An "Outrage".

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

You must remember there are folks with Scottish Ancestry who had to leave Scotland and find their fortunes elsewhere. Many did well and are proud of their achievements plus their ancestry. Now some minor player whose folks stayed behind feels they can sneer and be rude abiout folks who want to maintain the tradition of kilt wearing. Go ahead and wear it anywhere and any time.

Guys-- you have to remember that The Chap is basically a humor magazine... but don't worry. If you can't laugh at yourself, someone else will do it for you.

[Slag101]

My love of tweed and pipes led me to subscribe,some time ago, to a little magazine called "The Chap".

I've just received the latest edition and was reading the "Advice" Column when I came across the following:

"I am writing to seek your counsel on the controversial subject of wearing kilts south of the border: on what occasions is it Chap to do so? And what minimal Scottish credentials ought a Chap possess to qualify to wear one at all?

I yield to few in my admiration for North Britain. But persons of taste and discernment must concede that, in matters sartorial this part of Her Majesty's United Kingdom has made little contribution to the wellbeing of mankind. The kilt is a garment which, if it must be worn at all, should be worn only by a Scotsman - and preferably, only in Scotland. On a non-Scotsman, it is an absurdity. On a non-Scotsman outside Scotland, it is an outrage."

Patently this is an incredibly ignorant viewpoint and one which is completely unfounded; virtually every point they make is offensive. Needless to say I will be cancelling the subscription henceforth.

You, like us, feel that the kilt should be an option for all to wear. Fine. Now to play Devil's Advocate: With it being acceptable for you to feel that almost anyone is entitled to wear the kilt, is it not also the right of some to feel that the kilt should only be worn by Sottish men in the Scottish Highlands? It's just an opinion, and judging by the context, Tongue in Cheek at it's worst. You know what they say about opinions, there like ********, everybody has one. Even if it was a serious statement, so what? Get over it. More people than you care to think look at you in your kilt and think your a cross dresser, or whatever. I look at more people than they care to think, and think they are mentally challenged. Just because I think something, does not make it so.

[Bud]

Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary defines kilt as a garment "worn by Americans in Scotland and by Scotsmen in America."

[Arlen]

I'm a fan of the magazine myself and try to take all of the advice it offers as tongue in cheek. (Look at the romantic advice they give, after all!)

Perhaps if you are truly offended a polite letter to the editor saying that you disagree and, considering the magazine hope to bring back both manners and style, perhaps they should try not to insult an entire group of people with similar aesthetics and character.

[Teufel Hunden]

It might also be an attempt at stirring up the blood pressure of subscribers to generate publicity for the magazine.

I agree with this. Sometimes the "any attention is good attention" mentality is pretty annoying.. it's especially annoying that the tactic itself is so popular amongst the desperate.

That being said, my reply to the article would be where the author can go with his opinion, and what he can do with himself once he gets there.

[Bugbear]

Guys-- you have to remember that The Chap is basically a humor magazine... but don't worry. If you can't laugh at yourself, someone else will do it for you.

Yes, I am aware of that.

1. I deserve to be laughed at by others.
2. I assume that I am being laughed at by others.

On the other hand, I'm probably just boring people to death.