Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the Kilt isn't 'just clothes'.

[English Bloke]

Sometimes I wonder, is it worth the hassle?...

I received an interesting comment today. I was in deepest Englandshire (in Yorkshire to be precise) and was dressed in a 16oz 8 yard hand sewn in a casual styleee.

As I pottered about with my family, I was approached by a kilting expert who informed me that I was NOT ALLOWED to wear a kilt unless I was Scottish. He also told me that he was Scottish and therefore knew this for a fact. Whereas I was English and didn't. I was also told that being English I'd probably be wearing underpants... True Scotsmen never wear underpants (apparently...) An Englishman would always wear pants though, because he is less manly than a... err... true Scotsman.

I'd have been interested to know how he knew I was English immediately. Perhaps my internet persona and picture catalogue precedes me. Perhaps it was an assumption based on geography, perhaps it was because I wasn't wearing the Kilt with a hired PC jacket, white hose and a nice rabbit 'dress sporran' on a bog chain.

Unfortunately he hurried away before I had the opportunity to engage in debate and I found it difficult to get my points across over the torrent of abuse he was hurling over his shoulder, although to be fair I did raise my voice ever-so slightly to enable him to hear better.

Couple of things...

I would have liked to have explored his definition of Scottish. I'd also have been interested to know the statutes upon which he based his assertion 'Not Allowed'. I've also never been able to get my head around this obsession with undercrackers, especially when coming from another Bloke and I would have liked him to elaborate on why he was so threatened by me that he felt the need to verbally attack me in front of my 4 year old daughter... Over a Kilt! I was actually quite disappointed when he scuttled away. I really would have liked to extend the conversation to a whole new level.

I was also quite disappointed as I didn't even get the chance to compliment him on the nice trousers he was wearing.

I suspect (although I possibly generalise) he'd be another weddings and hogmanay only kilt wearer who doesn't want anyone but a qualified scot to wear the kilt, yet with the same breath will be moaning that home-grown kilt makers are under threat. Failing to see the irony of "If you don't use 'em, you'll lose 'em". I wonder what he'd be saying in a decade's time if he went to buy a Kilt and all that was available we're £400+ imported PV's of the same poor quality that 10 years before were retailing on the Royal Mile for just £40. And all those wonderful British Woolen Mills and Scottish Kiltmakers were a distant memory. Put out of business by a lack of local demand.

Not that I should care... After all I'm English, why should it worry me??...

I'm seriously tempted to put my Kilts away. I can't really be bothered with fending off this kind of dullard bigotry!!

[Cowher]

If you packed up your kilts you would be telling that J@(k@$$ he is correct in his backwards thinking. People years ago told me my flat caps were stupid looking. Now every goober in Boston who wants to be Irish is wearing one.

[MacMillans son]

I'm sorry to hear that John. Too bad your daughter was with you, for a couple of reasons. One that she had to hear his baloney, but secondly a thorough *** whipping may have done him some good. While laying on the ground he could have determined for himself the answer to the "The question"

Don't let 'em get ya down friend. As you're known to say "Chin up mate" !

Best regards,
Brooke

[Kirika]

If you packed up your kilts you would be telling that J@(k@$$ he is correct in his backwards thinking. People years ago told me my flat caps were stupid looking. Now every goober in Boston who wants to be Irish is wearing one.

Amen! As a younger guy who paints his nails, carries a purse and wears large (women's) sunglasses, I occasionally get flack from random people who don't really know me (mainly from religious folks it seems, not to start anything ). However, I quickly realized that I live for myself, and no one else. I don't dress a certain way to fit in, or to please others, I do it because I like it, and it makes me happy. I'm sorry this guy's existence is sad enough that he felt it was necessary to harass you about being kilted. I've yet to receive any particularly negative comments while wearing my X-Kilt, but I'm sure they're bound to happen soon enough. ;P

Stay strong, and stay kilted
~~ Kirika

[Father Bill]

Shall I place a curse on him?

[Spartan Tartan]

Don't let some jerk decide for you!!! Just remember why you wear you kilt, because it looks nice and feels great.

[Bugbear]

Post deleted; best to stay out of it...

[Failed God]

Don't let him get you down man. Wear what you want for your own personal reasons.

[Brian K]

Shall I place a curse on him?

I'm thinking an exorcism might be in order, Bill.

Or an opportunity for confession and absolution. Of course a heavy duty penance would be in order - like wearing a kilt with underwear

Seriously, though, I am not yet kilted but you run into idiots like this on a nearly daily basis no matter what you do. For example, I have cultivated an old-fashioned handlebar mustache over the last few months and 99% of the comments I hear are positive. Almost every day, however, I have at least one person who says something like "What the hell is that?" or "Why would you grow something like THAT?" or simply "Cut it off!" I generally just laugh it off because it's not worth it to let 1% of the population ruin your day.

We should all hand out as many compliments as we can - everyone needs an ego boost now and again - but, unless something is actually harming you or someone else, keep your criticisms to yourself. This is how most people act. This fellow, however, obviously has serious issues of some sort if he would do something as rude as upbraiding a man in front of his young daughter (over something as inconsequential as clothing, too!) and then be coward enough to beat feet before he could be accosted. Feel sorry for him. Whatever personal hell he's living in is some place you don't want to go.

Chin up, John, the man's a boob, and a rude one to boot, and not worth consideration!

Regards,

Brian

[Derek]

Matts last post jogged my memory about something that happened a few years ago in London. The wife and myself might have met up with Hamish that day I cant remember, but I walked into a Scottish tourist board office to quickly pick a few leaflets up while the wife and Ham waited outside. I was the only person in the place. As soon as I entered the three girls working there, they be about 30 ish looked in total amazment and burst into giggles. The one girl couldnt control her smirks and went off to an inner office. The girls remaining tried to get themslves together a bit and asked if they could help me. I said I was fine and so was the kilt. I dont think they had seen a kilt before. It made me day.
Iechyd Da
Derek