Closeted Kilt Wearers

[beerbecue]

Feel me on this one?

It's that whole 'secret club' thing? Yes, that is annoying, and I have experienced it with other things...

But I still think the best route is encouragement....

And I must admit, I RARELY wear my kilt out, simply because in Athens, GA, I really don't feel safe.... It is bad enough to try and ride a bicylce here without feeling like your life is in jeopardy.... When I have had it on, there have not been looks of curiousity, but looks of 'lets go beat up that skirt-wearer' (it is not nearly as progressive here as people think.......)

It is unfortunate, as I just feel grand when I have it on..... but its hard to be an ambassador in a hostile country!!

[Riverkilt]

With the action Phil sees on ebay and all the comments about having a kilt in the closet maybe a better comment would be, "Would you like to sell it?"

A few kiltmakers sell used kilts on the side. Don't know if anyone's brought it to a full scale business yet - but seems there might be a market.

Wonder what would happen at a highland games if there was a Kilt Buyer booth as well as all the kilt seller booths?

Ron

[James]

Go Softly!

Some of us have worn the kilt since childhood and have lost or maybe never had any worries about wearing the kilt anytime we felt like it-and anywhere.

Others have had to struggle with their own fears and on occasion against the comments of some to reach the stage of wearing the kil when they feel like it.

Some attending this forum are probably still at the stage of having a real battle to pluck up the nerve to wear their kilt in public-and it is my guess that there are some who will read this who have not yet had the courage to face down their fears of going public in a kilt.

Moving on there must be many who have got a kilt for a special occsion and not worn it again-choice-fear or whatever: or maybe they were given/left one.

Often they would like to wear the kilt, and need support and encouragement.

'Smart' comments will not help them-for they rank with the same off putting remarks as those about wearing 'it the correct way'.

What might help is a friendly response and encouraging words-together with the sight of men going about their lives kilted as if it was an entirely natural way to dress - as by the way it is.

Too the sight of chaps going kilted might also influence wives and girl friends of the closet kilt wearers to support their men-rather than as is possible oppose kilt wearing.

James

[Dreadbelly]

With most folk, I answer all their questions. I inform them that it is indeed ok for non Scottish folk to wear kilts. I politely inform them that they can wear all manner of tartans. I tell them it is perfectly ok to wear a kilt in public. I make a subtle statement that real men wear kilts. In general, I am a strong clear voice of reason, advocating kilt wearing in general. One of the local clothing stores that deals in fine clothing has even called me a time or three when a customer had a whole bunch of questions on kilts for a wedding or some formal event. (Am I becoming something of a consultant? I need to study more) I even try to send people here, but you must understand that I live in an area where a large number of the people in general aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer. They get confused when they can't figure out where to plug the rabbit ears in on those funny little television sets that show the AOL channel. I run into some smarter folk as well, but ignorance is bliss.

Then there is a small percentage of men that think having a kilt in their closet (If, indeed, they even own one at all) allows them to have some sort of psuedo-familiarity with me. It's how they present themselves. It's all in their attitude. It's in that stupid little wink they give, or in that lying greasy smile. All the hair on the back of my neck stands up. One of these sorts of dolts even hung out at the coffee shop I like down town for a while. He finally wore his "kilt" one day to the coffee shop, and I had the misfortune of going there that day. It was a school girl's dress, pleated all the way around. He was in there acting like a twit, the manager informed me. He wanted his "kilt privileges". I occasionally get discounts on food and drink in places I go. On occasion, I even get free coffee for adding to the atmosphere. Not because I ask for it, but because I am a cool guy and I really can keep the customers lively, drinking a lot of coffee, and having a good time. When I informed him he was not wearing a kilt, but a girl's skirt, he was silent for many moments, turning redder and redder, but not saying anything. I told him his skirt had no aprons, was pleated in the wrong direction for a man, and had an elastic waistband. He tried to argue, and every feeble jab was deflected. He finally exploded. He cursed, threw his coffee, and stormed out of the coffee shop, never to return.

There are some people, I hate to say, that probably have no business being in a kilt. It pains me to say that. Lord knows I am going to get flamed for that statement, but I stand by it. Thankfully, those sorts of people are few and far between. And I will continue to be sarcastic, acerbic, and unpleasant to those sorts of folk in an effort to keep them as far away from me as possible. And when these sorts of scumballs think that by owning a kilt that it allows them into some sort of brotherhood with me, or gives them "kilt privileges" I am going to say something.

I want the kilt experience to be as open as possible. I want more people to wear them. Or at least break with conformity. What I don't want are people that will hurt the cause. There are already enough stigmas, challenges, and social obstacles to overcome, with out adding more to our cause. This is not an elitist attitude. It's a protective guardian watching over what he loves. I will do everything I can to distance my self and draw a line between my self and the mindless masses.

