Quote Originally Posted by Hamish
I very much doubt if I have been asked, "Are you Scottish?" more than a dozen times in all my 56 years of kilt wearing! ....

I am still convinced that this has a lot to do with the 'British reserve', for which we are known. As a nation, we are shy of asking such direct questions of strangers. Similarly, compliments are not given as freely as they appear to be in the USA and, even when they are, more often than not, they are remarks made in passing so that one has to turn around to offer thanks!
...

Do any of my United Kingdom brethren have similar opinions - or problems?
Well I seem to be asked if I'm Scottish quite frequently when kilted. I can answer quite truthfully that I am Scottish born and bred but I always add that you don't have to be Scottish to wear a kilt. And even though I really want to transmit the message that anyone can enjoy the comfort of the kilt, I get the impression that most people don't really believe me. They quiz me about my clan and when, as is sometimes the case, I am not wearing one of my clan tartans they seem quite shocked. The remnants of my Scottish accent are enough to convince them that I really am Scottish yet here I am "breaking the rules" and inviting them to join me in the felony! It doesn't square with their preconceptions.

As to "British reserve", Hamish, I think it would be more accurate to say "English reserve". One of the first things I noticed on coming to live in England was that the natives were quite a lot more reserved about expressing opinions to total strangers in the street (much less so in the pub) than I had been used to in Scotland, especially in Glasgow. Even today my immediate family - all born in England - get embarrassed when I let my curiosity get the better of me and I question total strangers or make comments (including compliments) to them. I rather suspect that my Welsh and Irish compatriots might feel the same. Do the other Scots here - and the Welsh and Irish - feel the same as I do?