I would like to submit a proposal to the membership

[Nathan]

Steve,

Thanks for opening up this discussion. I think it might be a good idea to tweak the sections, because I think there could be more clarity, but I don't think it will address the so called problem that Alan H. raised and that you are seemingly trying to address.

The reason is because, in my recollection, most of these conversations happen in the Kilt Advice and the General Kilt Talk forums. Someone comes on and says "Hey whaddaya think?!" or "What hose should I wear with the MacWhatever tartan?" and people show their perspective when they weigh in. I don't think you're going to succeed in having people who think the kilt should be worn with respect to tradition keep quiet when asked for their opinion. I don't think xmarks would be served by having them keep quiet.

The non-traditional folks can chime in too. As long as everyone plays nice in the sandbox, I don't see that as a problem. I don't go to the contemporary forum and I don't weigh in on threads in there because I know they're not asking for my opinion there. However, if someone asks about clan tartans etc... in the General Kilt Talk section, it seems fair game to share my (traditional) views on tartan selection.

In my view, the only thing that will change the proportion of traditional threads versus non-traditional threads is if non-traditionalist members post more interesting threads and comment on them more.

That said, regarding your suggestion, if you're going to tweak things, I'm not sure the setting has as much to do with the choice as the perspective of the person. Certainly I've seen every type of look at the same Highland Games and a Burns Night isn't exactly a Highland event, it's a Lowland event. What about Tartan Tuesday? I wear traditional attire and Raven wears utility style garments. We enjoy pints together. Another issue I have is that traditional attire is both modern and contemporary. It's just more conservative than other fashion choices. Calling other styles modern implies that traditional is antiquated and that's inaccurate.

I don't think it has to do with the construction of the kilt or where it's worn, but rather, the taste of the wearer. So what about this:

Traditional Approaches to Kilt Wearing This is a section to discuss time tested traditional views on kilt wearing. "Now" with due respect given to "then".

Non-Traditional Approaches to Kilt Wearing: This is a section for those who march to the beat of a different drummer. Whether you wear a traditional kilt in a non-traditional manner or enjoy new styles of kilt made in non-traditional ways or out of non-traditional materials, this is the section to strut your stuff.

Historical Approaches to Kilt Wearing: This is the section to discuss how the kilt was worn in various periods in its history. Reenactors and textile history buffs, this is the place for you!

And, to be inclusive, maybe two more sections:

Neo-Traditional approaches to kilt wearing: This is a section for people who enjoy emulating the look advocated by the Highland wedding industry such as like white hose, tartan flashes, semi-dress sporrans, ruche ties, ghillie brogues, pseudo-jacobite shirts and other fashion trends that, although they haven't all stood the test of time, are nonetheless 'of the moment'.

Theatrical approaches to kilt wearing: This is a place for people who enjoy emulating the attire of Hollywood movies and putting together historically questionable outfits perhaps consisting of woad or plenty of edged weapon replicas just for the fun of it. This is for the Bravehearts and the Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeods to gather.

Would that cover everyone?