A story of Kilted Attention or: Why I can't go commando!

[Alan H]

I've been kilt checked twice. Both times, permission was asked, granted and nothing I couldn't talk about openly in a family friendly forum was handled.

I've been kilt lifted twice, neither one from the front and both of them by teenage girls in the company of other teenagers. They almost certainly were not drunk, but they very certainly were on the far side of obnoxious.

I don't spend a lot of time hanging out in the bar scene or at concerts where the default state is boozed up. In fact, I'm more likely to attend the symphony than a Flogging Molly concert.

I've never been kilt-checked, handled or in any way abused at work here at the big U. I've gotten my share of sneers from construction workers, unbelieving looks from Hispanic University employees and contractors, and that's about it. Nobody at work has ever said a single unpleasant word, and in fact wearing a kilt to work (I do IT tech support) is kind of handy because while people may not know my name, EVERYBODY knows "the kilt guy".

to Matt... no offence intended, you just happened to be the representative guy I picked, because you commented in the thread. You were the guinea pig so to speak. The point remains... and please believe me that I didn't write it for only you to hear, but for all of us to hear...

because the coin has two sides...

Don't think that everyone who straps on a kilt MUST BE LIKE YOU....a "gentleman"...or a Lebowski, or whatever.

I wasn't able to post online today until now because I was bringing MRs. Alan home from hip replacement surgery, but during the day this thought kept occurring to me. Here on XMarks we need both the more conservative folks, and the kilted Lebowski's. We NEED each other. If the place was all Lebowski's, it would devolve into stupid potty jokes (Ok I exaggerate ) interspersed with some kilt information sprinkled in. If the place was all deadly-serious kilt traditionalists, it would devolve into arcane discussions of kilting minutiae. Both of those end-games are going to seriously put-off a whole, whole lot of people who are new to kilts, and both of them are pretty awful representations of the kilting world. WE NEED EACH OTHER, and all the folks in between, to provide something at least marginally like a reflection of what the diversity of folks who wear the kilt, really are.

[Alan H]

BTW, moderators???

Thanks...

[Dale Seago]

I wasn't able to post online today until now because I was bringing MRs. Alan home from hip replacement surgery. . .

[hijack]
Hope the recovery goes well, Alan. They do great stuff these days. This time last year I was just 2 weeks past having my own hip replaced. I did initially feel like I'd been seriously nailed by a good Muay Thai kickboxer or a bad mule; but now I'm back to 100% and can't tell I ever had a problem. Balance and mobility are as good as they ever were; I can hike/climb/run; comfortably squat on my heels or kick to my own face height. . .and I'll be 62 next month.
[/hijack]

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Post deleted, as it was a reply to Alan's now deleted post.ggesting others use.

[Four]

If you guys need to talk it you (mat & alan) you should take it to PM's.

I understand that making this thread more volitile and less fun is just what will get it closed / removed.d

Thanks

[Drac]

I am quite sure the young lass I mentioned at the Ren Faire was sober...It was 11am.
Rondo

Being a season pass holding Rennie I can tell you in no uncertain terms that is a bad bet.

The opening weekend of my local will have a bunch of us having a "breakfast" before the opening cannon and there will be mamosas. I'll say that most of the people who will be there won't over indulge but like when people see kilts there are many people who seem to think that the Ren Fair means they don't have to follow the normal rules.

While I still stand by the idea that wearing a kilt does not make me deserve to be touched (anywhere period) I will say that I do think twice about where I wear it sometimes. While I wore it in New Orleans I DID NOT wear it down Burboun St during Mardi Gras night. I'd be lucky to ever have it stay down!!!

Jim

[M. A. C. Newsome]

To Four, and others, who think I might be fanning the flames here, I apologize.

In my defense, I have to say that I've been a member here since 2005, and I cannot recall ever reading a single post that got my gander up like Alan's. I think long-time members can attest to the fact that I am not prone to flame wars, nor do I engage in troll feeding. (After all, if we constantly feed the trolls, they will never learn to feed themselves, right?) :-)

Even though Alan says he did not mean to single me out in his post, but was just using me as "representative of" others he wished to address, the group that he has nominated me poster-child for has the following characteristics (according to his post).

1. Judges others based on their appearance.
2. Thinks all other kilt wearers should agree with their sense of style and attitude towards the kilt.
3. Thinks that those who do not dress, think, or act as they do are "utter scum with no morals."

The reason I am bothered so much is that I don't agree with any of the above. And yet now my name has been associated with such opinions. I don't appreciate that.

Frankly, if Alan would voluntarily delete his post #128, I would happily delete my subsequent replies. I don't think his post has any real bearing on this thread anyway. That way this thread can continue down its merry path free of this little distraction.

[ForresterModern]

*** to the comments of Matt, Dave, Scott, and Ryan since Alan's rant several pages back.

To Alan, I still feel many similar aspects of a brotherhood with you friend as I too have spent periods of raucous friendship and liberal acts with those friends in my life, and know the great satisfaction of friendships that go beyond a certain propriety level, but those have never extended to the inappropriate, or if they did they were corrected as best as possible.

To Thorina, and any others of the NorCal rabble who might be attending the April brunch in SF on that Sunday afternoon, I will hereby politely and respectfully request that if you choose to attend, which I hope all do, that kilt checks not be a part of that event as I myself and my wife and four year old son will not be comfortable, nay, will likely leave prematurely if that activity occurs during that gathering, friends or no. I thank you in advance for your considerations.

Jeff

[Father Bill]

Look folks: wild and wonderful people are just that; wild and wonderful. I love them.

Inappropriate behaviour is just that: inappropriate. I hate it.

What's inappropriate? Invading someone else's territory, privacy, or person. It's only funny to the aggressor, but the victim is forced to pretend that s/he thinks it's funny because the aggressor and friends belittle them as being "unable to take a joke" or something similar. That is nothing more nor less than bullying, and I for one am contemptuous of such behaviours.

Check my kilt or my wife's? I'll call the police, and I will insist that charges be laid whether I'm wearing my collar or not. If the officer is unwilling, I'll demand his badge number and complain to the police commission. This is absolutely inappropriate, no matter how "nice" the people are in other ways.

Wet blanket? Sure, if that's what it takes to put out fires, so here's my wet blanket: criticizing somebody's point of view as if it were elitist is nothing short of bullying. As a retired school principal, I do know a fair bit about that.

Let it end forthwith, and let no one make any attempt to excuse the inexcusable. I confess, I'm getting hot under the clerical collar.

[davidlpope]

Frankly, if Alan would voluntarily delete his post #128, I would happily delete my subsequent replies. I don't think his post has any real bearing on this thread anyway. That way this thread can continue down its merry path free of this little distraction.

Matt's response is an indication of the high quality of his character and his gracious personality. Since an apology from Alan does not appear to be forthcoming, this would seem the most practical and expedient remedy.

Cordially,

David