Disheartening

**meinfs** · 17th September 08, 06:02 AM

I had a beer with a friend at a local neighborhood pub last night (Colonel Brooks Tavern). (The first time since I started wearing kilts). Nice place- live swing music, lots of older folks. I got a "nice kilt" comment from one of the patrons.

Anyway, we decided to check out two other nearby bars - one seems closed (no one was there and there were no signs outside that indicate business hours--- weird!). The next one was open, we went in. Alas, they were closing up for the night - a few people were still there though. This was 9:45 pm. Their business hours sign says open till midnight. The area was particularly dead that night - no college kids out and about on a Tuesday night.

So we both turned and started walking back to the car and then a bunch of guys loitering around (about 30 feet away; which we had passed by earlier) in the parking lot started calling out "skirt, no skirts in this bar" and talking and laughing about and singing "skirt" blah, blah, blah, "skirt." "skirt"·\ ........"skirt."

Seeing no point in confrontation, I just carried on and continued to converse with my friend who was kind enough to walk with me all the way to my car because he thought it'd be safer if we stayed together. (My friend had just had a benign tumor in a foot surgically removed last week and I was visiting with him.)

It was more disheartening than scary but I weathered it. And this ain't stopping me from wearing my kilt especially to bars and pubs.

**Galician** · 17th September 08, 06:09 AM

I'm sorry to hear that you had that experience. I know it can be scary, especially if it was a gang of kids.

**meinfs** · 17th September 08, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by Galician

I'm sorry to hear that you had that experience. I know it can be scary, especially if it was a gang of kids.

Thanks Galician. They were a bunch of (ignorant) men.

**Dirk Skene** · 17th September 08, 06:21 AM

I think the more folks see you, and others, in kilts the less frequent the comments become. At my first outing or 2 they were there. Not it is totally the opposite. As a matter of fact my scooter mechanic mentioned to a woman customer of his (when she had pulled up to drop off her 'scoot' for some work "Hey, I know a guy that rides ihis in a kilt." She responded "I've SEEN that guy

"

At another time I went to my favorite pub right from work so I was in trousers. The little waitress took a step back & said "Dave, it's been a long time since I've seen you in pants!" ..... Then she reilized how that could have been taken

Don't be discouraged. It will pass.

**meinfs** · 17th September 08, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Dirk Skene

I think the more folks see you, and others, in kilts the less frequent the comments become. At my first outing or 2 they were there. Not it is totally the opposite. As a matter of fact my scooter mechanic mentioned to a woman customer of his (when she had pulled up to drop off her 'scoot' for some work "Hey, I know a guy that rides ihis in a kilt." She responded "I've SEEN that guy

"

At another time I went to my favorite pub right from work so I was in trousers. The little waitress took a step back & said "Dave, it's been a long time since I've seen you in pants!" ..... Then she reilized how that could have been taken

Don't be discouraged. It will pass.

Thank you Dirk Skene. I had similar thoughts --- the more these guys see men in kilts, the more familiar the kilt will become and therefore less strange.

**Tim Little** · 17th September 08, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by meinfs

They were a bunch of (ignorant) men.

Physically perhaps, but certainly not psychologically. Don't forget you're the one with the cojones to wear a kilt in public. (And, yes, that is a requirement for subverting the dominant sartorial paradigm!)

**meinfs** · 17th September 08, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Tim Little

Physically perhaps, but certainly not psychologically. Don't forget you're the one with the cojones to wear a kilt in public. (And, yes, that is a requirement for subverting the dominant sartorial paradigm!)

Indeed. I did say that to my friend as we walked away -- that one needs the courage to wear a kilt in public. Thanks Tim.

**cessna152towser** · 17th September 08, 06:33 AM

I wouldn't worry about these sad wimps who haven't the guts to go anywhere unless they are drunk and in a group, far less the courage to wear a kilt. You do encounter them, very occasionally, but they are more to be pitied than seen as a threat. A man in a kilt is a real man.

**Galician** · 17th September 08, 06:36 AM

Several times as I go home at night after a kilt meet or some other kilted occasion, I've been told (especially by teenage girls) that I have a "cute" outfit.

The last time, the gum-chewing commentator asked where I got it, so I said, "Scotland." I could sense a light come on as I walked away and heard a big "Ohhhhh" behind me.

**george7** · 17th September 08, 06:58 AM

I've had a similar experience, a bunch of college aged drunks (I too am College aged) wanted to start a fight with the guy in a "skirt." I just kept walking to my car.

They all know it's a kilt and they all know it's masculine... and even if one wore skirt and acted feminine, people have no right to act that way.