Not to kill your buzz... the dark side of kilted attention

[Mychael Sporrano]

This all begs the question: are there places that any of you would not wear your kilt because of the strong possibility of getting into a physical altercation?

It is one thing to know that your looks are bound to raise a few eyebrows and possibly cause a few unpleasant comments. It is another thing entirely to place yourself in a situation where you face a high probability of needing to defend yourself using force. As has been discussed in this thread, there are ramifications for fighting that can make it much more of a nuisance than bruised knuckles or a black eye.

I have been thinking about this, and I really don't have an answer... If anything, I will say that there are neighborhoods in which I wouldn't be caught wandering around in solo after dark. Should it also stand to reason that there are similar situations such as particularly rowdy bars where discretion might not include the decision to wear pants?

I do not frequent bars as a matter of routine, but were I to go out in the evening with some friends or even show up alone to have a drink and watch a game, I don't feel it is unreasonable on my part to expect to remain unaccosted. I would want to, and probably would wear my kilt. However, would that be the most practical decision?

Mychael

[Donnie]

Very nicely done! We don't need to be seen as a bunch of guys looking for trouble just because we choose to dress differently. I think it best to try to avoid that type situation. The one time I had an experience close to that was in a sports bar on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. That guys girlfriend shut him down though, my brother-inlaw and I didn't have to deal with it!

[David Woodington]

To be honest I usually find that If its that bad of a place to begin with and those ignorant types of people attend I wouldn't be there kilted or otherwise anyway. Lets face it if we're not safe from being harrassed while kilted it wouldn't make a differace what we wore, the same types of people are there to push their ways on you and to look for a fight. Now there are sometimes when you can make a change.I was at the feed store with my wife to pick up grain for the horses,and I got the expected smirks as I talked to this young kid about getting a dog kennel but as I talked to him and explained about my kilt he understood and was cool with it.So I went back in to pay for the purchase and two other employees were behind me and one was saying "look at the fag in the dress " and "thats just not right"I could see by the uncomfortable expression on the clerks face that she heard him too, and as I turned around the one shut up and they scuttled off.So I just ignored it and went out side to wait for my wife(she went around to the back for them to load up our order) when the first kid I talked to came to me and told me some kids were talking loudly enough about the"fag in the skirt "for my wife and kids to hear and he had told them who she was and they needed to shut up to which they continued.Well I was hot,too hot to think straight but I knew I couldn't let this slide.Went home, cooled off and then called the manager stated what happened and told him I wanted a meeting with the two workers.I arrived for the meeting in my utilikilt(I couldn't let them think I was going to knuckle under for a couple of punks)When I explained that we were long time customers and I wasn't gay but that shouldn't matter who or what I was,all they needed to remember was I buy the product and they load it and their opponions are to be kept to themselves.I also explined to the manager that their actions in front of my wife were inexcusable. We then went to talk to the two youngsters, I first identified myself and shook their hands(you should have seen the look of shock on the one kids face,it was one thing to talk trash behind my back and in front of my wife but being face to face,it really changed his demeanor). The first one said he had recognised it was a kilt and had told the second that there was probably a celtic game going on.(I had heard him say something about a celtic game so I figured he was telling the truth)the second one with the ( about to **** my pants look) denied everthing.I asked them if the had a problem with me and explained about the kilt being a mans garment to which the first one mentioned he was Scottish and his dad was a piper.Finally I told them the incident with my wife would not be repeated and if I found out that it had, I would be back and it wouldn't be pleasant.So with that I asked if we were cool ,They said yes.I then gave the Scottish kid a Utilikilt card and left. I still go there and I still wear my kilt.Sometimes you can change things, especially if its a business and the people can be reasoned with,The manager didn't seem to care for their behavior.So I guess I am trying to say You should feel free to go anywhere you would usually safely go in pants.So stay out of where the a$$ @#$%are ,you don't want to be there anyway.



talk to you soon, I got my kilt on got to mow the lawn. Dave

[Donnie]

There are some places I won't go in trousers or a kilt!

[Mychael Sporrano]

To be honest I usually find that If its that bad of a place to begin with and those ignorant types of people attend I wouldn't be there kilted or otherwise anyway.

Very good point.

Went home, cooled off and then called the manager stated what happened and told him I wanted a meeting with the two workers.

I am most impressed with this, David. I like your style!

Mychael

[Blu (Ontario)]

... Went home, cooled off and then called the manager stated what happened and told him I wanted a meeting with the two workers....

Ignorance wears many faces. Sometimes diplomacy is the best and only way to solve a problem like this. (I had to do something similar a few years back to deal with some schoolyard bullying.) Thanks for posting that.

blu

[GMan]

This whole thread has reinforced that patience and coolness should be a priorty in my life thank you all for your sage advice!

[bubba]

Diplomacy is usually the best way but, as I'm sure everyone here has noticed, I tend to be of relatively few words and to the point. I've found that mostly a cold stare, as though looking at something disgusting that just crawled out from under a rock works pretty well for me when dealing with the troublemakers.I seldom have to say anything at all. I recall one incident where the bartender got the fools attention in mid insult and asked him how long he wanted to be in the ICU. I never said a word or made a move. The guy left rather quickly and to the pleasure of everyone in the place. This was before I started wearing kilts but I go to the same places now I did then and there's no problem.

[Freelander Sporrano]

Well played David.
Thoose lads will think again next time.Strange that one had a Dad who was a piper, and still he went along with thoose comments. Would he have said that about his own Dad

My Dad used to say "If you get mad and want to complain write a letter.Don't post it.Read it the next day.If you agree with what you have written then send it.If not tear it up."
Thats why E-mail is so dangerous

[David Woodington]

Freelander, I like that I'll have to do that naext time.

Dave