I think a very pertinent point was touched upon-the chaps own confidence in his sexuality.

I have noticed over many years of kilt wearing that those who feel most threatened are the chaps who have issues latent or otherwise with their own sexuality: and so are the ones most likely to react in an apparently offensive, but really defensive manner. They are trying to demonstrate their own possibly spurious manhood.

Another example of this being the chaps who get very concerned about their kilt being called a skirt [ignore here the defence of this board], the man sure of his sexuality just thinks it a joke. However the one not so sure of his masculinity, will tend to go very much on the defensive and insist that what he is wearing is not a skirt, but a kilt.

However there is one other area, and that is the chap who is trying to make a light joke with no ill-will: but is clumsy with words, and so without intending to do so, is in fact offensive.

In all cases the best response is not to worry, and pass it all off with a joke. remembering too that we are a minority, so will attract jokes-good jokes, bad jokes-it comes with the territory.

To end on a light note-many years ago a very highland piper was trying to teach us a reel-and to get the men and women into position said 'The ones in the long skirts to the left and in short skirts to the right'. That was on a serious clan occasion, with both our chief to be and his sister in the party-and everyone thought it funny.

James