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

[Jock Scot]

I think David has an excellent point here, though I'd add that the genealogy buffing often extends to visiting Scotland, joining Clan Associations. It is a process of re-connecting to a heritage lost. There are all levels of proficiency in that effort, as is to be expected. I think Americans would like to feel more welcomed (and guided) in these tentative attempts at reconnecting, and are puzzled when their efforts are rebuffed or made fun of.

Jock, I've heard you say that Highlanders have a special relation to the kilt (or something like that). Could you expound on this a bit more perhaps? Why do you think they are protective of that and discouraging of those with ancestral connections but no longer living in Scotland?

After all, the MacBean Chief (James McBain) lives in Arizona. The Clan Chattan Chief lives in Zimbabwe (or similar place). The MacKintosh of MacKintosh lives in Singapore. Should they not dress the part on occasion either?

Alright this is a personal view and I do think that you chaps firstly do not need to over-react with the undoubtedly true stories and views posted here on this thread and secondly, I think many Scots and certainly those from outwith Scotland forget or are unaware that the kilt is not Scottish attire, it is first and foremost HIGHLAND SCOTS ATTIRE. Until very recently---say the last 30/40 years the kilt was loudly and scathingly ridiculed by the lowland Scots. Now I really do not want to get into a Highland/Lowland Scot argument, but their histories, loyalties, thought characteristics, particularly in attitude, are noticeably different.

Generally speaking the lowland Scot is not backwards at coming forward when voicing an opinion on anything. And the Highlanders are never ceased to be amazed just how "expert" the lowlanders have become on kilt matters in such a short space of time! Again generally speaking, the lowland Scot has a considerably "shorter fuse" than a Highlander.

The Highlander, is rather less "in your face", and generally has "a far longer fuse" but woe betide any one who riles either variety! The Highlander keeps his council and will keep his opinions very much to himself and is very much a "gentleman" to strangers.I think on the whole a Highlander will view a visiting kilt wearer with silent and gentle respect and not a little lack of understanding, tinged with a touch of gentle amusement.

What the Scots in general, I think, find difficult to understand is this need for non Scots to delve into roots, clan histories, Scottish history, kilt attire in the minute detail that some/many of the non Scots seem to need to do and it is quite true that there are many on this website that know far more detail on "things Scottish" than we do. However I do know for a fact that a two hour lecture containing rather tenuous and dubious facts of a person's ancestry to justify the ten tartans that "he" is "entitled" to wear, but who is plainly not Scottish is oh so boring to me and I think most Scots. Sorry, but it happens time and time again.

Its not surprising really, the Scots are living it, one way or another, every day, 24 hours a day and being surrounded in tartan,whisky, dubious tourist historical facts, endless coaches, cameras pointing in all directions they end up with a distinctly jaundiced view of it all.

Does that help our(Scots) general understanding of what a visitor is requiring? No, sadly, it does not. Is it a personal thing that the Scots have against visitors? No absolutely not!

On the other hand, the potential visitor has read the tourist hype, seen the kilted pictures, learned the potted history of their roots, assumed that those awful MacIan pictures are fact, so the end result is that our starry eyed visitor leaps off the plane full of enthusiasm only to be met with Scotsmen and women who are getting on with living and rarely even think about kilts etc----------except on special occasions.

I hope this helps. I am away for a few days, so bare with me if I don't reply.