Kilted amongst the uneducated...

[Scott West]

Very sorry for the willfully pathetic display of "humanity" you recently endured. I APPLAUD your amazing composure in response to the kilt lifting. It is, unfortunately, a constant source of amazement the depths of immaturity and ignorance in which people will proudfully wallow. As for the insights on the use of "rednecks", your evaluation was based on pre-pubescent conduct committed by "adults". Now, I do not condone the use of unprovoked slurs. However, in this instance, is there a more apropos adjective? Don't want to be CALLED one? Then don't ACT like one.

[Tim B]

Hey, at least one of the bunch had the intelligence to associate Burns Night with Scots and kilts!

[timseh]

Well, I was out tonight at the store and a woman said to me, "Didn't I see you at Sam's party? Weren't you the kilt guy?"

Yes I was.

"Oh! I thought it was great."

Thanks.

"I'm Irish too!"

Uh...I'm of Scottish heritage...

"What's the difference?"



Oh well.....

Hmmm... I think the difference is about 12 miles from Donaghadee and Portpatrick as the crow flies, isn't it?

[piperdbh]

And now for the other side of the coin...

When we (myself included) go anywhere kilted, we're more than likely to be the "different" one in the room. The human eye is drawn to "difference". That's why we look at a stain on somone's shirt, or a wreck on the highway, or at the big mole I used to have on my forehead.
If we expect to be ignored, we're setting ourselves up for disappointment. If we think we can "educate" everyone on kiltedness, it won't work. If we think that everyone will respond to us with respectful curiosity and be fascinated by our regaling them with tales of the '45, we're kidding ourselves big-time, especially if there's alcohol involved, on either side.
People try to respond to a new situation either by embracing it or by rejecting it. Often, they try to use humor of some kind to ease into the new situation. Do the jokes get old? Yes. They were old the first time someone told them. Do we get tired of folks staring at us? Yes. It can be kind of creepy. Was that man out of line for messing with your kilt? You better believe it. I'd applaud you for knocking him on his backside. Is it fair to automatically lump everyone who is ignorant of kiltedness into one big pot and call them idiots and rednecks? I don't think so. Some of us here are rednecks and fairly proud of it.
What those folks were probably thinking was, "Hey! Look at that. That dude's different. He must be confident enough to take a joke, so I'll try one I heard soemwhere." The trouble is, it sounds like they all tried the same old chestnuts. I agree with you that it was not a pleasant evening, and you should have gained mega points with the birthday girl. But, sometimes we set ourselves up for at best good-natured kidding, at worst physical assault, as in the case of the pleat-lifter. I'm not blaming the victim, as I've been on the receiving end of a lot of this same kind of stuff, but we need to have realistic expectations about the behavior of others.

...for what it's worth...

[pastorsteve]

Sometimes it's best to be concise - just say what it is. Redneck as a definition is, as has been said blue collar outdoor working, red on the neck - no real negative. Redneck today more often connotes a behavior or attitude - which you nailed on the head. This "redneck" behavior or attitude is a chosen/learned behavior that one chooses either to perpetuate or change. If one chooses to behave that way, one will probably be labeled that way.

However, the comparison to the N word is not only not even close to redneck. It has always been used as a derogatory term. Comparing it to redneck shows a disregard for the history of the word.

[Larry124]

Reminds me of a phrase that I dislike: “A Teaching Moment”.

Difficult to do if not in a traditional teaching environment.

Sometimes (often?) -- and sometimes condescendingly -- used to preach a belief or opinion.

In my career I was not primarily a teacher, but I did teach occasionally.
Selective memory: I don’t remember the source, but I remember the thought:

• Animals are trained (or schooled). The responsibility is on the trainer.
• Children are taught. Much of the responsibility is on the teacher (and parents).
• Adults are presented with information from which they agree (or not) to learn. The choice and responsibility are on the student.

[Kilt_Noob]

I find very few people today are accually stupid, ignorant, whatever you want to call it. I think this sort of behavior is out of plain simple insecurity. Nothing more. Seeing a man secure in whatever he does, reminds those "men" that they aren't secure with themselves. This is usually a trigger for something deep within ourselves to be validated and accepted within the "pack". You just walked outside the "norm" of that circle- they were just responding to your lack of insecurity and had to try to ridicule you in order to regain their's back. You had the right attitude, you kept your cool and picked them off as they came at you. Hypothetical situation, if the "alpha male" would have been positive towards you, the others would have followed suit. Its the way guys are...take it for what it's worth. You threatened their defenition of masculenity- Job well done!!! The power of the Kilt! I lift a glass in honor of you sir! You walked the gauntlet and made it though with your pride and honor intact! That is THE defenition of being a man. Rock on!

[Colonel MacNeal]

Sometimes it's best to be concise - just say what it is. Redneck as a definition is, as has been said blue collar outdoor working, red on the neck - no real negative. Redneck today more often connotes a behavior or attitude - which you nailed on the head. This "redneck" behavior or attitude is a chosen/learned behavior that one chooses either to perpetuate or change. If one chooses to behave that way, one will probably be labeled that way.

However, the comparison to the N word is not only not even close to redneck. It has always been used as a derogatory term. Comparing it to redneck shows a disregard for the history of the word.

Both words originated as physical descriptions. However, both of them are used as ethnic slurs, and neither of them should be used in this forum.

[macwilkin]

Both words originated as physical descriptions. However, both of them are used as ethnic slurs, and neither of them should be used in this forum.

Not necessarily, Colonel. There is an account from an English traveller in 1830 who described the Ulster-Scots Presbyterians in Fayetteville, North Carolina as "Rednecks", in which appears to be in reference to the Scottish convenanters. See Fischer's Albion's Seed for a discussion of the alternative etymology of the word.

Regards,

Todd

[Colonel MacNeal]

Not necessarily, Colonel. There is an account from an English traveller in 1830 who described the Ulster-Scots Presbyterians in Fayetteville, North Carolina as "Rednecks", in which appears to be in reference to the Scottish convenanters. See Fischer's Albion's Seed for a discussion of the alternative etymology of the word.

Regards,

Todd

Todd,
I am familiar the quote you're talking about, but the R word was used as an ethnic slur at the start of this thread, regardless of its origins. Some of your people are comfortable with the word "c00n@$$", but is considered a slur by others. Ethnic slurs of any kind do not belong in this forum.
Cheers, ColMac