"No Skirts Here"

**BronxKilt** · 16th March 07, 04:50 AM

I was watching the morning news on a local New York City channel when I heard the skirl of bagpipes. I looked up to see some rather nice step dancing, and an appalling headline. "Men in Skirts?". While all my friends were laughing I got a bit upset. Not horribly, but a bit upset.

When I called the station to clarify the situation, Kilts not skirts, I was treated quite dismissively by the rep I finally got on the phone. I was told "Allrighty Guy, allrighty....yeah we'll get on that"

I am less upset at the skirt comment (although it is not how my kilted brethren should be identified) but more upset at the way the station handled the situation.

I don’t really need to push the issue too far, but I do want to talk to the guys supervisor; if nothing else to let him know that being a telephone tough-guy is not always the best thing, even before eight in the morning.

Thoughts?

Kilted in the Bronx

**auld argonian** · 16th March 07, 05:10 AM

I probably sound like a broken record but if it was an article of dress that was significant to some other ethnic group and they made light of it they'd be in deep doo-doo, wouldn't they? Chicago being as diverse as it is, I see a whole lot of men who dress completely or partially in ethnic clothing...lots of African stuff, Middle Eastern stuff...if the TV people made some snide comment about those garments, they'd have a major brouhaha to deal with...yet they feel they can make the "skirt" comment anytime they want and it's "cute".

Do what others before you have done: post their email adress here and the Kilted Brethren will beseige their in-box with emails explaining why the kilt is not a skirt. It's just a lack of cultural sensitivity.

Best

AA

**Jerry** · 16th March 07, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by BronxKilt

I was watching the morning news on a local New York City channel when I heard the skirl of bagpipes. I looked up to see some rather nice step dancing, and an appalling headline. "Men in Skirts?". While all my friends were laughing I got a bit upset. Not horribly, but a bit upset.

When I called the station to clarify the situation, Kilts not skirts, I was treated quite dismissively by the rep I finally got on the phone. I was told "Allrighty Guy, allrighty....yeah we'll get on that"

I am less upset at the skirt comment (although it is not how my kilted brethren should be identified) but more upset at the way the station handled the situation.

I don’t really need to push the issue too far, but I do want to talk to the guys supervisor; if nothing else to let him know that being a telephone tough-guy is not always the best thing, even before eight in the morning.

Thoughts?

Kilted in the Bronx

I used to work as a broadcast engineer in a local TV station here in Virginia. I can't say for sure how it is in New York, but at the station where I worked, the receptionist didn't come in until 9 AM. Before 8 AM, the person you would get when you called would be me, the engineer working the graveyard shift. While I would have handled your call a bit differently, I or the engineer at your station would have no control over programing content. That is what I would have told you and recommended that you contact the station program director, by sending a letter to him in care of the station. One other thing we told people, and though they thought we were being rude, we weren't. We simply told them don't watch the program if you don't like the content. TV programing is totally dependent on ratings and if ratings go down, enough people don't watch, the ratings go down and the program goes away. One other thing, you wouldn't believe some of the names I've been called by little old ladies when The Lawrence Welk show was preempted by a football game. It would make a marine drill instructor blush.

**IEScotsman** · 16th March 07, 06:46 AM

The bottom line is that one guy will usually not get a broadcaster to change their programming or force an apology. Remember, programming at any station (local, national, tv, radio, etc.) costs thousands to millions of dollars.

**cavscout** · 16th March 07, 07:00 AM

My feeling is to let this one pass with a short, courteous email to the station to satisfy any need you may feel to address it. But truthfully, they have very little to loose by making a "skirt" joke one day out of the year especially when St. Patrick's Day to the majority of America is an excuse to drink heavily. To create a ruckus over this will only give an impression to everyone at the station you talk to that your just another hyper-sensitive fanatic to be ingnored. You'll have better results talking politely to your co-workers if they ask you questions. Don't start a crusade in the office to keep everyone from calling a kilt a skirt. It won't further your view.

Not meaning to drop a hammer on your feelings, just hope to save you some grief.

**Juggalotus** · 16th March 07, 07:08 AM

The problem is that if they did a special on Arab men and called it "Men in towel hats?" or "Women who cover their faces in rags?" they'd get a fit that you'd never hear the end of. And I hate all the whiny little groups as much as the next guy, but why is it ok to laugh at kilts and call them skirts?

**cavscout** · 16th March 07, 07:13 AM

I agree with you 100%, but those demographics have organizations whose only purpose is to deal with these issues for them. They have a large budget to pay these people to make a stink. They convince the public and anyone who will listen that there is some prejudice against there clients and do it on a grand scale. If we had a NAAKP (National Association for the Advancement of Kilted People) I'd join and support it. But this is not a "hill to dye on" over one day. Tomorrow, they won't remember it and no one else will either until next St. Patrick's Day when they pop the top on a green beer.

**BronxKilt** · 16th March 07, 07:30 AM

Wise words indeed from all of you. Thank you for your input.

I am less upset by my co-workers, they have seen me in a kilt for a year now (almost to the day) and we have an easy back and forth, they accept it as a quirk, but something that I do. I work as a public school teacher in the Bronx so believe me I have heard it all.

I will write a quick e-mail to the station, and deal with it as an unfortunate joke that is seen as acceptable. I still have issues with "Paddy Wagon" but that is a fight for some other day.

Thank you all for your input; I am calmer now realizing, as was pointed out, that I spoke to somebody of little consequence given the time and there will be little done to rectify the issue.

Again, thank you all for your support and wisdom. I encourage you all to have a happy and SAFE St. Patrick's day.

Kilted in the Bronx.