Getting your knees tickled?

[Tobus]

B) The line:- "I said of course she could" So much for spousal respect and diginity

That's a pretty bold statement. Why do you automatically assume that letting a harmless old lady tickle one's knees has anything to do with spousal respect and dignity? I can't imagine any wife feeling disrespected or undignified at that. Rather the opposite, in fact. Most wives I know would probably think it's cute and funny.

Personally, I don't think I want to live in a world where the kilt is as boring and typical as everything else. Having a little old lady want to tickle one's knees is the kind of small delight that makes kilt-wearing fun.

This isn't even in the same ballpark as a rude kilt-check.

[Dave G]

Personally, I'd be flattered to have a lady, be she old, young, betwixt or between, tickle my knees.

And by asking my wife, she would be tickled to have me be tickled.

[Cowher]

I don't think I want my knees tickled. It's weird and I would feel uncomfortable with it. But I also don't think there was anything devious about this little old ladies request.

[Cynthia]

I don't think any harm was meant -- of course, my husband and I both would be a little disturbed by the request and most likely say "no." He doesn't care for kilt checks or touching like that unless it's by me, and honestly I'm glad.

[Calico]

I think it was a cute incident.

Also, I think all due respect was shown by asking the spouse first.

In one day of kilt wearing I've had people touching what they shouldn't (in this case just the bovine sporran) without them giving it a thought. While I didn't mind, as I consider myself an ambassador of the kilt whose first job is to make everyone I meet feel comfortable, I personally did think it was rude.

For the record, I would have enjoyed that encounter immensely.

[Mike_Oettle]

While my knees are not ticklish (or at any rate, nobody has tried to tickle them), my wife once worked with a woman who did have ticklish knees.
I forget how I discovered this, but I had a few opportunities to make her giggle.
I didn’t carry the experiment too far, though.
I do recall a rather uncomfortable kilt check . . . but that was long ago, and perhaps best forgotten.
Regards,
Mike

[Father Bill]

Okay, I'll weigh in. (I've been avoiding it.) As in almost all things, it's hard to be black and white. Being human, people usually must make judgements. Those judgements are normally based on circumstances and on their reading (accurate, we might hope) of such clues as body language, tone of voice, facial expresssion, etc. They often include glances between one and one's companions to ascertain similar judgements based on the same clues - facial expression, body language, etc.

Please note that in the above, I have avoided as much as possible any absolutes by using such words as "usually" or "normally" or "often." It is exactly those words that are "often" missed when we get absolute answers, and I respect those who leave space for others to judge their own responses and circumstances. I get enough silly black and white answers in my professional discussions both now as a priest, and in my former life as a school principal.

There are hwever, a limited number of circumstances in this world where absolutes are appropriate. For that reason, I like to say "Moderation in all things... including moderation."

What I imagine in the situation described by the OP is a variation from the norm based on a judgement call, and that it seems to have worked out in an interesting and amusing way. That's success!

"Lovingly,"

Bill

[chrisupyonder]

This happened a few years ago but I was just wondering whether it was a common occurance for you gentlemen...

I was wandering round the supermarket with himself, who had on a Utilikilt at the time, when we noticed we were being followed round by a tiny little very elderly lady. Eventually she came over, and asked me (not himself) whether I'd mind if she tickled his knees! I said of course she could (I didnt ask him, but he's a fairly tolerant bloke when it comes to being molested by random old ladies, its not as it it happens every day) so, she gave his kneecaps a little pat, and wandered off very happy looking. Himself just stood there looking mildly bemused, then got on with the shopping afterwards.

I've always wondered whether she was fulfilling some unrequited desire from a long lost inamorato, or whether she just had a thing for gentlemen's knees

Does this happen to anyone else?

To answer the OP's original question..

I do not think it is a common occurance.

No, it has never happened to me.

What would I do? bearing in mind I am 65 years old and who would want to tickle my knobbly knees.

In the above situation I would not mind and just shrug it off.
If it was a person any younger than about 80 or gender then NO! NO! NO!