What they really say about us

[O'Callaghan]

I'm not sure how to respond to number 5 and stay within the forum rules. Yes, a kilt is a particular type of skirt, but wearing a man's skirt is not cross dressing, any more than a woman wearing trousers, because there is no intent to be mistaken for a person of the opposite gender, and nor is it very likely. This is the 21st century, people.

Now, those guys you see wearing a ladies' kilt at the ren fair are cross dressing, even if it is by accident because they are too unobservant to notice that it fastens on the ladies' side, LOL!

[Cowher]

I don't know, gentlemen. I really don't see anything that unusual about being kilted. Now, a fascination with reptiles, that doesn't seem quite "mainstream".

That's why I thought it would be a open minded forum to post this question in. Most of the reptile guys have expressed that they were viewed as weird or geeks by others.

I agree with Ryan. But even if they would never say it to your face it's gotta be what they are thinking. It's a glimpse into the minds of some really insecure boys.

[CDNSushi]

Post 1
Other people wear kilts to make some sort of fashion statement like, "Ooooh, look at me! I'm wearing a kilt, and YOU probably thought it was a Catholic school girl skirt, didn't ya!?! NOPE!!! It's a kilt! Aren't I edgy?!?! Don't you wish you were as much of an "individual" as I am?"

I guess I must be a little dense, then.... Because I see absolutely nothing wrong with wearing something because it's edgy and individualistic. If this is why someone wants to wear something -- that's fine by me. If we didn't have edgy people pushing the boundaries of fashion, the world would be a so much more boring place!

It's a shame that people such as this person who you've quoted here don't see that. Or perhaps they DO... But since they themselves cannot or do not want to dress in a way that's edgy or individual, it arouses in them an intense desire put down others who do.

Something tells me I'd have a helluva better time going out drinking with Jean Paul Gaultier than I would with this dork, and others of his ilk. The common theme with all the responses you got was: unless you're wearing it to honour your heritage, you've got no business wearing it... And that sort of closed-mindedness just gets under my skin.

Anyway, reading those responses first thing in the morning put me in a rather foul mood, so I think I'd better stop here while I'm still ahead. Just remember,

Big people talk about IDEAS.
Average people talk about THINGS.
Small people talk about OTHER PEOPLE.

That is all.

[Nighthawk]

:sigh:

Well, it'll be lonely, all by myself in that lifeboat, but there'll be more for me of whatever supplies are stocked. I hope those nine folks are good swimmers.

I was thinking the same thing. Justin Kyoshi told me after class the other night that I am "turning into one dangerous motherfu..." Well, you get the idea. I'd be the last one in the boat. So in reality, I don't care what anyone thinks. Because if anyone wants to start anything with me over my kilt wearing, then fine. Said someone will not have fun with it.

[Bugbear]

I was thinking the same thing. Justin Kyoshi told me after class the other night that I am "turning into one dangerous motherfu..." Well, you get the idea. I'd be the last one in the boat. So in reality, I don't care what anyone thinks. Because if anyone wants to start anything with me over my kilt wearing, then fine. Said someone will not have fun with it.

Ya, but you have all that manly yang about you, Hawk...
Some of us have to be more... water-like.

[chrisupyonder]

I started a thread on caithness.org our local community forum, in April asking what people thought about wearing a kilt for daily or formal wear but never got round to posting the answers. So here they are. It should be noted that not all are now local and live overseas but are ex-pat caithnessians.

West coast Canada
There isn't a little icon thingy for what my eyebrows are doing! I'm thinking if an overseas visitor of scottish origins turned up in caithness wearing a kilt they would no fit in with the locals.
I do see them worn in canada but mostly by young guys as a statement, and ladies of a certain age at funerals. Well, apart from the pipers and caber tossers!

Caithness
The kilt is more popular in those countries because they are relatively 'young' countries and many of their people feel the need for some romanticised affiliation to e' auld countree. It's a nonsense of course but don't tell them that because we want them to visit and spend their money here.
This reminds me of a conversation I overheard on the Castle esplanade in Edinburgh some thirty years ago. A group of North American tourists were standing looking over the wall at Princes Street and one lady said to the other, "Aww it's so nice that they built the castle next to such pretty gardens."

Caithness
Only if they want to.
But I do remember seeing an American family visiting Germany where the parents had dressed up their boys in the lederhosen/waistcoats/hats and girls in dirndls. I overeheard more than one local saying they looked ridiculous.
My English friend who now lives up here got married in a kilt last year.
I like the modern tartans and alternative material kilts. Tradition is all well and good, but there's no reason why we can't move with the times and fashions.
Each to their own, if you like it, wear it.

Inverness Scotland
My husband wears the kilt at every available opportunity. He loves his kilt and wears it with hose, boots and a t shirt for going to the pub, with a beautiful White shirt which he bought in India for going out for dinner, with a ghillie shirt or jacket for weddings. Our friends are the same. If there are several of us going out then there are several guys in kilts and t shirts. They always always get complimented here in Inverness.
When we got married my husband, best man and the guy officiating wore plaids or filimores(sp?). It's been worn several times since. It's fun to watch them put it on. At the wedding my dad wore a kilt with a tweed jacket and looked
marvellous. He was 72 and had never worn one before. My brother in law and several guests from Lancashire wore kilts and loved the whole thing.
We are going again to France in a couple of years and the kilt will go with us. It raised a few eyebrows in Brittany last time we were there but it's fun, starts conversations off and has even raised a cheer. Fab
I think it's great to see the kilt worn for every day.

