'Stick In The Muds'

[sporranlegionaire]

I believe that the British, by nature, are far less able to accommodate anything other than what is tediously commonplace, than the Americans, who I see as being far more openminded and accepting.
Yesterday afternoon I donned my Scottish National kilt and visited a tourist attraction about half an hour's drive away - a preserved steam railway, as I have always been fascinated by live steam stuff.
Usually on these kilted expeditions, as soon as I leave my car and folk can see I'm not in trousers like the rest of them (including the womenfolk), I feel all eyes have honed in on me. That's perfectly understandable as a guy in a kilt in these parts stands out like a guy with two heads.
But it wasn't long before a lady apprehended me and asked if I was from Scotland. I politely replied 'No', and she then immediately recognised my accent, saying 'Your a Cockney'.
I said 'No, South London' (there is a difference). She then asked if the person with me was related. (My 92 year old mother had come along for the ride). I said she was my mother.
'Is your mother from Scotland then?' she asked. I said 'No, we live in Devon'.
'So do I' the lady said. She then called to her middle-aged son who was a few yards away, 'These people are from Scotland.'
I repeated that we weren't and, jokingly, that my kilt was just to confuse her...a big mistake.
She said 'This man is confusing his mother'...and, turning back to me, added 'So, what are we talking about?'
I said 'I don't know'...and she walked away.
Strange. But it does rather illustrate how kilt wearing in Britain will probably never be accepted easily in any other terms than your being of Scottish nationality, however you try to convince them that you're not. It makes little sense to them, and they go away disappointed.
Though not having been to the US, I would imagine that this is not the case at all, and anyone in a kilt would probably not suffer from the same interrogation as to why they are wearing a kilt.
And it's all down to the tartan. Had it been a plain solid colour material, there would have been no conversation and, going back to my original starting line, as the general British public cannot get their heads around new ideas they would have probably given me, instead, a very wide berth.
As a nation, we have a heck of a way to go before anything other than bifurcated wear for men, whatever part of the country you're from, isn't questioned or demanding of explanation.

[cessna152towser]

Certainly the kilt is a conversation starter. When I'm working around at Carlisle Airport, either in the museum or mucking in at the flying school, I'm usually kilted, and often people travelling in and out from the south of England comment favourably and are pleased by the fact that they have come close enough to the national border to actually meet someone who lives on the other side and wears what they regard as traditional Scottish garb.

Not wanting to stray off topic, but on one of my visits to one of the larger steam railways in England, which markets itself as a tourist attraction, the guy on the desk not only refused to accept a Scots bank note but was downright rude about it. The only reason I let it go is that a lot of these guys are volunteers, without whom we wouldn't have these nice trains to enjoy.

[McClef]

Ah but you are from Scotland Alex and with the accent to go with it

Sporranlegionaire didn't fit into the right categories as far as that lady was concerned. In her eyes the only reason for wearing a kilt was linked to Scottishness and she's not alone.

That isn't to say that everyone would take the same tack as she did. I would have pointed out to her that kilts are worn in other Celtic nations too and by people who have found the kilt to be such a wonderful garment for men as a whole.

[Phil]

Was the lady English? I ask because I really don't think you would have got that reaction in Scotland. Personally I am always happy to see someone wearing the kilt and see it as a compliment to our culture, nothing more.

[ncof300d]

Where I live (the very, very northwest corner of Ohio) is a very conservative part of the US and very rural. The mind sets of people can be difficult at times. Here the kilt is equated to you wearing a dress and a man in a dress must not be straight.

Sporranlegionaire, do not feel bad. It is not any less difficult over here.

[Nick]

We are frequently asked if we're Scottish or, more frequently, if we play the bagpipes. There's less outright interrogation (of course, it may just be a proportional thing). I've only been interrogated once, asking if I was entitled to wear my kilt, and it was from an old friend and I managed to (rather gracefully, I think ) sidestep it and segue into something else. He's of the "You must be able to provide documentation of clan affiliation and seven generations of your family tree before you may wear that tartan" mindset, and I didn't want to offend him.

[Ozman1944]

One plus about now living in Los Angeles, no one particularly cares WHAT you are wearing. Most total strangers wouldn't dream of 'getting in your face' and asking you personal questions. The only exception would be if you were in a queue at the Supermarket or the Theatre.
In Australia, however, everybody talks to everybody, but usually some light banter rather than being mean spirited.

[Livingston]

I had a similar encounter when I was walking through a mall in Houston to meet Zardoz. A guy at a kiosk I passed asked if I was from Scotland. The look on his face when I answered "No, Colorado" was pure confusion.

[Riverkilt]

My sense is most folks are well meaning and just want to know more about the kilt. Best that comes to their minds is "Scotland" and "Bagpipes."

The drunk guy that hollared "Hey Switzerland" to me was trying to do that, he just got his countries mixed up because he was intoxicated.

Its helped me a lot to realized that "They don't quite know what to say" and respond with information.

Ron

[sporranlegionaire]

Yes, the lady was English. The point that there are of course other Celtic connections through Wales, Ireland and Cornwall - and no doubt others that even I am uneducated on - seems to take a second position. It's always Scotland that's assumed.
But I've decided that my next purchase will definitely be in the Devon tartan, which (and I suppose I'm biased - OK, of course I am) to my eyes is one of the most attractive anyway. Luckily.

...at least I will be armed with a less confusing explanation.