Pirate flags ....

[Easticks28]

Some who object may be 'Daily Wail' readers. If so, they've obviously missed this story

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...arine-launched-attack-Gaddafi-comes-home.html

Quite an old tradition I believe.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

Pirate flags make me uncomfortable

I know that they don't bother most people who regard them as just a bit of fun

do I need therapy?

I asked my wife and she said "Oo Arrr"

Dylan

IMHO in Britain harmless fun.

I think in Spain UK yachts flying Skull and Xbones can cause a bit of offence, which is understandable since we spent decades camped off their waters killing them and stealing their gold[1]. I think some French people take a similar view. Personally I respect these viewpoints.

In 200 years time will it I'm not convinced it will be ok to walk through Dresden in a comedy Bomber Pilot's outfit or the Ardennes in a comedy Nazi outfit.

But Skull and XBone in the UK? Harmless fun IMHO.


[1] Which they'd stolen from South Americans who'd they'd killed.

 

[mcframe]

A major difference between the two is that no one now flies the skull and cross bone to invoke fear, whereas some vile people do still display the swastika for that purpose.

I sometimes fly a jolly roger, *under* the same port crosstrees hoist that I fly (not wear ;-) my Scots Ensign.

I'd dip 'em both if I met a sub on the way back to Faslane flying the JR....

 

[landlockedpirate]

Its not just a flag, its a way of life

Taken at the Fowey Regatta 5 or 6 years ago. Seriously how can this flag be seen as anything but a bit of fun ? The whole town was pirate themed that year.


Modern pirates don't fly it and I've never seen Captain Jack or the Black Pearl anywhere round the Solent


Lifes too short, now if we were talking about a blue ensign, that would be different

 

[cgull]

Its not just a flag, its a way of life

Taken at the Fowey Regatta 5 or 6 years ago. Seriously how can this flag be seen as anything but a bit of fun ? The whole town was pirate themed that year.


Modern pirates don't fly it and I've never seen Captain Jack or the Black Pearl anywhere round the Solent


Lifes too short, now if we were talking about a blue ensign, that would be different

I would only fly the Pirate Flag on September 19th, which is official Pirate Day!

 

[Me_has_a_Boat]

perhaps one day it will be regarded as a bit of a laugh to fly a swastika or dress in nazi uniforms....

Hic

 

[Ariadne]

Aaaggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

No different to Flying the Stars 'n Stripes or the Union Flag in certain parts of the globe today, some of the locals see them as Pirate flags (maybe with good reason?) and have been known to shoot at them, etc. So a bit of harmless fun for me and the kids, when we fly ours in the Med and the Carrib'.

So can we get back to a serious discussion about defaced ensigns and various national flags flown now?

 

[robertj]

I agree with all those who say it is just a bit of harmless fun

and I do not feel at all threatened by pirate flags

mainly because I sail in a place where I am seldom threatened by pirates

However.....

I think that time has helped to dull the power of the image

to paraphrase.... "I cannot believe any religious groups would be offended if they saw my young son rowing about the marina in his pram dinghy sporting the swastika and wearing a well cut hugo Boss designed uniform ......the only people to get offended will be those who WANT to get offended......you know the types, generally grumpy white middle-class PC minded jobsworths!

perhaps one day it will be regarded as a bit of a laugh to fly a swastika or dress in nazi uniforms.... perhaps one day forumula one bosses and leading members of the royal family will think it is fine to wear them.

I am now going out to the garden for some puppy therapy and then I am going to take the dog for a bike ride


the reason for so many posts from me recently is that the power supply unit on the editing computer has gone pop and I am waiting for the replacement unit to arrive

oh yes.... and it is too wet to mess with the boat in the garden

although it is brightening up now

D

as a dog fan Dylan is it possible to have a number of films/blogs about training your dog to ride a bike. I never mastered it with mine, i just put it down to poor trainer.

 

[robertj]

Did Pirates really fly the skull and cross bones? If so I am going to get a sign made for my car saying "Speeder"

oh so you have been boarded by the 'police' pirates too?

 

[AndrewB]

When we arrived at Bundaberg, Australia, as part of the Port2Port rally last November, one of the social events was a "Pirate Evening". Some of us thought this in rather bad taste. However, the best bit was that the winner of the "Best Dressed Pirate" was, in fact ... a pirate!

The following morning he and crew were arrested in a major bust, and charged with smuggling $A78m worth of cocaine into Australia. A possible clue was not the skull and crossbones but the small Columbian flag flying on their yacht.

 

[Mariner69]

Should it be a white, blue or red pirate flag?

 

[TamarMike]

Skull & Crossbones or Swastika?

I'm still undecided as to which of the above the Salcombe Harbourmasters boats should fly

 

[oldseahorse]

I would only fly the Pirate Flag on September 19th, which is official Pirate Day!

Hmm... as far as Hastings is concerned their oficial 'Pirate Day' this year is Sunday 22nd July - http://hastingspirateday.org.uk/

 

[NUTMEG]

 

[lustyd]

Witch flag goes up when missus aboard.. or should that be cocktail glass...

Which flag do witches fly?

 

[oldseahorse]

Hmm...I take it wiches sail Broom's? Oh, and just how does,say, a Broom 525 compare against the Nimbus 2000?

 

[Capt Popeye]

is not that ? a broomstick ??

anyway, correct me if i'm wrong, but was not Drake a pirate, at times??

suppose he flew either an Ensign of Union Jack ??

 

[Woodlouse]

I don't think the union jack existed before the union. I suspect drake flew a red ensign with a st George's cross in the canton.

To call him a pirate is a bit harsh though. Remember we did win which makes him a gallant British hero.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I don't think the union jack existed before the union. I suspect drake flew a red ensign with a st George's cross in the canton.

..the following came about in 1606 when James I (James VI of Scotland) came to the throne.. so way after Drake, but before the Act of Union (1707) bought in Ireland....

To call him a pirate is a bit harsh though. Remember we did win which makes him a gallant British hero.

 

[Iliade]

Jolly Roger

This http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HMS_Conqueror_(S48).jpg is why a jolly roger will never grace my boat(s) until I *have* sunk an 'enemy of the state.'

Perhaps a lot of the glamourisation of old-time pirates had to do with many of them being privateers operating for the Crown under letters of marque, and not being simple honest robbers and murderers.