crap, they are friendly, funny, kind and loyal (as a general rule). They can also drink any bar dry :o

I've got some friends there who I miss dearly. I miss the real community I lived in and that everyone knew everyone and everyone's business. I knew what my teen had been doing before she got home :o. I miss getting on a bus and being able to chat to everyone even though they were strangers and if you dared to say you weren't sure how to find somewhere, someone would say that wee Jean is going there and she will take you and before you know it you've been whisked off the bus by some wee woman and marched off before being deposited at your destination.

With 83ash 100%.

I'm English but have lived in Scotland for several years now, I do feel that I have a Scottish identity to the extent that this is Home in a way that England never really was for me. I think it's down to the people tbh. I've lived in 3 different areas of Scotland since I came here so I'm not talking one isolated pocket of good luck
Without exception my family have been made to feel welcome and valued by the communities we have lived in, schools, and colleagues. In my own experience the Scottish identity is "welcome! Get stuck in!" which I struggled with at first because I'm so shy, it's grown on me though!

Not since the referendum. It's taken it away.

I think that around and post the Referendum, an identity of "people who wanted independence" has grown, which people who wanted independence have perhaps collectively cultivated as representing Scottish Identity. But I don't believe there's any one particular set of values, customs or cultural experiences which define what it is to be Scottish. Any more than the same could be said of Englishness or Britishness.

I'm English-born, living in Scotland and with no real attachment of identity which involves either country. Living in the central belt I expect my identity and experience is vastly different to that of somebody in the Western Isles, for example.

I have an incredible pride in being Scottish since the referendum. I was a proud Scot before, but when so many people came together in order to try to create a better country for themselves and generations to come, I felt a much greater sense of community.

Really interesting posts - thank you.

bellybutton is there anything apart from the work to achieve independence that you're proud of?

I am Scottish, live in Scotland. I despise narrow nationalism and loathe the 'Wha's like us' mentality of a certain sort of Scottishness. I identify as British, primarily. Crofting and Gaelic mean sweet fanny adams to me.

I love the Scottish hills and consider myself lucky to live in such a beautiful country, but I have a more mixed opinion of the people. The Scots are nothing special, there is good and bad, same as anywhere really.

It's hard for me to comment on what a type of place Scotland is as it is the only place I have lived. I find it a friendly place to live, and personally I don't think there are many people who go out of their way to be rude or unkind. This could be true of all countries in the UK, however even travelling to places outwith my hometown (both scottish and english towns and cities) I find Scotland is more accepting and open.

I am proud of my heritage- my mum and dad both have strong family links to Scotland and are also proud of their scottish histories- I believe a lot of my pride stems from the example they set.

I have a very strong sense of Scottish identity. This isn't related to the referendum though.

I have always felt Scottish first and British second.

This in no way denigrates anybody in the rest of the UK, I have friends who would call themselves English, Welsh or Irish rather than British, which is fine too.

As it happens I did vote 'yes' but only at the end of a long and considered thought process. It wasn't a knee jerk reaction at all.

The rest of my family all voted no. They also identify strongly as Scottish so the two things aren't related.

Scotland is a small (but mighty!) country and we have historically speaking punched well above our weight in terms of technological and industrial innovations.

Scotland has a rich culture of music and literature and there aren't many places in the world with more beautiful scenery.

Apart from all that, it's my place, where my heart feels happy. I've lived in other countries but I'm not truly at peace unless I'm home.

I love you Eigg.

I'm Scottish and live in Scotland.

I don't really give much thought to my nationality, to be honest. I work with and have friends of different nationalities and don't really notice where they come from.

I have no time for nationalism. It's an accident of birth, not something to crow about.

Aww sucks Clean

shucks bloody iPhone

I am an American transplant. I find the description butterfly gave to be very true. People are very kind and open and friendly and helpful. More so than my experience in 2 Essex communities, or most places I have lived in the US. I am from a region supposedly famous for friendliness, and most of my experiences there dont rate as well as Glasgow.

Now, have I made any particular friends? No. I am sure I will. Knowing we have no further plans to move and we expect to die here certainly has me putting forth more effort than my introverted self has after past moves. But so far, no friends close enough to remember me/us when making 'let's take the children to ___' plans for the recent holiday. One just close enough to ask why I didnt come to said gathering, when she saw me a week and a half later. But not close enough to think to include me, or check in until she happened to run into me.

I am also making a point of joining and doing things that are not related to school. Just the other mums is a very small pool to fish in.

Oh, to answer the OPs actual question: i am actively working to have a Scottish identity. To know about my adopted home, and build a network of known faces, as well as find friends. I am very much choosing to be Scots, and intend to take UK citizenship when I qualify.

I'm Scottish and have always lived in Scotland. I've always felt proud of being Scottish, but the referendum has ruined that.

The referendum has ruined the Scottish flag for me in the same way English nationalism has ruined the English flag for a lot of people.

The referendum was an absolutely vile time particularly after the highs of the commonwealth games and some of that vileness is ongoing thorough the gereral election. I can't stand the "if you're not with us then you're not Scottish" mentality of the yes and SNP supporters.

The referendum also took 'being Scottish' away for me. I feel very sad about that.

I'm Scottish and always lived in Scotland. I do think of myself Scottish first and British second but voted no in the referendum. I have no interest in what the SNP says and stands for. The thing that does it for me is the people are friendly, the scenery is beautiful and that it's not overly populated.

trixy not all yes/SNP voters feel that way.

Haha at sucks clean. I'm not sure we're quite at that stage yet...

Your answer was lovely though.

Not sure I believe that Eigg, it seems that most think no voters betrayed their country deep down.

Well trixy I'm sure that most no voters don't think I'm an uneducated, misguided idiot though my FB feed would suggest otherwise.

I voted yes, as did my DH and a number of colleagues as friends and I've never heard any of them express those views.

clean

Certainly not on a first date.