Why Do Some Take Such Offense...

[Bugbear]

... What concerns me is what I see as a watering down of the Scottish kilt by those who say that they are wearing the kilt.And as a person who grew up with Scottish family members around me,as a man who sees the wearing of my kilt on certain occasions as a continuance of family customs that we still hold dear,I openly admitt that if only scots wore the kilt then we would not even be having this discussion.In Scotland,to the Scots,the kilt is the kilt,is THE KILT.

No Scot that I know would feel that calling the kilt what it is, is purely a matter of semantics,or word play.The kilt means ethnic identity,with strong national and historical meaning.To smile and say thank you when someone remarks 'nice skirt' is to allow yourself to assist in peoples ignorance of it.To wear things that are not Scottish in a non Scottish manner and still call it a kilt is,to me,like borrowing something without asking,and mis using it.

I do think this forum is a great thing in many ways,but the more I see the more I wonder why it's called Xmarks the Scot,a forum for kilt wearers.So many on it are quite ignorant,or uncaring,about what lies behind the wearing of the Scottish kilt.I often feel it would be more accurately called some name not involving Scotland,as a forum for men of all sorts who happen to enjoy wearing alternatives to trousers or shorts.

I respect that you wish non-traditional kilts to be called by another term, not including "kilt," on this forum. I'm not going to, though. It has been discouraged for as long as I have been a member, and I am reasonably familiar with the history of this forum prier to my joining.