"An insult to the Scots"

**highlander_Daz** · 11th February 05, 02:57 AM

Hi Phillibeg thanks for the welcome!
im just relaying the general opinion that many scots feel , JPG used to have a programme on TV called "eurotrash" (very apt!) and he would almost always wear s "kilt" (skirt) as this was quite a popular programme people would watch it and put 2 and 2 together and come up with 9, Your points about rugby etc. are what I was trying to say - Kilts are for everyone!!

**Kiltedmusiclover** · 11th February 05, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Alan,

Remember that many folks who represent Clan Societies today are relatively "older" and may not be aware of all of the new trends in kilts these days -- they may not have understood what a 4-yd. PV kilt is, or they may have misunderstandings about it that can be cured by actually seeing it in person.

Cheers,

Todd

Todd is right on the money.
If you just show up at
their tent during the Highland games, they will
likely beg you to join them.
When talk does turn to
you kilt, take the chance to educate them.

**Alan H** · 11th February 05, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Kiltedmusiclover

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Alan,

Remember that many folks who represent Clan Societies today are relatively "older" and may not be aware of all of the new trends in kilts these days -- they may not have understood what a 4-yd. PV kilt is, or they may have misunderstandings about it that can be cured by actually seeing it in person.

Cheers,

Todd

Todd is right on the money.
If you just show up at
their tent during the Highland games, they will
likely beg you to join them.
When talk does turn to
you kilt, take the chance to educate them.

Makes sense.

I actually have no idea if the idea oof a non-traditional kilt was what put the chill on the correspondance, it just was funny how it happened twice. Anyway, I will be dropping by the tent at the Pleasanton and Campbell games and will check them out.

The dept secretary in our office has a a boyfriend who until very recently has been a competition weightlifter. He threw discus and shot in college. He's knocked off the bigtime weight lifting to save his joints but has expressed an interest in going to a Highland Games and checking out some of the events. I think me and the Mrs. will try to make it to Pleasanton with them, and we'll get Floyd into a kilt!

**philibeg** · 11th February 05, 10:24 AM

HI Daz, glad you could take my needling you, it was meant good-naturedly. But, I really don't believe that one obnoxious man on TV has influenced public opnion nearly as much as the Scots seem to fear. I actually went to the Bravehearts exibit at the Met in New York, which only had a few kilts in it...most of it was devoted to JPG's reaction to various traditional MUGs, of which the kilt was but one example. And in Amsterdam, a city famous for its large, outspoken and flamboyant gay community, there are no roving bands of kilted men with Gay and Proud stitched onto their aprons in rainbow-sequins...so I think the kilt is still safe. Its firmly associated with Scotland in most people's minds....and in a way it's too bad, cause earings, tatoos and piecings all started in the gay community and have now become ubiquitous...the wholesale adoption of the kilt by gay men might just lead to its universal acceptance as a hip male garment!

**highlander_Daz** · 11th February 05, 10:32 AM

much as the Scots seem to fear

we Scots fear nothing!!!!!!! haha

well i agree as we all do the kilt is for everyone as for your comments about gay trend-setters, its true, My idol growing up was Freddie Mercury, he proved that you could be cool as well as camp!!

love your opinion on JPG I think you well and truly hit the nail on the head!!!!

slainthe'

**highlander_Daz** · 11th February 05, 10:37 AM

as an afterthought, in scotland we always refer to kilts as "the kilt"
so "kilts are for everyone" would be - "the kilt is for everyone"

and "im going to wear a kilt" would be "Im going to wear the kilt"

im not suggesting anoyone changes the way they talk just an insight into Scots talk!!

slainthe'

**GMan** · 11th February 05, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by highlander_Daz

as an afterthought, in scotland we always refer to kilts as "the kilt"
so "kilts are for everyone" would be - "the kilt is for everyone"

and "im going to wear a kilt" would be "Im going to wear the kilt"

im not suggesting anoyone changes the way they talk just an insight into Scots talk!!

slainthe'

So true Daz, often times we let our dialects interfere with proper language (and I include myself in this) and somehow we forget to speak correctly.

**Colin** · 11th February 05, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by philibeg

tatoos started in the gay community and have now become ubiquitous

Yeah, I'm gonna have to disagree with that one part there....Tattoos have been around for ages and have come back to life in many aspects recently, but so has biker and trucker chic (OCC, Monster Garage, Harley Davidson, etc).

Vince Hemison has a wonderful film called the Vanishing Tattoo www.vanishingtattoo.com in which he and Thomas Lockhart (a very well know Vancouver tattoo artist) travel to Borneo (kilted of course) and met with the traditional tattooists of the Iban people. Tattoos did develop more of a sailor, biker, convict, motorhead view to them, but have again come back into the spotlight with sports stars, actors, accountants, etc. I wouldn't say the gay community brought them back, but I am sure they didn't hurt in popularizing them in recent years.

Quite honestly most of the gay guys I know out west here refuse to get tattoos, as it would cover up too much skin. Piercings and earrings, I think you are absolutely right, and let's not forget the number of guys using haircare products, spas, and fitness in an attempt to be a bit more manicured. Anyway, my 2 bits and quite off topic.

**philibeg** · 11th February 05, 11:07 AM

Right you are, I stand corrected...I didn't put it very well at all, I ought to have written:

"a major impulse behind the recent popularity of pierced ears, tatoos and piercings among the general male population has been their adoption by a fashion concious gay community"...Hamish is right in being a proponent of clarity of thought and expression! I shall try to watch my words in future!!

**Colin** · 11th February 05, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by philibeg

Right you are, I stand corrected...I didn't put it very well at all, I ought to have written:

"a major impulse behind the recent popularity of pierced ears, tatoos and piercings among the general male population has been their adoption by a fashion concious gay community"...Hamish is right in being a proponent of clarity of thought and expression! I shall try to watch my words in future!!

Right you are. We in North America all seem to think that trends start with celebrities, but fail to realize that those celebs have stylist that look to various sources, including the gay community, for trends. Come on, people didn't think Beckham knew how to dress himself did they?