Caithness


Try as I might, I can't get my husband to wear a kilt, even though he has strong Scottish ancestry. Says his legs are all wrong! I'd wear mine again if I could fit into it.

Snowmen fall from the sky unassembled! (I like her sig - Chris)

Caithness
Wear what you want.
But try not to look like some of the awful parodies you see in foreign places........(see lederhosen comment above)....

Tucson, AZ
I remember a gentleman in Castletown, Caithness who wore his kilt regularly. He wore it proudly and looked good in it. He was a hotel proprieter.

Edinburgh but from Thurso
Many Caithnessians do not consider themselves as Highlanders, but more akin to the Norsemen and Vikings, maybe this is the reason for lack of kilts in the streets up there.
I have a kilt outfit, but I only wear it for dress occasions and I have worn it in Caithness, its second outing. I wear it with pride, my Clan has 3 different Tartans.
I live in Auld Reekie where every second shop on the Royal Mile is a Tartan Tat shop all owned by a Sikh **** selling things they call kilts made in Taiwan and selling at approx. £40 a garment, where as my outfit cost over £600.00, but mine was woven in Peebles of Scottish Wool. I would never think of using it for everyday wear, but when I do wear it I feel 10 feet tall.

Blenheim New Zealand
I now live in New Zealand and am really proud of the fact that my fellow NZ's are really into their Scottish roots.I have seen more Pipe Bands etc over here than all the years I lived in Wick, Caithness and other parts of the UK.I love going to our annual A&P show as it reminds me of Wick Gala week,with highland dancing,Pipe Bands etc,Burns day is also celebrated in the Pubs with people encouraged to attend with Scottish dress the norm.
Lots of people that I speak to, would really love to visit Scotland to see where their families came from,but like lots of people money is an issue,I think its great to see so many locals who celebrate their Scottish heritage.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats it, there were no more posts. I have left out names and exact locations.
There are 2173 active members on the forum.Chris.

[PEEDYC]

I am an occasional kilt wearer and unfortunately had the occasion to wear it last Friday to a funeral. As it was a late afternoon affair I went from there to meet my friends as usual for our 5 o'clock session at the pub. For reasons I won't go into we have changed pubs and most of the patrons had never seen me in a kilt before. In the main I was given a few glances but most took it for granted. My friends all commented on how smart I looked. This is in Yorkshire in England.

I am well used to the normal questions but was contemplating having the following printed on a T shirt :-
It's a KILT not a skirt.
Yes it is comfortable to wear.
Yes I am Scottish.
No I do not play bagpipes.
Yes I have eaten haggis.
It is called a sporran.
I keep my cash and keys in it.
That's a knife called a sgian dubh.
YES it is legal to carry in the UK.
No I will not answer that question, it is a well kept secret.

It should save a bit of time and while any ladies are reading it I will be checking them out.

[Jock Scot]

Yeah, that's about what I would have expected. Of course, the big talkers (especially the lifeboat guy) and their ilk tend to be an internet thing, at least in my experience. I've been wearing a kilt around downtown Atlanta, on MARTA (like the subway, but not always under ground), and whathave you for going on ten years. And in all that time, I could probably count the skirt comments I've gotten on one hand... and I've never gotten anything more offensive than the snotty skirt comment, so far as I can remember.

Folks can type out whatever they want on an internet forum, but when it comes down to real life, they have no idea what they'd do upon seeing a random kilty, unless it's already happened to them; and I'm here to tell you- most all of them would do nothing.

So yes- Any of you kilties out there who get ragged on too much, now hear this- If you cultivate a feeling of relaxed strength (read: he's comfortable in his own skin, he's probably a nice guy, but something tells me that he could just as easily kill me as look at me), folks will pick up on that, whether they know they are or not. That will keep the jerks at bay, while not scaring off the well-meaning populace.

...that's what I find, anyway.



There you go!

Well said that man!

Now you have got me wondering, hummmmm. As I have never been asked the question, never had a snide comment, never a smirk in a tad over three score years and ten whilst wearing the kilt, I wonder what sort of "aura" I have? Perhaps I ought to have thought about this in my earlier life? Oh well, too late now!

[Cowher]

I am well used to the normal questions but was contemplating having the following printed on a T shirt :-
It's a KILT not a skirt.
Yes it is comfortable to wear.
Yes I am Scottish.
No I do not play bagpipes.
Yes I have eaten haggis.
It is called a sporran.
I keep my cash and keys in it.
That's a knife called a sgian dubh.
YES it is legal to carry in the UK.
No I will not answer that question, it is a well kept secret.

It should save a bit of time and while any ladies are reading it I will be checking them out.

That's awesome. Put me down for one.

[James Hood]

Cool of you to seek opinionsfrom the great lowing herd-masses. 'Gotta try that and, "will advise."