first negative encounter

**James** · 16th April 06, 11:35 PM

I think a very pertinent point was touched upon-the chaps own confidence in his sexuality.

I have noticed over many years of kilt wearing that those who feel most threatened are the chaps who have issues latent or otherwise with their own sexuality: and so are the ones most likely to react in an apparently offensive, but really defensive manner. They are trying to demonstrate their own possibly spurious manhood.

Another example of this being the chaps who get very concerned about their kilt being called a skirt [ignore here the defence of this board], the man sure of his sexuality just thinks it a joke. However the one not so sure of his masculinity, will tend to go very much on the defensive and insist that what he is wearing is not a skirt, but a kilt.

However there is one other area, and that is the chap who is trying to make a light joke with no ill-will: but is clumsy with words, and so without intending to do so, is in fact offensive.

In all cases the best response is not to worry, and pass it all off with a joke. remembering too that we are a minority, so will attract jokes-good jokes, bad jokes-it comes with the territory.

To end on a light note-many years ago a very highland piper was trying to teach us a reel-and to get the men and women into position said 'The ones in the long skirts to the left and in short skirts to the right'. That was on a serious clan occasion, with both our chief to be and his sister in the party-and everyone thought it funny.

James

**Robin** · 17th April 06, 03:48 AM

"C'est le ton qui fait la musique"

When someone makes a skirt remark with a friendly face or a "pulling your leg" smile all is fine.
When someone makes a skirt remark, because he/she never seen or even heard of a kilt...fine also. We can't blame people for not knowing anything about kilts.

When the skirt remark is clearly ment to insult...reply...ignore...whatever.
He or she...mostly a he...is an idiot with bad manners.

Kilts ARE skirts...both traditional and contemporary.

My own mum...always calls them skirts or scottish skirts, she knows they're kilts and she knows they're menswear...and she likes them very much. I don't even bother to correct her.

My boss (almost ex-boss) is a paranoid, frustrated, homophobic, xenophobic, insecure and pathetic sad man...his head almost exploded when I started wearing kilts...Good to him

**Rusty** · 17th April 06, 05:45 AM

Robin, you and I must have the same boss

Poor pathetic twit......

My boss was giving me guff about the kilt recently when I suggested he would look dapper in a kilt. I suggested that he could wear the US Navy Tartan as he is ex navy. I don't want to repeat what he said except that he suggested that all Navy men that wear kilts were fags. (his words gentlemen as I don't want to inflame anyone) You might find this offensive. However, I have to work with this idiot.

**macwilkin** · 17th April 06, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Rusty

Robin, you and I must have the same boss

Poor pathetic twit......

My boss was giving me guff about the kilt recently when I suggested he would look dapper in a kilt. I suggested that he could wear the US Navy Tartan as he is ex navy. I don't want to repeat what he said except that he suggested that all Navy men that wear kilts were ****. (his words gentlemen as I don't want to inflame anyone) You might find this offensive. However, I have to work with this idiot.

You might remind your boss that the founder of the US Navy was the Scot John Paul Jones, from Kirkbean -- even though JPJ probably never wore a kilt!
:mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

**Kilted KT** · 17th April 06, 06:24 AM

On more than one occasion I have been approached, and asked if I was wearing a highland skirt. Considering the questioner is always a older woman, I'll answer "Yes", and we will wind up having a conversation about her ancestors and how they lived in scotland, or how she visited scotland as a youth.

Of all the people who fit into the other category of people ( 99% men) who enjoy making snide remarks about the kilt and it being a skirt, only one had truly never heard of one. The rest fit into the sexually repressed or confused or otherwise not confident in themselves category. I figure there will always be those types, so I usually either act like I never heard them, or allow their friends to correct them ( and usually making them looks like fools in the process.)

I chalk it up to a part of being confident enough to wear a kilt. Just part of the game...and I think I'm winning this round!

**Yaish** · 17th April 06, 07:05 AM

On the rare occasions when some guy makes a negative comment, check out his girlfriend. More often than not she'll be looking at you like a plate of chocolate pancakes with strawberries on top, and looking at him like he is something that crawled out from under a rock and stuck to her shoe.

Just give her a smile and wink, and ingnore him. I count that as a win.

**Kilted KT** · 17th April 06, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Yaish

On the rare occasions when some guy makes a negative comment, check out his girlfriend. More often than not she'll be looking at you like a plate of chocolate pancakes with strawberries on top, and looking at him like he is something that crawled out from under a rock and stuck to her shoe.

Just give her a smile and wink, and ingnore him. I count that as a win.

a plate of chocolate pancakes with strawberries?!? that has to be dangerous....

**Robin** · 17th April 06, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Yaish

On the rare occasions when some guy makes a negative comment, check out his girlfriend. More often than not she'll be looking at you like a plate of chocolate pancakes with strawberries on top, and looking at him like he is something that crawled out from under a rock and stuck to her shoe.

Just give her a smile and wink, and ingnore him. I count that as a win.

Fantastic!!!!!!!!

**BLAZN** · 17th April 06, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Rusty

My boss was giving me guff about the kilt recently when I suggested he would look dapper in a kilt. I suggested that he could wear the US Navy Tartan as he is ex navy. I don't want to repeat what he said except that he suggested that all Navy men that wear kilts were fags. (his words gentlemen as I don't want to inflame anyone) You might find this offensive. However, I have to work with this idiot.

This active duty submariner would beg to differ. I'm 100% secure in my masculinity, and 100% straight. I've got the photos of the wife and kids to prove it. Your boss is a complete putz.

And this reminds me... my CO is a very laid back guy. The annual Navy Birthday Ball is in October. Between now and then, I plan to order one of these in the USN tartan. I plan to ask my CO if I can go to the Navy Ball wearing said kilt and the jacket seen below.

**ByDand** · 18th April 06, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by BLAZN

This active duty submariner would beg to differ. I'm 100% secure in my masculinity, and 100% straight. I've got the photos of the wife and kids to prove it. Your boss is a complete putz.

And this reminds me... my CO is a very laid back guy. The annual Navy Birthday Ball is in October. Between now and then, I plan to order one of these in the USN tartan. I plan to ask my CO if I can go to the Navy Ball wearing said kilt and the jacket seen below.

Jim, Go ahead with your order from Alexis Malcolm Kilts. I just got mine yesterday (pleated to the stripe) and it is beautiful. The workmanship is superb and the kilt was finished about a month ahead of schedule. Don't forget to get the flashes and fly plaid at the same time.

I'll post pictures in about two weeks as I am leaving tomorrow for two weeks away from home on business.