First post, first question

**TheJrSp8** · 2nd October 06, 09:41 PM

Well, as the title says, this is my first post here. As you may have gathered, TheSp8 is my daddy. Now, he recently bought me an Amerikilt, and I'll have it in a few days. I've been asking some of my friends their opinions, and disappointingly, the responses have been unanimously negative. I go to Kansas State University(and I'm an Ag Major, no less), and although I love the school, it does have the downside of being strongly rooted in farming and cowboy hats, and therefore rather unused to anything remotely foreign. I've asked upwards of 15-20 of my friends, and all of them have replied in some form of, 'Dude, if I see you on campus, I'm totally walking the other way.' Has anyone else had a similar experience or any comments?

**Alan** · 2nd October 06, 10:51 PM

First of all welcome from Georgia. I think you will find that when you wear your kilt, the response will be different than the opinions you got from your friends. They are just not use to seeing you in a kilt. When I wear my kilt I usually get positive comments. As you can see I live in the south and I have never seen anyone else wear a kilt around here except during Celtic festivals (except me of course). Although my sons do wear theirs on occasion. Just wear it with confidence and you should be fine. Enjoy your new kilt.

**The Wizard of BC** · 2nd October 06, 10:54 PM

Having lived in Manhattan, KS while stationed at Ft. Riley I think you could get a completly different reaction if you went over to the post and talked to some of the guys there.
Drive up to Custer Hill and find a group hanging out. Ask them what they think of your kilt. I can almost guarantee the reaction will be completly different from your normal crowd.
Take the web address of every kiltmaker you can think of and of this forum 'cause you WILL be asked where you got the kilt and where to get more information.

**Pour1Malt** · 3rd October 06, 02:09 AM

walcome tae the rabble!

guid oan ya fur fin'in us...

e'en if ya needed help frae Da Tony

slainte mhath!

**Norbydog** · 3rd October 06, 02:25 AM

Let me guess, most, if not all of the friends you talked with are male. Wear your kilt out to a party or some other gathering, and await the female's and/or stranger's reactions. I assure you, they will be more positive, and you will be the center of attention (the place to be when you are at those kinds of events and are a strapping college lad) There will be some idiots asking about "your skirt", but check out some of the one liners on the kiltday page and you can beat them with humor.

I am past college age, but I still remember those days. I live, and went to college, in Nebraska.

P.S. If you wear a Wildcats shirt to the upcoming football game versus the Nebraska Cornhuskers, you got a pretty good chance of getting on TV. Plus, you'll be the one your section will be talking about after the game. And people you don't even know will be asking you about it later.

**Jerry** · 3rd October 06, 02:50 AM

I agree with Norbydog. You've been asking the wrong group. Ask the young ladies on campus and you'll get a different opinion. And once you wear it and your male friends see the attention you are getting from the females, they'll change their minds.

**TheJrSp8** · 3rd October 06, 03:06 AM

Well, I've asked some of the ladies as well, and they've said pretty much the same thing. But, I guess we'll see what the reaction is once I get it and wear it on campus. Hopefully the responses will be different once I'm actually wearing it.

**porrick** · 3rd October 06, 03:20 AM

Hi, and welcome from northern Norway!

I teach at a University college, and often go kilted to work. The reactions from the students are nothing but positive, and have even had female students asking if I could convince their boyfriends to get themselves a kilt.

One thing is what your peers say now - another thing may be when they see you have pride and guts enough to go kilted.

You have undoubtedly read numerous postings on the forum referring to kilted experiences. Interestingly enough, when in Dumfries last month, lads in the age group 18-25 were extremely positive to kilt wearing - even though they did not themselves go kilted.

**andyfg** · 3rd October 06, 05:00 AM

Welcome from upstate NY. I think you will find a difference when you actually wear the kilt. You will find a lot of respect.

**auld argonian** · 3rd October 06, 05:16 AM

I'd say just dress very "campus kilt casual" and don't let your wearing the kilt turn into a protracted discussion...just treat it like a matter of fact and have a "that's the way it is" attitude. Once people see you wearing it it won't seem so odd to them but there are always folks who want to make an issue of it (at least in my personal experience) and letting it turn into a discussion just gives them a soapbox to stand on and criticise. You just have to take a "you're entitled to your opinion and I'd be grateful if you kept it to yourself" outlook on things and never let them push your buttons about wearing the kilt...if you loose your cool, the critics win.

But more important: just wear it and enjoy it. It's really something that you do for your own pleasure and when you project that, the critics will see that they can't get you down and just give up.

Best

AA