cubical bulletin for co-workers

**Magnus Sporrano** · 18th November 04, 01:16 PM

I had about the fourth person today ask me if I play bagpipes (respectfully) and I figure it is high time for a FAQ. I made up a little word document with a picture of Lliam Neeson as Rob Roy at the top, and included the following text:

So What’s With The Kilt, Anyway?
I seem to get a lot of questions about this and thought it might be useful to put some of the more frequently asked ones up to help settle any confusion (and possibly create entirely new confusion). I’m happy to answer other questions asked respectfully.

Are you Scottish?
No, I’m American. You don’t need to hail from the highlands to wear a kilt. America is a melting pot of different ideas from different cultures. Pants on a man are a bad idea, ergonomically speaking. The Scots had a better idea.

What is the cause for celebration?
Every day that you get to wear a kilt is cause for celebration unto itself.

Do you play the bagpipes?
No. I play MP3’s. Sometimes MP3’s that contain bagpipes. Does that count?

Is that compliant with company dress code standards?
Yes.

Why don’t you wear trousers?
Men have been wearing “skirts” for thousands of years. Trousers were made popular as they were more practical for horseback riding. I traded in my morgan horse for a Dodge years ago, so I don’t need the trousers anymore. Kilts are far more comfortable to wear, are better suited to the male anatomy, and provide for a little extra color in an office world of khaki slacks and polo shirts.

Are you crossdressing?
No. The kilt is a male garment.

What is worn underneath the kilt?
This question is asked so often, and oddly most people don’t realize how inappropriate that is. If someone were wearing trousers you wouldn’t ask them this, and the kilt should be no different.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 18th November 04, 01:16 PM

I had about the fourth person today ask me if I play bagpipes (respectfully) and I figure it is high time for a FAQ. I made up a little word document with a picture of Lliam Neeson as Rob Roy at the top, and included the following text:

So What’s With The Kilt, Anyway?
I seem to get a lot of questions about this and thought it might be useful to put some of the more frequently asked ones up to help settle any confusion (and possibly create entirely new confusion). I’m happy to answer other questions asked respectfully.

Are you Scottish?
No, I’m American. You don’t need to hail from the highlands to wear a kilt. America is a melting pot of different ideas from different cultures. Pants on a man are a bad idea, ergonomically speaking. The Scots had a better idea.

What is the cause for celebration?
Every day that you get to wear a kilt is cause for celebration unto itself.

Do you play the bagpipes?
No. I play MP3’s. Sometimes MP3’s that contain bagpipes. Does that count?

Is that compliant with company dress code standards?
Yes.

Why don’t you wear trousers?
Men have been wearing “skirts” for thousands of years. Trousers were made popular as they were more practical for horseback riding. I traded in my morgan horse for a Dodge years ago, so I don’t need the trousers anymore. Kilts are far more comfortable to wear, are better suited to the male anatomy, and provide for a little extra color in an office world of khaki slacks and polo shirts.

Are you crossdressing?
No. The kilt is a male garment.

What is worn underneath the kilt?
This question is asked so often, and oddly most people don’t realize how inappropriate that is. If someone were wearing trousers you wouldn’t ask them this, and the kilt should be no different.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 18th November 04, 01:16 PM

I had about the fourth person today ask me if I play bagpipes (respectfully) and I figure it is high time for a FAQ. I made up a little word document with a picture of Lliam Neeson as Rob Roy at the top, and included the following text:

So What’s With The Kilt, Anyway?
I seem to get a lot of questions about this and thought it might be useful to put some of the more frequently asked ones up to help settle any confusion (and possibly create entirely new confusion). I’m happy to answer other questions asked respectfully.

Are you Scottish?
No, I’m American. You don’t need to hail from the highlands to wear a kilt. America is a melting pot of different ideas from different cultures. Pants on a man are a bad idea, ergonomically speaking. The Scots had a better idea.

What is the cause for celebration?
Every day that you get to wear a kilt is cause for celebration unto itself.

Do you play the bagpipes?
No. I play MP3’s. Sometimes MP3’s that contain bagpipes. Does that count?

Is that compliant with company dress code standards?
Yes.

