Kilted to a police recruiting interview

[Allan Thomson]

For all those in the no camp, some of the responses are somewhat alarming, given that police forces are supposed to.be looking at diversity.

Let's say for one minute if the police force had a pipe band and the interviewee was a piper...then wearing a kilt promoting a discussion could be a good move. Or if the individual was ex forces from a kilted regiment?....

What I'd say is don't ask random people online for their opinion. Assess and consider the situation based on your own intelligence and not the views of those who may despite out of date experience be somewhat out of touch with the more modern world...


Just remember if you wear it you will be more than likely asked why so make sure you have a good explanation for why it is important to you...and remember you will stand out...so make sure you're ahead of the game and with a lot to offer..mthat way you will be remembered as that outstanding smartly turned out kilted candidate and not just the eccentric kilt clad guy without a clue or anything to offer thrm...

[estimaa]

You have to understand that the vast majority of society judges people by appearance.

Why this is so, in the 21st century when a city like London or Birmingham has more nationalities in it, wandering the streets than there are cities in China beats me!

I have worn a kilt to a court case.
It was one of the obvious BIAS issues against me as a defendant (IN THE UK TOO!)
Stuff mentioned were, "why do you wear that", etc etc....

It appears a magistrate will deliberately then pick on you as some sort of disrespectful and disruptive element, merely on appearances! (of course), despite the fact the previous defendant was dreadlocked, been picked up for mariuana use and trading it.....

He got off with nothing except a ticking off and promising to attend "rehab" which of course he would never do!

Fact is, the police & justice system have deep rooted prejudices, the police routinely lie or falsify evidence (hillsborough anyone and all the other scandals?), and the whole creaky system is full of exactly the kind of aggravation which needs a good kicking.

You're not gonna kick anyone or their habits wearing a kilt.
They will come back for you, and claim you're some sort of weirdo or perv, or lock you up for some invented idea and refuse you bail..
(yes it happened to me even as a WASP).

It's sad, but I can't see it will change any time soon.
TBH I get a better reaction from Russian immigration than I ever saw in some parts of the UK establishment. (they routinely LIKE IT at the border and ask!)


GO figure!
Prejudice is prejudice and the UK class system is alive and well.

[Allan Thomson]

William Shakespeare had some words for it -

"Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,"

and it is true, like it or not, that you are judged by others in the way that you dress. If the police force in question is unconventional and its members habitually wear kilts as part of their uniform then, of course, it will be perfectly OK to arrive kilted. As that seems an unlikely scenario, even here in Scotland the home of the kilt, then the decision has to be made as to whether the job is really that important after all.

Andlikewise "Gie fools their silks and knaves their wines... A man's a man for a that"....

Just remember one thing, if you were to fave a substantial miscarriage of justice and part of thatjudgement was made on your attire then you would be entitled to no insignificant redress....
It however may he more challenging if the attire was only a mitigating factor andthe facts alone justified the judgement.

But that's by the by. I'm saying that society is changing and the only way to push for the kilt 5o be awarded the same status as any other form of ethnically particular form of clothing is by standing up & ensuring that any negative treatment accorded to the kilt wearer is challenged...

[Wareyin]

For all those in the no camp, some of the responses are somewhat alarming, given that police forces are supposed to.be looking at diversity.

Let's say for one minute if the police force had a pipe band and the interviewee was a piper...then wearing a kilt promoting a discussion could be a good move. Or if the individual was ex forces from a kilted regiment?....

What I'd say is don't ask random people online for their opinion. Assess and consider the situation based on your own intelligence and not the views of those who may despite out of date experience be somewhat out of touch with the more modern world...


Just remember if you wear it you will be more than likely asked why so make sure you have a good explanation for why it is important to you...and remember you will stand out...so make sure you're ahead of the game and with a lot to offer..mthat way you will be remembered as that outstanding smartly turned out kilted candidate and not just the eccentric kilt clad guy without a clue or anything to offer thrm...

I have noticed that of all places, members on this forum are the most likely to tell people not to wear the kilt!

[Father Bill]

One post moved subject to discussion on a flag.

[Tobus]

I have noticed that of all places, members on this forum are the most likely to tell people not to wear the kilt!

Perhaps that's because members here, whilst loving the kilt, still recognise that common sense should apply? The kilt is not always appropriate for every event in life, and that's a fact. Hence, there are some places where wearing a kilt could lead to a negative interaction with others. If even native Highlanders understand this, why shouldn't we all?

[jthk]

Perhaps that's because members here, whilst loving the kilt, still recognise that common sense should apply? The kilt is not always appropriate for every event in life, and that's a fact. Hence, there are some places where wearing a kilt could lead to a negative interaction with others. If even native Highlanders understand this, why shouldn't we all?

I agree with your statement but not every kilt-wearing person lives in the highlands or are a part of wider Scottish culture. Consequently, their own context may be very different than one in the highlands and as a result, may provide a more open or more conservative backdrop for kilt-wearing.

Best,
Jonathan

[Wareyin]

Perhaps that's because members here, whilst loving the kilt, still recognise that common sense should apply? The kilt is not always appropriate for every event in life, and that's a fact. Hence, there are some places where wearing a kilt could lead to a negative interaction with others. If even native Highlanders understand this, why shouldn't we all?

On the face of it, maybe. But I've seen the recommendations to not even wear a kilt while out on the town for a Friday evening for dinner or the like, so it appears that for some the only place a kilt is appropriate is in the closet.

[Tobus]

I agree with your statement but not every kilt-wearing person lives in the highlands or are a part of wider Scottish culture. Consequently, their own context may be very different than one in the highlands and as a result, may provide a more open or more conservative backdrop for kilt-wearing.

Best,
Jonathan

Absolutely, each person lives in their own environment where the kilt may be more accepted or less accepted than others. My point was that common sense should always apply, and that there is no environment (not even the Highlands themselves, home of the kilt) where the kilt is always 100% appropriate in every situation. It surprises me that there are people out there who genuinely don't understand this. They seem offended by the notion that society doesn't always accept the kilt for all events.

Part of being an experienced and well-rounded kilt-wearer is not only knowing how and when to wear it, but how and when not to wear it. I have said this in other similar threads, and I'll keep repeating it as a valuable mantra: we cannot control the perception of the public. We just need to understand how people around us view the kilt, and work within that context. If we fail to understand it or fail to work within the social framework of our local environment, we risk negative interactions. And that leads to further negative perceptions of the kilt. We can rant and rave all day long about how unfair it is, or complain about how they just don't understand how much we love the kilt. We can call them pig-headed and ignorant, claiming that they just don't understand the cultural importance of it, but it still doesn't change the fact that in some environments (and in some social situations) wearing a kilt will not be a positive thing.

I believe that the majority of people replying to this thread correctly understand that the environment of a job interview for the police force is not the most likely place where a kilt will be viewed as appropriate.

[estimaa]

it still doesn't change the fact that in some environments (and in some social situations) wearing a kilt will not be a positive thing.

Using the same logic, women shouldn't be wearing trousers to any interviews either.
oh, and btw you have heard of fashion?

The main reason why certain clothing becomes fashionable or not, is for the simple reason people wear it.

(suddenly tartan is becoming REALLY fashionable for women in Russia again. I say GREAT!
The more the better, because next month we have a Scottish evening in our city.)

If you go to an interview intending to make a fashion statement, maybe you should work in the fashion industry not go to some stilted public institution where you might get dismissed for wearing some really ostentatious symbol such as a cross (cos people might suddenly get offended if you work at an airline).

There's no end to these kind of PC and ridiculous arguments.
They are CLOTHES, wearing a cross doesn't make you are a jesuit......et al..