How do you define "Scot"? If Scotland goes independent, and uses the same criteria for Scottish citizenship as the Irish do, then I'm a Scot. If you use the same criteria that most Scottish Americans use then half the bloody world is a Scot. If you use the criteria that Alex Salmond is using to determine who gets to vote (the only thing that matters is you currently live there) then I'm not.

This is interesting, although I can't really imagine Scotland going independent. I've always been proud that part of my ancestors are Scottish.

A quick answer: Independence!!!

We had a referendum in the 1970's, which confirmed that the majority of Scots were in favour, but they (who? the English govt, of course) moved the goalposts after the vote was in. (No chance, Jimmie. North Sea oil was too lucrative; they needed it to build missiles.)
Unfortunately, I expect a similar outcome this time. Don't call me cynical, but . . .

@Baldur: Fascinating. Which part? The important part or the other bits and bobs?

Lol. And I can really imagine Scotland going independent. But there will be blood, surely.

As a resident of Northern England, can you extend the border southwards please if you do decide on independence! My 32nd great grandfather was King Malcolm Canmore, if this helps...

@Oct: Is it true that if I am not in Scotland (resident??) at the time of the referendum, I am not eligible to vote . . . for the freedom of my own beloved country from the cruel, damnable, shameless oppressors of the past?
How many more goalposts do they (those above) have to shift to keep their grip on power?
I am a Scottish citizen, born, bred and educated in Edinburgh. Migrated to the Highlands because it is much more congenial, but that's beside the point.
I shall demand a vote, as should any other expat unable to go and stand in a midgie-infested booth or underheated schoolroom.
I demand the right to be chewed to death and/or frozen, or both.

My mother says we are descended from Scottish royalty :) I hope Scotland finally becomes independent

@Zmaj: The only blood will be on the Cabinet floor when they realise they've just lost one of their major assets - brains.

@T: Not Mary Queen of Scots, I hope. She came to a sticky end. Well, not necessarily sticky, but certainly headless.

Lol I'm pretty sure it was Mary Queen of Scots actually.

Considering that the most notable Scottish brains that have graced the cabinet floor in recent years have been attached to the bodies of Blair and Brown, that isn't a huge loss. Besides which, Scottish royalty is the royalty. The Scots dumped their lot on the English, not the other way round.

Octavious I'm fairly certain the English invaded and opresssed Scotland?

@Tyran: I'm dying to know - almost losing my head. Who's your guy in the saddle all that time ago?

@Oct: Now that's Scottish brains. Dump all the deadwood on you and get you lot to make them PMs :~)

Haha I'm not sure actually. It's just a family story that's been passed down. My mother would probably know the name.

@Tyran, I'm fairly certain that the Scottish Parliament voted away its independence anyway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Union_1707#Passage_of_Acts_of_1707

It's always felt ungrateful to me for them to break away now that they're not in any more danger, but I guess that's Diplomacy for ya.

As for what Octavious was talking about, after the Tudor dynasty died out with Elizabeth, the Scottish Stuarts took over the throne of England and ruled the countries in a personal union until 1707. Of course, now the royalty's German.

@Tyran: I'm interested, seriously. If you find out more, you can PM me, then we don't have to deal with all the -------- in the threads.

Ok timur. I'll ask her ASAP and let you know :) and I guess their allowed to voice their "opinions".

James VI of Scotland, James I of England. He put his name to your bloody bible.
Don't think he wrote it; some other guys made it up, but that's another story altogether.

*they're - Yes of course they are.

@Timur My mother's mother's fathers side "Barinson" and my mother's father's mother's side "Hunter" and then some more tid bits here and there.

Anybody heard of 'the Highland Clearances'? Wonder why we're pissed off?

Thx. I'll start on it, but I think you should PM, ie not post personal information on the communal noticeboard, for your own security.

In the same article that was posted above it mentioned multiple attempts to force union through military invasions that failed completely. And in my opinion the U.K. has a DEMOCRATICALLY elected parliament that the scots have a say in yes? Then they can vote for independence like any other group or ethnicity. Every ethnicity is entitled to their own land and a place to call home.

@ mertvaya

Look at the demographics. How many Scots; how many Welsh; how many Northern Irish; how many English?

@Tyron: Ever since the M Q of S debacle, we've only sent assholes down there to screw them up. They're apparently stupid enough to accept them. Now they've got an even greater dickhead of their very own. They're going down the tubes big time.