I live in the San Frnacisco Bay Area,and I work at a big University on the Peninsula where people are awfully well-educated. In general I never run into folks who are confused by the kilt, here in my immediate work environment. However, I don't have to go far to get blank looks, and sometimes some laughter and challenging stares from young men. Invariably, they are Hispanic.

Interestingly, a lot of the Pacific Islanders look a couple of times, but there are no challenges, probably because an unbifurcated garment for men is completely typical in many Pacific Island cultures. There's a Tongan congregation that uses my church's Chapel for services on Sunday and many of the men wear the traditional lava to services.

Nope.... around here it's the young, Hispanic men that are the issue. I think it's a combination of machismo and the fact that many of these guys don't have a clue what a kilt is. They've never seen one, or even heard of one before. A kilt is totally outside their frame of reference. That doesn't mean they're Bad People, right? No way, not a chance, but it does mean that I have some tense moments,now and then, and return stares for stares around town sometimes. As of yet, I've never been directly insulted or challenged. Then again, I'm 6' 2" and 250 pounds and that might make a difference....or maybe it doesn't make a difference at all, I really don't know.

We've talked about teenage girls being obnoxious, usually in the mall with thier girlfriends around, but those girls essentially always dry up and evaporate when you turn around and actually speak to them. Are there other groups of people in your area that are a "problem"for your kilt-wearing? How do you deal with it?