# Whither Scotland? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 2, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261 "2014-09-02T16:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 46
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/901 "2014-09-18T13:59:46Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > The unicorn has been a Scottish symbol for at least four centuries. Bit late to change now. This excuse rings rather hollow on the day we are voting to break up a 300 year old union.šŸ˜‰ We have other mythical creatures we can pick; traditional Scottish ones such as Nessie or Haggis. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/902 "2014-09-18T13:59:52Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > Living in Scotland helps. I do live in Scotland. Thatā€™s why itā€™s embarrassing that I missed that question šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/903 "2014-09-18T14:02:07Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Bravo for Scotland holding their voting booths open from 7 am until 10 pm. The US should follow this example. Thatā€™s the standard UK polling hours, and Thursday is the standard day. What does the US do? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/904 "2014-09-18T14:04:40Z")
US voting hours vary by state, but are typically 7 or 8 AM to 7 or 8 PM. I only got 14 on the test, but that included a lot of guessing. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/905 "2014-09-18T14:08:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > US voting hours vary by state, but are typically 7 or 8 AM to 7 or 8 PM Thanks. I think 7 am to 10 pm does help folk fit in voting around their working day in most cases. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/906 "2014-09-18T14:09:55Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > We have other mythical creatures we can pick; traditional Scottish ones such as Nessie or Haggis. Or [kelpies](http://www.thehelix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies/). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/907 "2014-09-18T14:14:49Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > The unicorn has been a Scottish symbol for at least four centuries. Bit late to change now. It hasnā€™t been the official animal for four centuries. > [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I donā€™t know that the marines at Gitmo would agree with you (or the people of the Panama Canal zone until the 1970s). This is a different case of course, and it probably wont happen here, butā€¦ Well, we _[did](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban%E2%80%93American_Treaty)_ have permission from Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/908 "2014-09-18T14:34:37Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > I was just suggesting that many people who know little of the real Scotland suddenly become experts (either YES or NO) without any knowledge base about the country. I got 12 and Iā€™m half-Scot. I guess Iā€™ll go tell my Mum I have failed her miserably and will never again show my face at family gatherings. Then again, Iā€™m not sure that ā€œAPPROXIMATELY HOW MANY SCOTTISH ISLANDS ARE THERE?ā€ and ā€œWHICH IS SCOTLANDā€™S MOTTO?ā€ are really powerful questions regarding ā€œthe real Scotlandā€. For the record, I donā€™t know England, Britain or Swedenā€™s motto either, because it isnā€™t actually that important. I also couldnā€™t tell you approximately how many islands are in the Stockholm archipelago despite having lived in Stockholm for fifteen years. I also fucked up the ā€œlegislatureā€ question as I didnā€™t recognise either of the words and so guessed. If Iā€™d taken more than a split second I would have realised that it meant single house/two house. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/909 "2014-09-18T14:43:47Z")
Reminds of [this](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10544418_10152612247553000_516937877778472095_n.jpg?oh=2e7ce3cd5173bd125093e0118520f425&oe=54CBF525& __gda__ =1422363471_e8381f83a8cf90b5a03ec5f2ac6901e1), which happened last time I tried a British Citizenship test. That was the VERY FIRST QUESTION. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/910 "2014-09-18T14:46:27Z")
Skara Brae is a neolithic (-ish) settlement on one of the Orkneys, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/911 "2014-09-18T14:54:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Skara Brae is a neolithic (-ish) settlement on one of the Orkneys, IIRC. I thought Vindolanda was in Canada! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/912 "2014-09-18T14:55:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Skara Brae is a neolithic (-ish) settlement on one of the Orkneys, IIRC. Yeah, I took the opportunity to read up after that. Frankly I should have known it. I got it right in the Scottish test. I went against Vindolanda as it sounded too much liek Vindaloo. I thought they were taking the piss. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/913 "2014-09-18T15:00:26Z")
They asked me the wrong Scotland questions. I could have written an essays about DMA Design eventually rolling in to Rockstar North and creating probably Scotlandā€™s largest effect on modern culture, Grand Theft Auto, and Scottish indie bands from the mid 80s of the Mary Chain, Primals and Pastels up to the heights of Chemikal Underground records and contributions to Post Rock until 2005ish, but did they ask about that? No, instead I get how many fucking islands are there šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/914 "2014-09-18T15:01:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Skara Brae is a neolithic (-ish) settlement on one of the Orkneys, IIRC. Yes, it is. Orkney is amazing for that sort of well-preserved thing, maybe because they didnā€™t have much choice other than to build with stone. The ongoing dig at [Ness of Brodgar](http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/oct/06/orkney-temple-centre-ancient-britain) is slowly uncovering something extraordinary. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/915 "2014-09-18T15:02:28Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > They asked me the wrong Scotland questions. I could have written an essays about DMA Design eventually rolling in to Rockstar North and creating probably Scotlandā€™s largest effect on modern culture, Grand Theft Auto, and Scottish indie bands from the mid 80s of the Mary Chain, Primals and Pastels up to the heights of Chemikal Underground records and contributions to Post Rock until 2005ish, but did they ask about that? No, instead I get how many fucking islands are there šŸ˜‰ Iā€™d be OK with your topics too. I didnā€™t know when the school year starts ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/916 "2014-09-18T15:06:12Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I donā€™t know that the marines at Gitmo would agree with you (or the people of the Panama Canal zone until the 1970s). This is a different case of course, and it probably wont happen here, butā€¦ Guantanamo is held on a permanent lease agreed with the govern net of Cuba IIRC in the nineteenth century. ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/917 "2014-09-18T15:07:30Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > I do live in Scotland. Thatā€™s why itā€™s embarrassing that I missed that question šŸ™‚ I was recognising that you live here! ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/918 "2014-09-18T15:08:50Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Thatā€™s the standard UK polling hours, and Thursday is the standard day. What does the US do? 8am to 9 pm for local elections. ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/919 "2014-09-18T15:12:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It hasnā€™t been the official animal for four centuries. > > Well, we _[did](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban%E2%80%93American_Treaty)_ have permission from Cuba. What do you mean by official animal. The Scotsman disagrees with you: [http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scottish-fact-of-the-week-scotland-s-official-animal-the-unicorn-1-2564399](http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scottish-fact-of-the-week-scotland-s-official-animal-the-unicorn-1-2564399) ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261/920 "2014-09-18T15:13:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I thought Vindolanda was in Canada! šŸ˜‰ Itā€™s the curry house at the end of the high street, they do a good lamb rogan josh. aaah beaten to the vindaloo gag by Amanset [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-scotland/697261.md?page=47)