Answering the question when it's asked by children

[Frank]

I have had some pretty wonderful experiences talking with very young ladies (ages 4-7) about kilts. Especially the story of the origin of the kilt pin. If you are talikng to young boys. Use the same explaination as above but throw in "the Scots were fierce warriors and carried many different kinds of swords and axes into battle". Guaranteed the conversation will veer toward a discourse on antique weapons, and the boys (bloodthirsty lads one and all) will be entertained. [/I]
Cheers

With the greatest of respect to Panache I think he's unwittingly hit on the reason why masuclinity is in some ways such an artificial and fragile 'operating system'. Whilst he had "some pretty wonderful times" talking with girls on the subject of kilts, he found it easier to juxtapose kilts with a context of war and death rather than with simple personal choice when discussing the same topic with the boys. Isn't it sad that even the very young have to be divorced from their sense of self to the extent that any justification for kilt wearing is necessary ?

That aside, it's just as as well for the drinks industry that the young aren't taught such paranoia about booze - can you imagine an online community of active whisky drinkers secretly enthusing about their 'utilitimalts' or having a dig about sub-standard Scotch bought from auction websites. On X Marks, postings headed:- "Great night out drinking whisky - and no sniggers !" or "Finanlly did it - just ordered a case of 80 proof" or perhaps - "Drinking Johnny Walker Black Label at work.." or "My Wife doesn't like me drinking Whisky" would compete with arguments about the traditional Scotch versus new Scotch cocktails with fizzy orange and suchlike.

Now wouldn't that be silly ?