The Question!

[kiltedpride]

Yes Jamie, that is the oldest, most oft quoted response, and yes we are advanced enough to understand the play on words. However if you review my initial post on this topic, you would see that it would have been a completely inappropriate response in that situation, as would basically all of the tongue in cheek answers found on many web sites.

RJI

I disagree - one has to defuse the situation and a quick response usually does. The lighter the better 'cos you can't treat such a question seriously - it gets too heavy.
You can't really ignore the guy otherwise he might pursue you with a further question. If you don't want to make a witty response and I accept the above one I quoted is the oldest (but believe me if I had a £1 for everytime I have to spell it out to foreigners I would be rich) then keep it simple and just say with a cheeky smile "Of course its true" and then try and avoid him and escape. Most times these punks wont take it further. Women with a drink however will and they can be horrors - they dont give up even though they would be outrages if you did the same to them.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I disagree - one has to defuse the situation and a quick response usually does.

Yes, but the response still has to have some bearing on what was said or asked. Responding with the quote you provided would have made as much sense as saying "Yes, the beaver has left the nest and the troglodyte is loose upon the land". The response needed to at least acknowledge that I had heard the gentleman and understood his words. Your suggestion, my facetious one, and the actual response by my wife do not do so and are the reason I posted this question to the group.

RJI

[bubba]

The real point is that the only reasonable answer to some questions is "None of your damned business" or a sharp glare and nothing said at all.

[yoippari]

In this case he was not directly asking "are you wearing underwear?" he was at the least using tact and possibly was just asking someone who might know if all the rumors about kilts and undergarments are true. I don't think that evokes any kind of curt remark just a simple answer. Biting his head off for what sounds like an innocent question would be an over reaction.

[bear]

The correct response to,
"I would not mind wearing a kilt because I hear you don't have to wear underwear with it and I would like that. Is that true or is it just a rumor?"
is, "Yes."
Then keep going.

[kiltedpride]

. Biting his head off for what sounds like an innocent question would be an over reaction.

I agree entirely with this comment. As a kilt wearer of 25 years I've been asked this question thousands of times. The questioner is not really asking a serious question he/she is trying his luck and there is usually good humour and bonhommerie in the air.The response has to be light and airey - you can't sit down and have a serious discourse on matter. The questioner usually just wants to be friendly and a curt response is usually not the way forward. Wearing the kilt (traditional) is a passport to national and international communication and opens doors that otherwise would remain closes - these doors should not be slammed in the questioner's face. I find a find a cheeky remark like "that's for me to know and for you to find out" (knowing that they would not dare) works wonders or simply tell them 'its true' or 'I am a true scotsman' whether you are or are not a regimental that day. That's my answer even though i may be wearing a thong or jockstrap. In short it is not a question that deserves a serious answer. You deal with it lightly and move on.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I... The questioner is not really asking a serious question he/she is trying his luck and there is usually good humour and bonhommerie in the air.The response has to be light and airey - ...

Is bonhommerie anything like what was in the air over Chernobyl a few years back?

On a lighter note (if possible!), I hope you are only wearing the thong to impress a lady and the jockstrap during intense athletic competition!

RJI

[Archangel]

I'm of the opinion that the shortest neutral answer is best. I have answered "socks and Doc Martens", and also the one I posted earlier, "I wouldn't ask you that question." Easy enough for me to answer the true Scot one.
On one occasion, I headed the question off at the pass. I bumped into some workfriends, and their wives at a concert last year. I could just feel that question coming so when they asked how I was, I answered, "enjoying the breeze." That seemed to stop them and we had a short chat.

I'd really rather avoid people who want to discuss my underwear habits, quickly.

Last night I went out to Jack Astors with my wife. When we sat down, I noticed that I had really distracted a gaggle of gals at the table near us. One actually leaned right over to look under the table. They did a musical chairs thing and then a younger, more attractive woman was sitting there. She was also trying to look but more discreetly. I know how to sit so I know they weren't seeing anything. Still, some very rude people out there. Odd mind set, go for a night out with some friends and then spend time wondering if some older guy out with his wife is wearing underwear or not: get a life.

[kiltedpride]

Interesting - we seem to have lost KiltedCodeWarrior's next posting and my response - is there censorship at work here I wonder ???

[Mike1]

Interesting - we seem to have lost KiltedCodeWarrior's next posting and my response - is there censorship at work here I wonder ???

We are trying to let this thread move forward, but it needs to remain with the general rules and guidelines that our Webmaster has established. Specifically -

Please remember that this is a family friendly forum. Please do not post threads that you wouldn't want your wife, kids, grandmother, etc. to veiw. Should something questionable be posted, it may be moved to a quarantine for moderator review.