Need some advice for a friend

[ardchoille]

For starters:

http://www.albanach.org/facts.htm

http://kilts.albanach.org/tweeds.html

http://kilts.albanach.org/faq.html

All of these articles do a good job of pointing out that a lot of what we "know" about kilts, about what a proper kilt is, about what a kilt should be worn with, are the most arrant of nonsense.

Further, should he continue to believe that "if it's not tartan it's a skirt" I suggest that he tell these chaps that: http://www.royalirishrangers.co.uk/uniform.html

I find the persistence of myths about kilts to be a fascinating reminder of the very human desire for certainty, when the reality is probably a lot messier than we can even imagine.

Very good "ammo", thank you

[Streetcar]

Ask him what he bases his statement on.

I had a woman tell me almost exactly the same thing about a month ago. I asked her why, and she told me all about how for hundreds of years the highland clansmen wore tartans to tell each other apart in battle....

I gave her a brief history of the evolution of the tartan and its relation to clans. She didn't care, but she no longer had ammo for her argument.

I didn't change her opinions, and didn't think I would. However, the other people in her group did have their opinions changed, and challenged her kilt-bias the rest of the night.

Attack the basis of the opinion - not the opinion itself.

[ardchoille]

Ask him what he bases his statement on.

I had a woman tell me almost exactly the same thing about a month ago. I asked her why, and she told me all about how for hundreds of years the highland clansmen wore tartans to tell each other apart in battle....

I gave her a brief history of the evolution of the tartan and its relation to clans. She didn't care, but she no longer had ammo for her argument.

I didn't change her opinions, and didn't think I would. However, the other people in her group did have their opinions changed, and challenged her kilt-bias the rest of the night.

Attack the basis of the opinion - not the opinion itself.

Very good advice