The Kilt Kops

[seanachie]

See the difference?

Absolutely see the difference. But as for the aforementioned person who barges into your conversation, interrupts the speaker and reprimands you.....don't waste anytime with them. They know more, they are smarter, they have been around longer than you and have direct access to unnamed experts. And clearly they are never wrong.

I had an incident several weeks ago where I was wearing a tartan, that I correctly identified and was immediately told I was wrong and in a condescending way that I did not know my tartan. The level of vitriol that rose in 30 seconds was faster than a sports car going from 0-60. I tried politeness and a smile and soon realized some people are best ignored and not wasting your time or energies on.....

[kiltedwolfman]

" See the difference? Price is the difference" Oh wait that's a Tide commercial!

But with price in mind, having to deal with people like this ( Kilt Kops ) is the price we pay for being kilt wearers, and our distain is the price they pay for thier obvious lack of manners, tact, decencey, and lack of humilty.

It's about balance, every time a person turns out well dresed and full of confidence in sporting a kilt it has to be balanced by someone with equal strength at being a general ****. In a way it is a very good thing that nature works this way as it quickly makes apparent those we will never have to worry about competing with for the best spots in the realms of comraderie and good taste!

[CMcG]

I believe Steve Ashton's original post was directed inward rather than outward. That is to say that his statement was meant for the ladies and gentlemen of Xmarks, with the intent of reminding them of the spirit of this forum...

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Great posts Steve and Matt, and some great discussion. We all need to reign in our personal prejudices/preferences regarding "proper" kilt wear, and allow others the freedom to define their own comfort and preferences in wearing a kilt.

And as an interesting side note, I just completed an online class for work dealing with diversity, and it pointed out that encouraging and allowing diversity within a group, whether at the office, or here on XMarks, will lead to better discussions and solutions. And that has been confirmed by some Gallup polls.

[AFS1970]

There seems to have been a lot of posts recently about "The right way to wear a kilt." or "What is or is not proper with the kilt."...

There are no, and will not be any, Kilt Kops on X Marks.

Just to point out, usually when there is a thread on here about this semi-mythical law enforcement agency, they are usually poking fun at them, not joining in with them. Yes there are allot of threads, but they are generally not complimenting these self appointed intruders on a job well done.

...On the other end of the spectrum, I once saw a man representing his clan in the parade of clans at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games...It honestly looked like he opened his closet that morning and asked himself what was the most ridiculous combination of clothing he could possibly wear...

Ah, but what if that wasn't the MOST ridiculous combination he could come up with? Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it some day.

[DWFII]

See the difference?

I think everyone sees the difference...in the first scenario you have two rude and belligerent individuals going head to head.

In the second, two mannered people exchanging information.

Personally, what I see...the lesson I draw from those examples...is that we tend to judge and label people, not only quickly and spuriously, but according to the way we view the results.

For instance, I don't think it is unreasonable to postulate a simple switching of roles in the above scenarios. And perhaps then, a review of the results:

What if it is Lord Lyon in the first scenario? Perhaps objecting to a chicken sporran. And he runs up against a intractable individual who takes offense at any advice--even gentle advice given discreetly and soto voce--and a rude exchange follows.

How then do we judge Lord Lyon? By the resulting brouhaha? By the almost certain characterization of him as aggressive, discourteous, and "kilt police" by the disgruntled chicken lover?

Every human interaction takes two.

Or suppose the reputed kilt policeman confronted an easy going kilt wearer...such as Matt Newsome...and the resulting conversation was brief, or even ended cordially simply because of the courteous way our fearless hero handled it.

Is the putative "kilt policeman" suddenly a "gentleman?" Maybe he was all along.

There is no one of us who cannot, by exercising some intelligence and generosity, turn aside even the most discourteous and socially awkward individuals and make pleasant conversation instead of bridling and casting pejoratives about like pennies to beggars.

Frankly, those who indulge in such invective and name calling demonstrate a lack of gentlemanly behavior that far overshadows any rude remark made by other people.

If nothing else the tale that is told about us is far more disturbing when we descend to the level of those we so obviously despise.

[Mike_Oettle]

Jordan, the tartan in my profile picture is yet to be made, and if my wife has her way it never will be.
My new kilt is in Botswana tartan. Although it was based on the Botswana flag, it is actually royal blue, rather than pale blue. Royal blue is my favourite colour!
It is also the only Botswana tartan kilt in existence – there has been only one run of the tartan, and all the other material was used to make other items.
Pictures soon.
Regards,
Mike

[ForresterModern]

If nothing else the tale that is told about us is far more disturbing when we descend to the level of those we so obviously despise.

I think it was Twain who said "Never argue with an idiot, as those around you may have trouble telling the two of you apart."

In West Virginia, we have a little more colorful saying, "Never get in a pissing match with a skunk, because you both come out not smelling so good."

Comporting one's self with kindness, consideration, and discretion is the route to a good outcome in these situations, regardless of which side of the equation one finds one's self.

[Steve Ashton]

CMcG,

You hit the nail on the head with this.

I believe Steve Ashton's original post was directed inward rather than outward. That is to say that his statement was meant for the ladies and gentlemen of Xmarks, with the intent of reminding them of the spirit of this forum...

When Hank first set up X Marks he set the standard that this forum would be different from others out there. I'm sure you've all seen other sites. The flaming and the discord are rampant.

Hanks original vision was that this would be a place that welcomed anyone who wears the kilt. At that time the modern types and styles of kilts were in their infancy. We talked about them a lot because they were new, but even in the early days of X Marks everyone was welcome and any style of kilt was accepted.

Hank also set the standard that those who wished to be members here would treat each other with respect and civility.
It was this atmosphere of civility that first drew me to this place. The respect that members showed to each other was noticeable even on my first visit. I hope each of you remember that sense of fresh air that greeted you when you first found this forum.

In this big world there are a lot of different people. Each have their own opinions biases and prejudices. We who put on the the kilt, find out very soon, that some of those out there, are more than willing to share their opinions with anyone within earshot.
We the kilted will always run into the so called Kilt Kops when out there in the world. We have many posts here about members who have experienced them and how they responded.

My original post was not concerned with what others do. In actuality I can only control what I do and say.

Here on X Marks I am first and foremost a member. Just like each of you. I see this place as my home on the web. I truly love this place. I have met many X Marks members in person and hope to meet many more.
I have yet to meet an X Marks member who I could not call my friend. Those who choose to be members here are some of the finest people in the world.

Three years ago I made Hank a promise that I would keep this forum true to his original vision. That all kilts would have equal access. That the forum would maintain an atmosphere of civility and respect.

My original post was not about what happens out there in the world. It was about that happens here on X Marks.

I do my job by keeping the spammers and hackers at bay. I keep the forum free of the viagra ads and the porn site links. I am responsible to each of you to keep this forum on line and to insure that it is available for our members.

My original post was a call to you, our members, to keep this forum true to the original vision. It was a call to all to remember that feeling of acceptance and civility that first drew you to X Marks.

We can't control the feelings or actions of others. We can only control what we do and say. My call was not an attempt to control or impose myself on others it was a reminder of why we have chosen to gather here.

It was a call to keep this special place, the sort of place, we are proud to refer our friends to. A place we can share with our spouses and families. A place that welcomes, with open arms, any and all that choose to join us.

[Doc Canary]

Thanks for your post Steve.
To be honest, I have not visited the forum very much the last couple of months due to the "if you don't feel the same way wear a kilt the "proper" way" comments that seem to pop up in almost every thread.
Glad to see there are others who find such comments tiresome and possibly devisive to the over all goals of the forum.