Need to know how polite you are to people who are....curious

[MizzouScotsman]

I have been wearing a kilt for about two years now and wear mine whenever I get the opportunity. I have to deal, as I assume you all do, with the odd questions and comments.

My question is..how do you handle when someone asks you "What's under the kilt?" Or when they think it's "funny" to say that you are wearing a "skirt". Are you polite, do you "play" along with the comment jokingly? What do you do? I am sarcastic at heart and I do not say what first pops into my head because it will be sarcastic. I also know that these people do not run into the kilted very often if ever, so I'm trying to bear with it.

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

[Zardoz]

Well, I try to be polite, and have some fun with it. I've got a big mental file of responses to those sort of questions, so basically I'll try to tailor the response to who's asking and how the questions are presented. Smart*ss questions get a sarcastic retort, polite queries get a polite answer etc...

[planemaker]

Well, I try to be polite, and have some fun with it. I've got a big mental file of responses to those sort of questions, so basically I'll try to tailor the response to who's asking and how the questions are presented. Smart*ss questions get a sarcastic retort, polite queries get a polite answer etc...

exactly what I was going to say

[matt.mackinnon]

This thread has given me some good guidance for the inevitable questions that will come up when I start wearing mine. I'd like to think I could keep a straight face and not retort some snarky off cuff remark. thanks.

[tundramanq]

Just keep that "hunted" look off your face and body posture and the occurances will all be rare or pleasant.
Predator "dirt bags" know this look and the self assured look. They don't select victims randomly.

I don't have an imposing stature or build and I don't live in the best part of town. But I don't look like a rabbit either.
I really don't recall the last time I was "Snarked at".

Do what I did, wear only kilts for a month - the self consiousness will fade pretty quick, the habits for wearing a kilt will become automatic ( can recall "sweeping the pleats" of my pants once sitting down ) And you may become addicted to kilts for life: no pants - ever - here.

If the occasional "costume kilters" did this they would be a lot more comfy in their kilts also. And start needing a reasons not to kilt.

[xman]

I too have a tendency toward sarcasm which isn't always the best thing with strangers, but not so much while kilted. I'm keenly aware that I'm noticed in the kilt and that I represent the kilted community so I'm usually more polite while kilted. It has made me more civil.

When the subject of underwear comes up from women I almost invariably turn it right around on them. "Why what are you wearing"?
From men I ask why they're so interested. It puts them on the defensive and I've got plenty of room to manoeuvre from there with, "Where did you hear that"? and "Ah yes, the old wives tales". I never answer.

The skirt thing ... I accept it. A kilt is a skirt. I don't care. Someone called it a dress? Whatever. I'm confident enough to wear it, I'm comfortable enough in my own skin. I don't need anyone else's validation. I appreciate it if it comes and say "thank-you", but I'm not about to get my panties in a bunch over it if it's the opposite.

[Zardoz]

yeah, never give 'the question' a staight answer !

[gordontaos]

yeah, never give 'the question' a staight answer !

My sentiments exactly.

I have also found that you are never lonely when kilted. There is usually a fairly constant stream of smiling folks, wellwishers and the curious. A few weeks ago while standing on a crowded corner in Crested Butte, Colorado it was almost one a minute, now its not always like that, but I was also not very surprised.

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

Regardless of the "tone" of the question, or who is asking, I always treat it as an honest request for information. Never have I responded in a sarcastic or, shall we say, feisty, manner. My attitude is to believe that whomever is asking deserves a simple answer and I give it to them. There have been a couple of occasions where the asker was, or seemed to be, less than "nice" in the way they spoke -- but after giving them a calm considered answer, they changed their tone quite a bit. One gentleman, what we refer to around here as a "gang-banger" type, even went to the local games and I saw him there with a brand new Utilikilt -- made my day, for sure .

Rob.

[MizzouScotsman]

I too have a tendency toward sarcasm which isn't always the best thing with strangers, but not so much while kilted. I'm keenly aware that I'm noticed in the kilt and that I represent the kilted community so I'm usually more polite while kilted. It has made me more civil.

When the subject of underwear comes up from women I almost invariably turn it right around on them. "Why what are you wearing"?
From men I ask why they're so interested. It puts them on the defensive and I've got plenty of room to manoeuvre from there with, "Where did you hear that"? and "Ah yes, the old wives tales". I never answer.

The skirt thing ... I accept it. A kilt is a skirt. I don't care. Someone called it a dress? Whatever. I'm confident enough to wear it, I'm comfortable enough in my own skin. I don't need anyone else's validation. I appreciate it if it comes and say "thank-you", but I'm not about to get my panties in a bunch over it if it's the opposite.

That is why I tend to fight my sarcastic tendencies. The questions usually come from work and that is no place to get sarcastic. Some of the questions are actually genuine (usually the older people that I work with) as some have never seen a kilted person before. I wear it to work as often as I can get away with but there are over a thousand people where I work so some have never seen me in the kilt. My office is dedicated to my Scottish heritage so those in my unit know the story, thank God.

The skirt comment comes a lot of times from the opposite sex, so my ego interprets it as harmless flirting. I have mentioned a time or two that I have heard it called a Scottish skirt.

I've also seen some men at various Highland games wear T-Shirts that are overly responsive to what is under the skirt. I think the only T-Shirt I've worn is one that simply states "Real Men Wear Kilts".

Thanks for the reply