'Stick In The Muds'

[cessna152towser]

Certainly the kilt is a conversation starter. When I'm working around at Carlisle Airport, either in the museum or mucking in at the flying school, I'm usually kilted, and often people travelling in and out from the south of England comment favourably and are pleased by the fact that they have come close enough to the national border to actually meet someone who lives on the other side and wears what they regard as traditional Scottish garb.

Not wanting to stray off topic, but on one of my visits to one of the larger steam railways in England, which markets itself as a tourist attraction, the guy on the desk not only refused to accept a Scots bank note but was downright rude about it. The only reason I let it go is that a lot of these guys are volunteers, without whom we wouldn't have these nice trains to enjoy.

[McClef]

Ah but you are from Scotland Alex and with the accent to go with it

Sporranlegionaire didn't fit into the right categories as far as that lady was concerned. In her eyes the only reason for wearing a kilt was linked to Scottishness and she's not alone.

That isn't to say that everyone would take the same tack as she did. I would have pointed out to her that kilts are worn in other Celtic nations too and by people who have found the kilt to be such a wonderful garment for men as a whole.

[Phil]

Was the lady English? I ask because I really don't think you would have got that reaction in Scotland. Personally I am always happy to see someone wearing the kilt and see it as a compliment to our culture, nothing more.

[ncof300d]

Where I live (the very, very northwest corner of Ohio) is a very conservative part of the US and very rural. The mind sets of people can be difficult at times. Here the kilt is equated to you wearing a dress and a man in a dress must not be straight.

Sporranlegionaire, do not feel bad. It is not any less difficult over here.

[Nick]

We are frequently asked if we're Scottish or, more frequently, if we play the bagpipes. There's less outright interrogation (of course, it may just be a proportional thing). I've only been interrogated once, asking if I was entitled to wear my kilt, and it was from an old friend and I managed to (rather gracefully, I think ) sidestep it and segue into something else. He's of the "You must be able to provide documentation of clan affiliation and seven generations of your family tree before you may wear that tartan" mindset, and I didn't want to offend him.