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.

[The Volusianator]

I too failed to answer the OP original question.

Most have as this has turned into more of a discussion of where the kilt originated, and I'm sure that's been discussed more than one cared to read here. But I've read plenty of threads where people are offended by the term skirt, albeit ignorance or someone trying to get under my skin, I simply don't let it bother me.

[Chas]

A woman wears a skirt a man wears a kilt just like a woman wears a blouse and a man wears a shirt.

No. The British forces have worn a Battledress Blouse for years - go and tell them, they are women - if you dare!

A blouse and a shirt are two very different articles of clothing. What we today call a man's shirt is more correctly called a blouse, because it opens up from neck to hem. A shirt, correctly, only opens up as far as halfway between navel and groin (think nightshirt). The navel is called the belly button because that is where the lowest button on a shirt was.

If we are going to have these type of discussions, we really need to get the terminology right.

Regards

Chas

[Peter Crowe]

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

I refuse to acknowledge in any way that it is a skirt because it is a Kilt, just because it does not have a crotch does not make it a skirt. (BTW the idea that manhood must be predicated on having a cloth outer-garment at the crotch is biologically daft). There are things called Kilt-skirts designed for ladies but they are not proper kilts. Equally my sense of manhood is enhanced not diminished by wearing my kilt. However, as a corollary to that I have a more assertive demenour in the kilt toward anyone being obnoxious about it. Thus I feel emboldened in my kilt so that Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (Who dare mess wi' me) informs my attitude

[Cygnus]

I refuse to acknowledge in any way that it is a skirt because it is a Kilt, just because it does not have a crotch does not make it a skirt. (BTW the idea that manhood must be predicated on having a cloth outer-garment at the crotch is biologically daft). There are things called Kilt-skirts designed for ladies but they are not proper kilts. Equally my sense of manhood is enhanced not diminished by wearing my kilt. However, as a corollary to that I have a more assertive demenour in the kilt to someone being obnoxious about it. Thus I feel emboldened in my kilt so that Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (Who dare mess wi' me) informs my attitude

Interesting points. I guess that draws us back from the question of the OP to the question of what is it about the kilt that differentiates it from a skirt. I think coming up with a physical difference that applies to traditional kilts, historical kilts, sport kilts, utilikilts, etc. and not some skirts would be difficult. If there is no physical difference, then a kilt worn by a woman would be a skirt, and a lace-lined skirt worn by a man would be a kilt. (Now I'm just playing the devil's advocate! )

[Farlander]

To the original topic, intent makes a huge difference! I have on occasion had the word 'skirt' used, when the speaker truly did not know a better word.

In California, we have many non native English speakers who are not familiar with the word 'kilt', but do know the word 'skirt'. To make things more interesting, in Spanish, there is not a word for 'kilt'. The closest is 'falda Escocesa', where 'falda' means skirt, and 'Escocesa' is Scottish. So, to be offended by the use of the word 'skirt' is truly silly if coming from someone with limited English speaking skills.

[Chas]

To the original topic, intent makes a huge difference! I have on occasion had the word 'skirt' used, when the speaker truly did not know a better word.

In California, we have many non native English speakers who are not familiar with the word 'kilt', but do know the word 'skirt'. To make things more interesting, in Spanish, there is not a word for 'kilt'. The closest is 'falda Escocesa', where 'falda' means skirt, and 'Escocesa' is Scottish. So, to be offended by the use of the word 'skirt' is truly silly if coming from someone with limited English speaking skills.

***

In German a kilt is a Schottenrock or Scottish Skirt.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schottenrock

Regards

Chas

[Father Bill]

***

In German a kilt is a Schottenrock or Scottish Skirt.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schottenrock

Regards

Chas

...and do you folks know the German for bagpipes?

[Farlander]

...and do you folks know the German for bagpipes?

Hmmm, looks like it is 'Dudelsack '?

[Father Bill]

Hmmm, looks like it is 'Dudelsack '?

You got it! Gotta love the translation!