The Over Opinionated

**Kilted Cole** · 14th July 11, 05:28 PM

Well put. Just because I had every rite to take offence to my co workers wife, doesnt mean that I would have and obviously didn't walk up to my co worker and had it out. I chose to allow her to make a discrace out of herself and kept my temper low. I'm not one and I'm sure most of us are not the type to cause a wide spread scene. I'm all for standing up for what one believes in, but if you can stay calm and let the other person make themselfs the fool. None can say anything bad about the kilt wearer now can they by comparison.

**Bill aka Mole** · 14th July 11, 07:55 PM

On my first outing in my Stillwater Black Watch tank, a gentleman who identified himself as being a member of a clan and the local St. Andrew's Society asked me what was the occassion for wearing my kilt on a very nice day. The only response that came to mind was, "Because it's Friday and the sun is shining." I had never thought that one would need a reason to wear a kilt other than wanting to wear it.

**Dave80203** · 17th July 11, 07:42 AM

I wore the kilt out last night to a friend's birthday party, and and ran into an aquantaince who wasn't familiar with the kilt or its cultural background. He was curious, asked a lot of questions, and ended up thinking it was sort of neat.

Your coworker's spouse could have been gently told that without these sort of encounters and this sort of education, her progenitors would just be regarded as "freaks in skirts." By wearing the kilt out and responding to questions about it, you are keeping her cultural traditions alive.

(It may be that she doesn't much care for that tradition.)

**Armstrang** · 17th July 11, 09:04 AM

Lots of good stuff to chew on in this thread. I get a little flak about wearing western boots and bolo ties with office attire (Hah! Wait until I show up kilted in a week or so!). In my business, if you take things personally you should probably be in another line of work. So, my reaction is usually low-key disengage, and re-engage later, when the person has their head on straight. Many times those people end up being at least friendly if you leave them an honorable exit option.

Meanwhile, "Frankly, Scallop, I don't give a clam!" works for me. So does "Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level, then beat you with experience."

That is where most people who think like that exist. I'll bet that most people who say such a thing to someone like me wearing Scottish attire wouldn't dare say anything about an "ethnic" person born and raised in the USA parading around obnoxiously in historically-incorrect jungle or desert gear.

Lady, wear what you want, for the reasons you need to, and everyone else will do the same.

**James Hood** · 29th July 11, 03:40 PM

If sufficient presence of mind was there, politely querying her if she also challenged men in black with side curls and yarmulkes, demonstrative gays, people in Indian, Chinese, middle eastern or African garb...

...or only kilt wearers about their fashion preferences?

**Peter Crowe** · 29th July 11, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Cygnus

I usually answer rude questions like this with another question. I think that, in this case, a "why not?" would be appropriate. It is usually unexpected and forces the person to think about why it is that their family doesn't have the tradition of kilt-wearing. It occasionally causes the person to open up a bit and think about what he/she does rather than what you are doing.

I've actually had a number of good conversations that began with rude questions like this one and, generally, end with a sincere apology.

I think this is great advice!

**Burly Brute** · 29th July 11, 04:29 PM

Lift up the front and say "'cus if I didn't everyone would see that I am not wearing anything underneath!"

**miolchu** · 29th July 11, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Kilted Cole

Okay soo I went to my old units x-mas party in my black watch and one of my co-workers wifes came up to me and started asking " Why are you wearing that if your not from Scotland? I'm of Scottish ancestry and you don't see my family or myself wearing them."
My question is what is the best way to deal with over opinionated ignorance? I understand that some people just don't get it but that still isn't an excuse for such rudeness. What are your thoughts?

I suspect that you were confronted by what, in hang gliding circles, is known as a wuffo (e.g., wuffo you wearin' dat ting?). There is no such thing as a relevant reply to an irrelevant question. Just carry on and party!