[Thistle Stop]

There are some people, I hate to say, that probably have no business being in a kilt. It pains me to say that. Lord knows I am going to get flamed for that statement, but I stand by it. Thankfully, those sorts of people are few and far between. And I will continue to be sarcastic, acerbic, and unpleasant to those sorts of folk in an effort to keep them as far away from me as possible. And when these sorts of scumballs think that by owning a kilt that it allows them into some sort of brotherhood with me, or gives them "kilt privileges" I am going to say something.

I don't want to flame you -- you are a member of this forum, and as such, I respect you. But I disagree with some of what you're saying.

We have all encountered jerks we'd rather not be around, and it's natural to feel resentment towards such people if they are being overly-familiar or trying to identify themselves with something dear to our own self-image. I revere the kilt and all it stands for as much as anyone, but at the end of the day, it's 'just' a garment, and anyone has a right to wear it if they wish to. Even jerks. Wearing the kilt may not really make anyone who wears it part of a mystic 'brotherhood' of kiltwearers, but if they enjoy feeling special in the kilt, and feel that it links them to a great tradition, what harm does it do? If they show their ignorance of the history of the kilt or the proper way of wearing it, etc., then they need a bit of education, and who better to provide it than a 'brother' of the kiltwearing fraternity? (In a friendly way!)

I want the kilt experience to be as open as possible. I want more people to wear them. Or at least break with conformity. What I don't want are people that will hurt the cause. There are already enough stigmas, challenges, and social obstacles to overcome, with out adding more to our cause. This is not an elitist attitude. It's a protective guardian watching over what he loves. I will do everything I can to distance my self and draw a line between my self and the mindless masses.

When you are openly hostile to someone about his wearing the kilt (or not wearing it, because it's home in the closet), you are 'hurting the cause'! If it's done in public, you may be turning off slews of people to the cause. I think the perception of people overhearing the exchange would be that the 'jerk' is the guy rudely insulting the other guy, rather than the one who spoke up with a 'knowing wink' about having a kilt of his own. Never mind that he might deserve a verbal thrashing -- it won't appear that way to others. As Todd said, you are an ambassador for the kilt when you wear it in public. So, be diplomatic with everyone you meet, if you want to promote 'the cause'!

As for drawing the line between oneself and the 'mindless masses' -- this is a separate issue, of course -- but in my opinion, we are all fools on this ship of fools we call Earth. Not a one of us is perfect. Better to have tolerance for the other fools. Ignore the ones who are merely annoying, oppose evildoing when you encounter it, instruct those who can learn from you, have compassion for those who are weak or injured... always keeping in mind that none of us is really any 'better' than anyone else. We have our strengths and our weaknesses, we make our mistakes, and we all 'put our pants on one leg at a time'! Just because that last statement doesn't apply to guys wearing the kilt does not mean they are actually superior in any way!

We love ya, Kilt Wilter -- to paraphrase Oliver Cromwell -- farts and all!

[beerbecue]

Twits, dolts, morons, buffoons, and the rest of their ilk, unfortunately, are not just restricted to the kilt world.

I have had experience with these people in many situations - homebrewing, scouting, you name it, there they are....

These sorts of individuals are no fun to deal with...

In the case of your coffee-shop encounter, you acted exactly as I would have done. You pointed out that in fact, what he was wearing was not a kilt, and why it was not kilt, and what it actually was.

It isn't your fault this person needed to be educated, which is what you did....

[Thistle Stop]

Twits, dolts, morons, buffoons, and the rest of their ilk, unfortunately, are not just restricted to the kilt world.

I have had experience with these people in many situations - homebrewing, scouting, you name it, there they are....

These sorts of individuals are no fun to deal with...

In the case of your coffee-shop encounter, you acted exactly as I would have done. You pointed out that in fact, what he was wearing was not a kilt, and why it was not kilt, and what it actually was.

It isn't your fault this person needed to be educated, which is what you did....

Yes, I agree -- educating the guy in the coffee shop was the best thing to do. He must not be very observant of KW in his kilt, if he thought a pleated skirt was the same thing!

[Manu]

Unfortunately, I am sort of forced to be a weekend Wallace. I wear my Marine uniforms during the day at work, all bifurcated. After work I go to University, but the classes are on base, and Ive already been told that the kilt is not considered proper civilian attire, so I cant wear it when Im on base. Thats my life monday thru friday, but on the weekends the kilt doesnt come off, so I wouldnt consider myself a weekend Wallace, not by choice.

[Thistle Stop]

Unfortunately, I am sort of forced to be a weekend Wallace. I wear my Marine uniforms during the day at work, all bifurcated. After work I go to University, but the classes are on base, and Ive already been told that the kilt is not considered proper civilian attire, so I cant wear it when Im on base. Thats my life monday thru friday, but on the weekends the kilt doesnt come off, so I wouldnt consider myself a weekend Wallace, not by choice.

Well, at least you can have the comfort of knowing that no-one is likely to ask if you keep your balls in the closet when they see you in your Marine uniform! At least, not if they value their own!

[Doc Hudson]

Well, at least you can have the comfort of knowing that no-one is likely to ask if you keep your balls in the closet when they see you in your Marine uniform! At least, not if they value their own!

Bad girl!!!!! :P