To kilt in modern north american society

[pastorsteve]

.. Yet I am left to feel like there is something wrong with me if I don a kilt and walk down the street. Perhaps my wife is a social prude and gives me nothing but grief saying that I am trying to make a spectacle of myself.

I hear two questions here. One is there something about our current society that is unaccepting of kilts and those wearing them. I say that there is not. As a member of two clans and having extensive Scottish family history, and having worn kilts for a very long time both formally as a pastor and socially as a "dude in a kilt" - I have never had a rude or obnoxious comment from anyone anywhere either in the U.S. or abroad.

The second seems to come from your not wanting to embarrass your family. Your wife is the only one you mention who has given you grief. I too would never wear anything that would knowingly bring undue attention or stress to my family. I have the enviable situation of having a genealogist wife who fully knows, understands and appreciates my family history, heritage and my desire to keep that heritage alive in my life. If you haven't maybe try looking into and supporting your wife's ancestry as well. I've found that those who share appreciation of each other's similarities and differences get more support from those around them than if they try to go it alone. Of course, I'm not suggesting you haven't already done any or all of these things. Good luck and, as stated previously, wear your tartan with pride and in a manner that suggests that you are just another guy out there wearing his familial attire and not one who appears to be seeking attention.

[Hiburnicus]

I wear my kilt frequently and generally receive nothing but positive comments. HOWEVER, I have a drunken louse that lives 2 doors down from me and every time I go by its house I hear "There it goes wearing a skirt again, fu--ing ." I am about ready to jump through the window and strangle that a__hole. Any ideas on a good response? I have run out of them.
He is a drunk and a dredge on society but I am sick and tired of this worthless excuse of a human.

Sailortats, I feel your pain. You're the better man if you can ignore him, but it is demoralizing to hear I'm sure. If he was outdoors or in conversational distance when he made his comment, you could always call him out for being a drunk, etc. It sounds like a typical bully situation, and typical bullying solutions should apply. I'd probably flip hi the bird and get on with my life, untroubled. in any case good luck!

As to the topic of the thread, I'm the only one around my area who goes kilted and I've had some strange looks but only one comment I thought was rude, when a woman asked about my underwear...I asked her about hers, and she got a bit huffy and offended until I exposed the double standard in her thinking...

[sailortats]

I would like to apologize for the language in my post above about my "neighbor". I was going to delete the post just now but as it has gotten some responses (thank you guys) I shall leave it.
I agree that ignoring him is the best way and I do ignore him most of the time but it does get to me from time to time.

[Jock Scot]

I say this with the greatest of respect, but why are you chaps so surprised? You are wearing a garment who's significance is totally lost on most in your country who have little care for its traditions and history and lets face it, there are conclusions drawn about men wearing a skirt and its not any good denying it. I am not saying that their reactions and comments are in any way satisfactory, they absolutely are not, but I think many of you are expecting far too much from your fellow countrymen who know little about some other country's National Attire. Why should they understand?

[Arnot]

I say this with the greatest of respect, but why are you chaps so surprised? You are wearing a garment who's significance is totally lost on most in your country who have little care for its traditions and history and lets face it, there are conclusions drawn about men wearing a skirt and its not any good denying it. I am not saying that their reactions and comments are in any way satisfactory, they absolutely are not, but I think many of you are expecting far too much from your fellow countrymen who know little about some other country's National Attire. Why should they understand?

Sir, I see what you mean, and I agree to a point. The way I see it, though, is that they do not need to understand. What they need to understand is that they are adults, in most cases, and they are not on the playground anymore. I do not think that it is too much to ask that they act like grown-ups, not that I think they will.

As for dealing with the kind of people mentioned, I find it easier to just avoid the whole thing. I avoid it by treating kilt wearing like it is the most natural thing in the world, which it is. This way, I walk around with confidence and do not present an easy target. I have only had a couple times that were worse than good-natured messing around in twenty years of kilt wearing. That can happen whatever you wear.

[pastorsteve]

Oops. Duplicate post.

[pastorsteve]

... I have a drunken louse that lives 2 doors down from me and every time I go by its house I hear "There it goes wearing a skirt again, .... Any ideas on a good response? I have run out of them. He is a drunk and a dredge on society but I am sick and tired of this worthless excuse of a human.

Two suggestions since you asked. One, you can't fix stupid so there is no reason to even think about it. He is in his house and has the right to be as stupid, intolerant, drunk... as he wants to be. ANY retaliatory commentary or provocation of him would be on you totally - regardless of how ... he is. Tolerance and patience has to go both ways for calm to prevail. In this case it surely won't come from the other side. He is obviously in a situation that your words would not change.

Second, I teach martial arts and specifically self-defense to women. I instruct them about pot-hole people. No one would ever intentionally drive into a pot hole - they would back up and/or go around it to avoid damage to their car. Likewise, if there is a stranger, group, bottleneck on the sidewalk ahead while walking about, you would likewise go around it to avoid potential damage to you or your psyche (human mind, conscious and unconscious) or peace of mind.

I might also suggest (only because you asked) that you not walk by his house when you are out and about kilted. It's not for him or your safety - it is for your piece of mind and civility. You are already in what most would consider the most tolerant, progressive and accepting city in the world for a man in a "skirt" so NO amount of frustration will change your neighbor. What I would do sometime, in pants of course, is act as though nothing had ever been heard and introduce myself to him as his neighbor and be overly civil to him. I have found over the years living in many cities that the more you interact with your neighbors the more likely you are to show them how wonderful you are. I make it a point to know everyone within two blocks of my house and it makes a neighborhood a sanctuary of acquaintances and friends. It certainly can't get worse. The alternative is to simply ignore him but that might eliminate the possibility of bringing a bit of enlightenment to your rough-around-the-edges neighbor. Good luck.

[sailortats]

Pastor Steve, I am friendly with the 2 other people in that household but it is impossible to be friendly with this person as others in my neighborhood agree. Also, it is not possible to avoid walking by that house whether I am kilted or not as that is the way I must go to get to the bus stop.
This is being said only to clarify the situation. I am not taking exception to anything you said.

[tundramanq]

sailortats, you might try just silently facing and staring at him in a "stand your ground" stance though his entire tirade and for about 15 seconds after. Then turn around and walk away.
I did this with a local neighborhood lowlife about a year ago and he has been silently avoiding me ever since.

[WillowEstate]

I would like to apologize for the language in my post above about my "neighbor". I was going to delete the post just now but as it has gotten some responses (thank you guys) I shall leave it.
I agree that ignoring him is the best way and I do ignore him most of the time but it does get to me from time to time.

I agree, if you can, just ignore this fellow, you wouldn't want to excite his brain cell! Alternatively, you might choose to reply with a cheery wave "Plurima dies tui domine" - it's rough Latin for "And a good day to you sir" ! Or try some other obscure language of your choice.