So it's not a skirt (or maybe it is). And the point is...?

[pdcorlis]

Very thoughtful post Rex. I'm always amused and amazed by those who think I'm in need of their opinions. When a total stranger feels compelled to "share" with me I think about my father who always suggested it would be best if I just worried about keeping my side of the street clean.

[Richland]

On that note, It is documented that women survive hardship, famine, to include the Holocaust, etc. better than men.
The weaker sex I think not
The fairer sex indeed.

[switchblade5984]

Now Ron, that's not entirely accurate. A lack of education can be cured. However, as the comedian Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid."

Unfortunately, that leaves a lot of people that can't be fixed.

AGREED!

[Kilted KT]

wow...heavy topics again, and very well written, I might say.

I'm failry certain that there isn't a more overtly masculine garment than the kilt...and even the most rediculous comment can be easily turned around with an "It's a kilt", or, should the would-be insulter be of a rather distasteful ilk, a well placed glare, and that look of "You said WHAT?". I prefer the first method, but both work pretty well.

unless, of course, you are being tailed by an intoxicated lassie determined to get an answer to the question first hand...with that any way out of the situation ( if you are not in the mood to deal with it) is fair game. I've found bouncers find unending humor in escorting a lady from the bar for "agravated sexual assault" (as one put it).

As far as being compared to a woman...there are a great many men I know who I would rather not be comapred to, and some women who are so great that comparing me to them would be a disservice to the woman in question..

as long as I'm not compared to the drunken moron slobering on himself, hunched over in the corner at the pub, I'll be fine.

[Joe Gondek]

As far as being compared to a woman...there are a great many men I know who I would rather not be comapred to, and some women who are so great that comparing me to them would be a disservice to the woman in question..

as long as I'm not compared to the drunken moron slobering on himself, hunched over in the corner at the pub, I'll be fine.

Well said

[auld argonian]

Gee...to your hazing office mates I'd have to say about the same thing that I'd say to anyone who ridiculed the kilt: Sorry, I've graduated high school and moved on....go find somebody else to play with.

One of the things that comes to my mind when this topic comes up is that most of the people that I've known who have had real gender issues would probably be able to suss out the fact that a kilt wearer considers it a masculine garment. I think that folks in that situation are pretty perceptive about things like that. It's the insecure people who are trying to get a cheap laugh or a reaction out of the kiltwearer who seem to have the problem. Those folks I can do without.

Best

AA

[KiltedKnight]

Thank you very much. As a matter of fact, I notice a lot of guys have nothing but priase for their wives, girlfriends, and mothers, but say they do anything like a woman, and it's a deadly insult. I wonder then how true that praise must be.

I served 21 years as a soldier, I learned all of the soldier stuff including how to sew, mend my own socks, press my clothes, wash dishes and pots and pans, make my bunk/bed, clean my room to the point that someone wearing a white glove couldn't find any dirt. My point? since the ratio of servicemen to civilians is so small I can say that if necessary I can make war better than most men because that was my job and what I was trained to do and today I can keep a house just as good if not better than a woman.
Meaning no offence to womenkind I have to say that if a man cannot do what a woman can do how can he call himself her equal?
I find no disgrace in having the ability to maintain my own clothing, I work hand in hand with my wife, as she holds a regular job as well and I help her gladly do the laundry, wash the dishes, vacuum, etc., but also on my off days or when I forget to take my "chill pills" as my wife calls them I am still able to put some smart *** flat on his *** if need be.
Sorry, but I have to laugh at the clown who tries to put the kilt down in any way because this clown doesn't know what I know nor is he able to do what I can do. That in my opinion makes the clown only half a man.

Chris.

[timber]

One of my co-workers calls it a skirt. She does know that it is more precise to call it a kilt, and has even corrected other people who call it a skirt, but when we are talking about it she still calls it a skirt. I really don't mind that, because she means no disrespect. That's just the way she is.

[Scott Gilmore]

Thank you very much. As a matter of fact, I notice a lot of guys have nothing but priase for their wives, girlfriends, and mothers, but say they do anything like a woman, and it's a deadly insult. I wonder then how true that praise must be.

Well stated, Rex, I appreciate the thought being given this topic.

Shay, the reason being compared to a woman is often insulting is because often it's meant as an insult. It has nothing to do with gender. Frankly, I don't care what someone says to me; if it's meant to be an insult, I consider myself insulted. The words don't make a difference, the intention does. The words usually only serve to convey how insulting someone wants to be.

Beyond that though, it is, in my opinion, perfectly normal to vest your identity with your gender - to associate who you are and how you should behave to some extent (not completely, mind you, that would be a broader subject) with not only your gender, but also your sexuality. We are natural creatures after all, that's just the reality of it, and denying it does no good.

So when a kilt is referred to as a skirt, it seems natural to respond pretty much every time, not to ignore the comment. Either the other party simply doesn't know the difference, in which case I feel a certain social responsibility to help them avoid such a faux pas going forward, or they are being "cute" (it isn't, so a polite, gentle-but-firmly correction is in order), or they really are being rude. If they are being rude, it's up to us to determine the degree of insult and, if we chose to, respond in measure. Usually such an incident - rare as it is - amounts to nothing. I've never been in anything like a scuffle because of such behavior.

Thank you,
Scott Gilmore

[KiltedPilot]

Some interesting thoughts gentlemen.

Personally I rarely find ambiguity in a 'nice skirt' remark. I almost always know if it is a genuine compliment, playful jest, a brainless drunken off-the-cuff remark, or a deliberate insult. I then know how to deal with it.

There is just too much information in the intonation, facial expression, and body language, to leave much room for ambiguity.

I do find a gender difference. Women don't have a hangup with the word 'skirt', and frequently enthuse over the idea of 'men in skirts' when they see my kilt. Men have a BIG hangup about the word 'skirt'. I don't recall ANY guy complimenting me on my 'skirt', but will compliment my 'kilt'.

But if a guy, or a girl, with a big warm smile, and a thumbs up, says 'nice skirt' to me -- I'll accept the compliment as graciously as it was given.

KP.