The Scottish People Twitter subreddit has been around since 2015 documenting all of the most hilarious moments Scots have tweeted about and interactions they’ve had online. The community has amassed an impressive 842k members, especially considering that Scotland is a nation of only 5.5 million people, and it’s now a cherished corner of the internet for anyone who loves celebrating all things Scottish. While you might not understand all of the lingo used in these tweets if you’re not from the land of kilts and Scotch, have no fear, I’m sure you’ll understand the meanings through context. In fact, you might even pick up a bit of Scottish slang yourself (although, we did need to censor some of it).

If you’ve never had the opportunity to set foot in Scotland yourself and you don’t happen to have any friends from there, you might be curious what Scots are actually like. So to learn a bit about Scottish culture and what these people, we consulted the blog of “traveling Scotsman and perpetual adventurer” Neil Robertson, Travels With a Kilt. Neil did a “study of the Scots” where he explained some of the common quirks and personality traits of his fellow countryman. Neil first notes that Scots have “embraced the modern world” and are quite liberal when it comes to immigration, gender equality and education. “As societies go, Scotland does a good job of offering somewhere safe, fair and happy to live. This stuff’s critically important to us,” he writes.

Neil went on to explain how the Scottish psyche tends to function, noting that, “First, there’s the issue of modesty. We like acknowledgement of our gallant efforts at being a good Scot sure (pat on the head), but are usually uncomfortable with direct praise. We can’t exit the conversation fast enough if that materializes. Gruff, monosyllabic small talk and desperate references to the weather or the Cowdenbeath football score can be expected instead.”

Next, Neil addresses the stereotype that Scots are “tight-fisted”, or stingy. “I’d unsurprisingly disagree, although there’s no denying our cautious and calculating tendencies,” he noted. “We’re also loyal, considerate and generous when it’s called for. Especially when drinking and allowing ourselves the rarest of unguarded moments when we may permit those deeply buried emotions to burrow just ever so slightly upwards towards daylight. Is it any wonder that alcohol is so prominent in our lives?”

And according to Neil, Scots are full of contradictions. “There's no question that we fight ferociously to control and hide our emotions, they can spectacularly spill out in certain circumstances,” he writes. “Extreme ethical and moral eruptions such as a woman mistreated, an innocent exploited or an unfinished pint spilled and your average Scottish bar is likely to turn into a grotesque arena of out-of-shape gladiators suddenly obligated by Scots Law to unleash their inner Braveheart.”

But when it comes to how Scots treat others, well, there’s a good reason they have a reputation for being so friendly. “We genuinely have a lot of time for people from the wider world. We like tourists, it’s not an act,” Neil explains. “I would put it out there with relative confidence that Scots prefer non-Scots to themselves, most of the time. You guys are the undoubted beneficiaries of our best behavior – did you really think Glasgow taxi drivers were always that friendly? Perhaps it’s the excitement of something new and unfamiliar, perhaps it’s that under-the-surface desire to be liked and loved. With that heavy burden of Scottishness around our necks, we unburden by presenting the best of us to others, secretly (and insecurely) hoping for approval and admiration at the same time.”

If you’re intrigued by the Scottish sense of humor after reading these tweets, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of hilarious comedy shows featuring that trademark Scottish humor the world loves. And lucky for us, The Head Scratcher published a list detailing some of the very best ones, so we’ve got some recommendations for you, pandas. One of the most highly regarded comedy shows to ever air in Scotland was Chewin’ the Fat. The Head Scratcher team describes it as “the quintessential sketch show” and notes that most of the jokes translate to non-Scots just fine, so if you’re in the mood for a good laugh, be sure to check it out. 

As far as Scottish sitcoms go, Still Game is arguably the most popular of all time. “It's a witty, hilarious and unforgettable pastiche of Scottish life and most Scots will know more than a few real people not too dissimilar to those portrayed in the show,” the team at The Head Scratcher writes. “The writing is impeccable and remarkably there's not a single dud episode in the whole of the first 6 seasons.”

Another quirky yet hilarious Scottish show that I’ve actually watched several times myself is Limmy’s Show. It’s described as “bizarre, confusing, deranged, thoughtful and downright hilarious,” and I couldn’t agree more. I would recommend watching with subtitles if you’re not used to the Scottish accent, but the absurd comedy sketches featured are always genius. 

If you don’t know much about Scotland aside from the stereotypes that we’ve all heard before, you might be wondering which ones, if any, are actually true. So Sara Jayasuriya, a Glasgow local, wrote a piece for her blog Hey Explorer breaking down how much truth is behind some common Scottish stereotypes. One that she mentions is that there are redheads everywhere, which actually does have some truth to it. She notes that, despite redheads making up only 2% of the world’s population, they do account for 13% of Scotland. So they’re not the dominant color, but you’re definitely likely to see more of them there than many other countries! 

Another stereotype you might assume about Scotland is that Scots eat haggis all the time. Haggis, a savory pudding made of oatmeal, spices and sheep organs, is the country’s national dish, but Sara explains that it’s usually not eaten more than once a week. In fact, about 40% of Scots don’t even like it!

And if you’d expect to see men wearing kilts everywhere you go when visiting Scotland, you might be disappointed. “Kilts are still a special part of Scottish heritage, but they’re actually not worn frequently anymore,” Sara explains. “They’re typically reserved for special occasions like weddings, ceilidhs (traditional dancing parties), and sometimes football games for a show of patriotism.”

We hope you’re enjoying this celebration of Scottish humor, pandas. Whether you’re ready to go searching for the Loch Ness Monster or not, it’s nice to know you can always channel your inner Scot on Reddit or Twitter to appreciate the nation’s incredible sense of humor. Keep upvoting the pics that give you a craving for haggis, and let us know in the comments below what your favorite thing about the beautiful nation of Scotland is. Then, if you’re interested in laughing at even more hilarious tweets from Scots, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s last article on the same topic right here!