Why don’t you wear trousers?
Men have been wearing “skirts” for thousands of years. Trousers were made popular as they were more practical for horseback riding. I traded in my morgan horse for a Dodge years ago, so I don’t need the trousers anymore. Kilts are far more comfortable to wear, are better suited to the male anatomy, and provide for a little extra color in an office world of khaki slacks and polo shirts.

Are you crossdressing?
No. The kilt is a male garment.

What is worn underneath the kilt?
This question is asked so often, and oddly most people don’t realize how inappropriate that is. If someone were wearing trousers you wouldn’t ask them this, and the kilt should be no different.

**macwilkin** · 18th November 04, 01:23 PM

Magnus,

I like it! Very well done, but I have one suggestion:

Are you Scottish?
No, I’m American. You don’t need to hail from the highlands to wear a kilt. America is a melting pot of different ideas from different cultures. Pants on a man are a bad idea, ergonomically speaking. The Scots had a better idea.

If you have Scottish heritage, I would mention it in this answer -- Whilst you are an American in nationality, when people ask if you are Scottish, I believe they are asking if you have Scottish heritage, not if you are from Scotland & are a UK subject. It is the "connection" to the tartan that folks like to know about.

I would say: I am an American with Scottish heritage, a Scottish-American, etc.

I am very proud of my Scottish heritage and It's the first thing I mention when folks ask me about my kilt. It usually leads to a nice conversation about all things Scottish.

Cheers,

T.

**macwilkin** · 18th November 04, 01:23 PM

Magnus,

I like it! Very well done, but I have one suggestion:

Are you Scottish?
No, I’m American. You don’t need to hail from the highlands to wear a kilt. America is a melting pot of different ideas from different cultures. Pants on a man are a bad idea, ergonomically speaking. The Scots had a better idea.

If you have Scottish heritage, I would mention it in this answer -- Whilst you are an American in nationality, when people ask if you are Scottish, I believe they are asking if you have Scottish heritage, not if you are from Scotland & are a UK subject. It is the "connection" to the tartan that folks like to know about.

I would say: I am an American with Scottish heritage, a Scottish-American, etc.

I am very proud of my Scottish heritage and It's the first thing I mention when folks ask me about my kilt. It usually leads to a nice conversation about all things Scottish.

Cheers,

T.

**macwilkin** · 18th November 04, 01:23 PM

Magnus,

I like it! Very well done, but I have one suggestion:

Are you Scottish?
No, I’m American. You don’t need to hail from the highlands to wear a kilt. America is a melting pot of different ideas from different cultures. Pants on a man are a bad idea, ergonomically speaking. The Scots had a better idea.

If you have Scottish heritage, I would mention it in this answer -- Whilst you are an American in nationality, when people ask if you are Scottish, I believe they are asking if you have Scottish heritage, not if you are from Scotland & are a UK subject. It is the "connection" to the tartan that folks like to know about.

I would say: I am an American with Scottish heritage, a Scottish-American, etc.

I am very proud of my Scottish heritage and It's the first thing I mention when folks ask me about my kilt. It usually leads to a nice conversation about all things Scottish.

Cheers,

T.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 18th November 04, 01:28 PM

Well that one was sort of a backlash against hyphenated-americans. It's as if being American isn't enough, or that one is grasping for some cultural identity that America cannot give.

I'm a mutt of european descent. I was born in the US and so were my parents. I'm American.

There's some Scot back there. I happen to like Celtic music and love beers from the Irish and Scottish cultures. But I'm not so desperate for cultural identity that being American isn't enough for me.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 18th November 04, 01:28 PM

Well that one was sort of a backlash against hyphenated-americans. It's as if being American isn't enough, or that one is grasping for some cultural identity that America cannot give.

I'm a mutt of european descent. I was born in the US and so were my parents. I'm American.

There's some Scot back there. I happen to like Celtic music and love beers from the Irish and Scottish cultures. But I'm not so desperate for cultural identity that being American isn't enough for me.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 18th November 04, 01:28 PM

Well that one was sort of a backlash against hyphenated-americans. It's as if being American isn't enough, or that one is grasping for some cultural identity that America cannot give.

I'm a mutt of european descent. I was born in the US and so were my parents. I'm American.

There's some Scot back there. I happen to like Celtic music and love beers from the Irish and Scottish cultures. But I'm not so desperate for cultural identity that being American isn't enough for me.