The Other Question

[dfmacliam]

My girlfriend refers to my kilts as skirts... but the Spanish term for kilt is falda Escoces or Scottish skirt... and since Spanish is her first language... its ok with me... but when others ask about my skirt, I kindly tell them if I was wearing heels... it would be a skirt... but since they are boots... it must be a kilt...LOL and I usually smile and we both chuckle..

[CDNSushi]

One of my co-workers (who was raised in China) can never remember the word "kilt" and frequently compliments my "skirts". Since I know he is being sincere, and just not remembering the right word (English is his THIRD language), I graciously say thank you.

Yes, that is exactly what I get here in Japan... It's a minor art trying to discern whether people are being sincere, want to pay you a genuine compliment (but just don't know how to refer to what you are wearing) so they revert to terms they DO know.... Versus those who are trying to get your goat and belittle you. I find that a surprising number of native English-speakers still belong in the FIRST group... Even my own wife. She really digs my kilts and me wearing them, but saying "kilt" is somehow unnatural to her. It used to be a skirt all the time. Then it became a "skirt... I mean.. kilt." Now it's a "sk..ilt." (She's getting better).

I went to church kilted the other day, and had numerous picture requests, and I had several "lessons" describing what each piece of my outfit was, where it came from and the reason behind it.

A Japanese lady in Tokyo asked me if what I was wearing was Scottish. I confirmed that it was. So she said (in Japanese): "So, I guess it's a kind of skirt that Scottish men wear." I confirmed her understanding and told her we called it a "kilt."

Because English is not the first language of many whom I come into contact with, I also deal with many interesting words people choose to compliment me with. I often get "cute" or "pretty" and even "beautiful." I don't get offended because I know what they MEANT to say.

Having lived here, I would say that it has made me much more forgiving and tolerant when it comes to things like this.

[QMcK]

Maybe not 'cute', but 'pretty' and 'beautiful' seem apt descriptions of a kilt.

[CDNSushi]

I suppose. Maybe it differs from place to place, but where I grew up those words would generally be used to describe something feminine... Perhaps it depends where you learned your English.

[Frank McGrath]

It's only a skirt if I am wearing pumps.




Get's um every time.

[freddie]

I was at a presentation evening kilted one evening and as I approached the bar one man (who I knew well) said "Beware of men in skirts". I think it was a pun on the old German soldiers phrase 'Ladies from Hell' so I took it as a compliment.

[morrison]

My initial feeling on the matter of her remark is, "She ought to know what a kilt is considering she is female. The remark was inappropriate."
I am correct.
OK, Now on to the funny stuff. It seems likely that her attempt at humor missed the mark by a wide margin. Too bad you felt short of a witty retort. But, good for you that you gave the most direct possible of all responses.
Of course, my witty response would have been. "I found my kilt in the men's department at Lane Bryant."

[lethearen]

None of that works when its your wife, and she is complaining about the fact that you enjoy wearing a kilt, with comments in mixed company about how there are more skirts on your side of the closet than hers.

I think you and I need to get together for another drink sometime, friend

My lady seems to enjoy the kilt, but thinks it's silly regardless so doesn't really approve of the wearing of the kilt. So she makes a playful (if passive-aggressive) point to always call it a skirt to emphasize how silly it is. I just shrug that off. Doesn't save me from her kilt checks :P

My sister and stepfather think it's amusing and will call it a "dress". Just play along and everyone keeps laughing; no harm intended.

The only other time I've had anyone call it a skirt was with a conservative co-worker who by some boggling chance had never seen nor even heard of a kilt. And because it shook his world so much, he couldn't even really grok it but accepted it nonetheless with friendly good nature. At one point he started laughing because I "sit down just like a lady". I took that as a compliment ;)

Were it to happen elsewhere, I would just smile and say thank you. If conversation evolved from there, I would indirectly correct them by referring to it as a kilt (not with "actually, it's called a kilt", but more like "Thanks, I had this kilt hand-made for me in Scotland" or something like that). If they're just ignorant, they'll get the point. If they're malicious, I'd guess they just want to get a rise out of you; people like that are usually taken aback if you don't get riled.