They Should Wear Kilts

**mookien** · 9th June 13, 08:21 AM

Technically, I suppose, this should be in the "Kilts Not in the Media" Forum, but we don't have one.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/06...est=latestnews

**CDNSushi** · 9th June 13, 09:08 AM

Rule #9
– This forum is not the place for the discussion of cross-dressing.

**mookien** · 9th June 13, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Rule #9
– This forum is not the place for the discussion of cross-dressing.

Of course. But, the post and the article are NOT about cross dressing. They're about guys protesting their inability to stay cool in hot weather, because their employer won't allow them to wear shorts. Thus the title, "They should wear kilts". They may have been able to do that without protest.

**thecompaqguy** · 9th June 13, 11:44 AM

Was afraid to comment on this having seen the reaction to OP's post, but in one of the news articles in the Daily Mail, someone commenting suggested they should wear kilts instead of the skirts, but it's one of the company's silly rules that it's either trousers or skirts. An Arriva Tartan would be good, but I can't see it happening. Where I live, the same company run the buses, but I rarely see the drivers wearing their proper uniform (sometimes they are wearing baseball caps, smh)... After all, a kilt is a skirt, but there were no kilts in their uniform choice

**mookien** · 9th June 13, 12:01 PM

I agree. A kilt is a type of skirt. Thus, it logically falls under the company's stated policy. According to the article (partial article, I guess) on Fox, a company spokesman "didn't rule out a change of the company's uniform policy". Maybe a revised policy will specifically allow kilts and we'll see kilted conductors on Swedish commuter lines. That would be a hoot, but I'm not holding my breath.

**cessna152towser** · 9th June 13, 12:51 PM

A kilt would certainly be more mainstream.
By sheer coincidence I have been at my local railway heritage centre today where I am training for driver and guard duties and faced with the same dilemma, too warm for trousers while shorts seemed inappropriate for a duty which involves interfacing with the public, and I have been wearing a nontrad black denim kilt which hems just at the bottom of the knee, while operating the train doors and later in the afternoon driving the train.

**mookien** · 9th June 13, 01:05 PM

Alex: Good for you! I'd love to see some snaps of that. No complaints from management?

On a related question: Is it possible that train managers might construe any kilts/skirts as more dangerous than trousers/shorts for both sexes simply because there is more loose material to get caught in doors, moving parts, etc.? As you can probably tell, I know nothing about trains.

John

**cessna152towser** · 9th June 13, 01:53 PM

No complaints here from the trainers or managers. Indeed one of the instructors said he was thinking of buying a kilt as he is a quarter Scottish.
Kilt would be impractical for some track level jobs such as train repairs but should be safe for driver and conductor-guard duties.

**thecompaqguy** · 9th June 13, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by cessna152towser

No complaints here from the trainers or managers. Indeed one of the instructors said he was thinking of buying a kilt as he is a quarter Scottish.
Kilt would be impractical for some track level jobs such as train repairs but should be safe for driver and conductor-guard duties.

the "skirts" in question look more like pencil skirts, so as they are generally tighter than other types more flowing garments this wouldn't have been a problem. They drivers, surprisingly, are still quite presentable in appearance, most shorts do look casual, their alternative still has the corporate look about it.

It seems the employer is saying skirts are suitable for men as it looks smart

Its just to highlight how silly some rules are. Interesting the company are condoning it, and are not worried about losing face, but I guess since Kanye West, the world's view on fashion has changed...

Something tells me this thread will be closed soon (goes and hides)

TBH a kilt looks better for a guy, so far its just a dozen doing this, I doubt we will see an "Arriva Spring" where a more global rebellion against mens limited fashion choice will occur... I wonder what awaits me on my journey by bus tomorrow?

**CDNSushi** · 10th June 13, 02:55 AM

The thread won't necessarily be closed, and the article itself isn't intended to be about cross-dressing, we do have to simply be mindful that while all kilts are technically skirts, not all skirts are kilts, and therein lies the problem. Likewise, discussions of sarongs, and other unbifurcated items, (regardless of whether they are made for men or women) are similarly not discussed on this forum. While I, personally have no truck with anyone's choice of attire, skirted, kilted, trousered, or otherwise, (and I imagine the other mods are probably of the same opinion), there IS a troubled history behind Rule #9, which is why it exists in the first place. In order to keep pretty much ANY thread on XMarks open and free of being flagged, the question that we each need to ask ourselves is simply, "how does this relate back to KILTS?"

And in this case, for the purposes of discussion, I would say, "indirectly." While I will not comment on the particulars of this group of employee's chosen means of protest, I AM rather puzzled why they would go to what looks like a pencil skirt, rather than opting for a solid color kilt. But in THAT also lies the problem... If they were to choose kilts, then there may not be an impetus for the company to change the dress code to allow shorts (which is the desired outcome)... But by choosing something that is very obviously seen as women's wear, they are pushing the company officials to make changes to benefit their cause...