When I read through many of the threads here on XMTS, especially in the General forum, I can't help but wonder about the motivation behind these posts. Without granting legitimacy to one over another, it seems to me that in many ways we are a support group for something that is commonly scorned or ridiculed in public. Without a doubt, when we walk around kilted, we get noticed. HOW we get noticed however seems to vary, as do the responses to this attention. Many of us respond with surprise and others with some measure of anger when the bifurcated among us fail to respect something we value highly. It's only natural to do so.

I wonder then, if we were to be perfectly honest with ourselves, and I do mean: as unbiased in judgment as might be expected from a sane individual, would we find within ourselves a desire that far transcends mere approval and acceptance, but reaches for the bar of laud and praise? (Again, not that these qualities are necessarily shameful, but nowadays they often are seen as such).

This came to my mind tonight as I made my way to the local, for to enjoy numerous pints of Guinness and Kilkenny with my friends and co-workers (which undoubtedly inspired this post at least in part). When I first ventured out in my kilt many months ago, it was a big deal. Comments were made, discussions ensued, and later on, at least once or twice during the course of the evening the topic would arise. On the other hand, now, there could be nothing more mundane and to bring up my kilt would be no more (or less) apt than bringing up my friend's ski jacket. It made me ask myself, "Do I miss being the centre of attention? Maybe just a little?" Ergo, I pose the question to the rabble. What would be your wish in a perfect world?

Simply stated, in a perfect world, would your wish be for complete and utter acceptance of kilt wearing, to the point where it would be equally acceptable (and commonplace) to see a man in blue jeans as in a kilt? Or would a perfect world entail a sense of awe or fascination? Would you be acknowledged for wearing a kilt? Put even more primitively, would you rather be noticed or ignored?

Please excuse my indulgence, but tonight's consumption of ale notwithstanding, I'm still dreadfully curious as to how the rabble envisions their own utopias.