What makes non kilt wearers an expert?

[Scotland Forever]

On the other hand some people just dont want to learn. I remember a dicusion I had with someone before that went along the lines of the comments previously mentioned but also went on to prove that Im not a "real" Scotsman beacuse I have more than one kilt and dont keep it for weddings etc.

Great thing is the person I was talking to was English and had never worn a kilt in his life.

Key word.

[kiltedRTR]

Yeah, I haven't had the "honor" of having a lot of these conversations but i did have someone ask me one time if I was "free-balling." (and he yelled it for all to hear). I was so shocked I couldn't respond and had to explain to someone later how that was strange because most people ask if I'm going "traditional" or "regimental" and I just tell them it's an ancient kilt wearer's secret.

[Drac]

I always like to ask if they have underwear on. If they do, I point out pants were originally worn without underwear, so they are wearing them wrong. (Underwear is a relatively modern article of clothing.)

I like this!

Jim

[johnj1582]

I've had a few instances of this in my 10 years of wearing the kilt.

Actually, they're pretty few and far between. Most people dig it or keep their mouth shut out of respect, which is also fine.

Then there's the BUT...

the other night i was at a karaoke bar in my McLaren (SWK). This kinda cute girl comes over and asks "the" question. After a few minutes of talking she says "Oh, BTW, there's this guy at my table that's Irish! would you like to come meet him?"

honestly, I didn't really care to meet the guy, and I told her as much. I was waiting in line already for like 5 minutes, and I just wanted to belly up to the bar so I could order my first beer of the evening... but she drags me over anyway, beerless.

so then this Irish guy starts just straight making fun. he kept saying garbage like "you weren't born in Scotland, you're not Scottish, you're American. Blah blah blah."

I won't go into detail on his ridiculous rant, but I think you've got the point. The whole time i'm thinking "well, if I'm wearing a kilt that is representative of a Scottish clan, how is an Irishman suddenly an expert?"

Now, I would like to think I handled this like the bigger man... All I did was calmly say "Sir, I don't give a *&$% where you were born or what your opinion of my clothing is. I am comfortable, and most people seem to like it. Now if you'll excuse me, I need a beer."

[OC Richard]

Sort of a corollary to the phenomena wherein anybody who sees me with a fly rod starts lecturing me on fly fishing but, upon questioning, admit that they have never actually been fly fishing.

That happens to me fairly often, but with the pipes!

I'll be out somewhere with my pipes on my shoulder waiting to play or just done playing, and someone will come up and grab the back end of the bag and rub it back and forth between their fingers and say "it's time to get those seasoned!"

This because in the old days everyone played sheepskin or cowhide bags which were only airtight when seasoned, and had to be seasoned regularly. When well-seasoned the bags were slimy inside. Rub the bag and if it feels dry inside, it's time to get seasoned!

But for nearly all of my 35 years piping I've played L&M elkhide bags, which never need seasoning. They're supple but always dry. I played one bag for over ten years, never seasoned, and still absolutely airtight when I sold that set of pipes.

So people will come up, rub the back end of my bag, and tell me it needs to be seasoned, and are surprised when I tell them that I've been playing that bag for many years and it's never been seasoned and never will be.

I got even more surprised looks during the two or three years that I played a Ross Goretex bag! The person comes up and rubs the bag and it's dry thin cloth! Of course these "experts" are several decades behind the times and know nothing of Goretex bags, Moose valves, carbon fibre drone reeds, MCS systems, and so forth.

[davedove]

You know, it really isn't just kilt wearing that causes this. I think most people go through stages in their learning:

1. You know very little about a subject, and you realize that.
2. You know a bit more about a subject, but believe you know a lot more.
3. You know a lot about a subject, but realize there is so much more to learn.

A whole bunch of people get stuck at number 2 and it's next to impossible to educate them past it unless they want to be educated.

Wise individuals know that one can never progress past number 3.

[KD Burke]

I have recently become aware of a phenomenon called the "Dunning-Krueger Effect." Essentially psychologists have experimentally determined that people who are largely ignorant of an issue are more confident of their opinions than those who are well informed.

Ignorance breeds confidence!

[auld argonian]

Now, I would like to think I handled this like the bigger man... All I did was calmly say "Sir, I don't give a *&$% where you were born or what your opinion of my clothing is. I am comfortable, and most people seem to like it. Now if you'll excuse me, I need a beer."

I'm glad to see that you have your priorities in order. int:

Best

AA

[Spartan Tartan]

I have recently become aware of a phenomenon called the "Dunning-Krueger Effect." Essentially psychologists have experimentally determined that people who are largely ignorant of an issue are more confident of their opinions than those who are well informed.

Ignorance breeds confidence!

I would imagine that is because the educated person understands there are others that are educated and could pose counter-point arguements (in a respectful way) and thereby have legitimate disagreement. On the other hand, the ignorant have NO IDEA their could be other sides of a story/debate and so have nothing to "fear", so to speak.

I can tell you from my own experience, the more vocal and adamit someone is about a topic the more I question how much they really know.

[Father Bill]

[QUOTE=KD Burke;954650]I have recently become aware of a phenomenon called the "Dunning-Krueger Effect." Essentially psychologists have experimentally determined that people who are largely ignorant of an issue are more confident of their opinions than those who are well informed. QUOTE]

Makes sense, if one is ignorant of his/her ignorance.