Why Do Some Take Such Offense...

[Cygnus]

4) The Kilt does not cease to be a kilt because it is worn outwith Scotland, or by other than a Scot or someone descended from the Scottish diaspora.

That is my opinion as well, I was simply commenting on the wording of the entry for "kilt" in Webster's dictionary, which implies that it is a kilt because it is worn in Scotland or in the military rather than saying that it is often worn in Scotland and in the military.

1) Offence may be too strong a word, but certainly while I can feel offended by some because that is their clear intent, I may feel only mild irritation with others that don't know any better.

Like you, I don't see any reason to take offense. To most people, the day-to-day thing closest to a kilt is a skirt, and, to me at least, the kilt falls pretty squarely into the "skirt" category. This does nothing to diminish either my sense of masculinity or to change the kilt's rightful place as a man's garment.

I think I've made my non-confrontational nature on these things pretty clear in other threads, but if somebody says "Nice skirt!" I thank them and assume they're ignorant of what it should be called. If they are insulting, I ignore them. The corrections and snide remarks don't come out unless they persistent enough to make it impossible for me to ignore them.