Why Do Some Take Such Offense...

[artificer]

My usual reply to "Nice skirt" is (at the top of my lungs) "Thanks, but I'm only interested in women".

It's usually enough to make the offender (always a man) blush and feel a bit of an a$$ around his other friends (as this type of person is the sort who would never make such a comment without an audience/peer group to back them up.)

[Peter Crowe]

A kilt is a type of skirt. Therefore I am not going to be offended if someone refers to my kilt as a skirt.

I beg to differ sir, (and by the way like your good self I used to live in the Hawick area - Teviotdale Lodge Hotel 1983-91, and Hawick High Street 1991-99, although I am from Uddingston near Glasgow originally).

A Kilt is a Kilt is a Kilt! It is not a skirt! It is constructed to fit the male body type at the hips etc. When someone calls a Kilt a skirt they are either ignorant or they are being deliberately insulting and implying that I by wearing the kilt am effeminate. I am not a male chauvinist or a misogynist (not a pal of Johnny Rudkin for sure) but I feel a certain manly pride when wearing the Kilt.

If someone genuinely doesn't know I'll gently explain it to them. However, if someone thinks they are taking the pi*s, I'll pay them back in their own coin (with interest).

[xman]

I had a lady compliment my "skirt" the other day. I just said, "thank-you", because I could see it came from an honest place and I simply didn't have the chance to correct her. Being the stickler for detail I certainly do correct people and appreciate being corrected.

Another time a friend asked me if she thought a certain jacket was too masculine for her daughter. I told her I didn't think so but also pointed out that she was asking the guy in a skirt for such advise.

There are times when it's okay. Like being black and using the 'n' word.

[The Volusianator]

like being black and using the 'n' word.

lol

[flyrod6057]

For what it's worth...there IS a difference between a skirt and a kilt. While they are very similar in construction (technically, they're made the same way) there are significant differences.

A skirt is a woman's garment. It's made for a woman's shape. Skirts flare at the bottom and are often pleated all the way around. They range in length from ankle length to awesomely short. The kilt is a lot more precise. When speaking of a traditional Scottish kilt, they are:

-pleated only on back
-have an unpleated apron in front
-do not flare, but drop straight down from the hips
-are knee length
-are made from wool tartan
-are worn by men

There are more 'modern' interpretations of the kilt that take some liberties with the construction of a traditional kilt, but they are essentially similar in construction and wear. Calling a kilt a skirt is no more accurate than calling a skirt a dress, or calling sandals shoes.

Having said all that, I just had a conversation with a local kiltmaker where I referred to my kilt as a skirt in a humorous tone. It made sense in context... (Not that a kiltmaker needs educating as to the differences between a kilt and a skirt...)

In my experience, guys usually just stare. Comments usually come from friends or recent "pub acquaintances." Girls, however, almost always like a kilted man. That's reason enough to put up with any potential ribbing. Some lassies will even pose "the question" which inevitably leads to an interesting exchange. And when all else fails, I simply remind anyone who cares to inquire: "The kilt is a warrior's garment!"

[xman]

When speaking of a traditional Scottish kilt, they are:
...
-are worn by men

Or female pipers/drummers/athletes ... that bit is a little incorrect.

Calling a kilt a skirt is no more accurate than calling a skirt a dress, or calling sandals shoes.

I think it's more accurate to say a kilt is a skirt in the same way that capris are pants. If you look for a dictionary definition of a kilt I'm pretty sure you'll always run into it described as a type of skirt.

[CDNSushi]

I've seen this topic flare up numerous times in the past.. "Yes, it's a skirt." "No it's not!" And from my own recollection, I don't think we've ever reached any kind of consensus.

I don't wish to put down the OP's original question or reason to post the thread; people will call kilts different things based on their upbringing, experience with Highland dress, even their command of the English language (or lack thereof) and many members realize and understand that. There are also those XMTS members who feel that people should make an effort to use the correct terms, or be willing to be educated if they don't know them.

In the end, WHO CARES whether A definition, or YOUR definition, or the DICTIONARY'S definition, or ANOTHER MEMBER'S definition refers to what you wear as a skirt or not? I've seen heated arguments where people pound each other with definitions they've pulled from various dictionaries, and it can get ridiculous. "Merriam-Webster say THIS..." "Yeah, well... Oxford says THIS...." "Yeah, but they didn't before the 1921 edition." "But you didn't read definition 6." Etc. All dictionaries were made by PEOPLE. People like you & me, each of whom has their own outlook on life. There is very little apart from widespread public acceptance that makes a dictionary's definition superior to mine (or anyone else's) when you really think about it.

As for the issue at hand, I would simply just say, that it's always best to tackle remarks, compliments, and criticisms on our choice of clothes on an case-by-case basis. Most of us probably already do this anyway. To answer the OP's question very directly, some people may get an earful from an offended party because the "offendee" felt that the person was being a jerk and that they deserved it. That is why some "take such offense." We don't like to be put down or slighted, and when we are, you can see that some respond quickly and more explicitly than others, and that's just the nature of it all.

[Downunder Kilt]

Exactly CDNSushi

[Taygrd]

If you wear because you like the way it looks, that in garners you attention, or you are trying to make some modern statement - then it is a skirt. If you wear it because your ancestors fought, bled, and sometimes died in it and for it - it is a kilt.

[The Volusianator]

I've seen this topic flare up numerous times in the past.. "Yes, it's a skirt." "No it's not!"

Actually, that's not the topic, the topis is "why do so many take offense to it being called a skirt", not is it or not.