Kilted... In a Chinese eatery.

[Erisianmonkey]

I agree with you somewhat Dread, but I think the kilt is actually a shield. Most of us are forward thinkers or at least veer from the norm in some way other than just our kilt wearing. All of us, I believe, prefer to surround ourselves with more open-minded people than the general populace. The kilt shields us from the pain of developing a friendship with someone who later reveals him or herself to be a narrow minded twit.

I will say however, that the kilt does also open some doors. I have ended up in some wonderful conversations with people I would probably not have known had I not been kilted. Today I got on a bus and the driver struck up a conversation with me about the kilt. (I gave the just finished camo an outing today.) She was very impressed with the fact that I made it myself, and commented how she'd love to get her boyfriend into one. (Somewhat surprising as she was black, but hey-someone got Samuel L. Jackson into one!) That conversation would probably not gone past the "good morning/ how are you/good day" type of social lubricant that happens all the time in the everyday world. Later in the day, some woman passing by my wife and I said something about how I should be wearing nylons because I was probably freezing. I smiled a polite smile and told her I was perfectly comfortable. She looked a little surprised, so I told her how much fabric went into the making of my kilt and she kind of shook her head and walked away. We wished her a good day as she left and that was that. An odd exchange to be sure, but I got to educate someone who was curious about the kilt and get a mild chuckle at the same time.

On the other hand, a Denver police officer muttered something about "d*mn cross dresser" as we passed his cruiser. One of those things that lets you know that there's no way you'd ever want to hang around the guy.

[Dreadbelly]

I agree with you somewhat Dread, but I think the kilt is actually a shield. Most of us are forward thinkers or at least veer from the norm in some way other than just our kilt wearing. All of us, I believe, prefer to surround ourselves with more open-minded people than the general populace. The kilt shields us from the pain of developing a friendship with someone who later reveals him or herself to be a narrow minded twit.

I will say however, that the kilt does also open some doors. I have ended up in some wonderful conversations with people I would probably not have known had I not been kilted. Today I got on a bus and the driver struck up a conversation with me about the kilt. (I gave the just finished camo an outing today.) She was very impressed with the fact that I made it myself, and commented how she'd love to get her boyfriend into one. (Somewhat surprising as she was black, but hey-someone got Samuel L. Jackson into one!) That conversation would probably not gone past the "good morning/ how are you/good day" type of social lubricant that happens all the time in the everyday world. Later in the day, some woman passing by my wife and I said something about how I should be wearing nylons because I was probably freezing. I smiled a polite smile and told her I was perfectly comfortable. She looked a little surprised, so I told her how much fabric went into the making of my kilt and she kind of shook her head and walked away. We wished her a good day as she left and that was that. An odd exchange to be sure, but I got to educate someone who was curious about the kilt and get a mild chuckle at the same time.

On the other hand, a Denver police officer muttered something about "d*mn cross dresser" as we passed his cruiser. One of those things that lets you know that there's no way you'd ever want to hang around the guy.

I agree.

I find that my dreadlocks (and my kilt) work as eejit detectors. They let me know right away what kind of person I am dealing with. I hear comments all of the time. Lice nests. Racial slurs. That I am somehow dirty. And so on and so on. I like having my locks and my kilt acting as a detector for what sort of people are around me. Some of the nicest people I have ever met in my whole life I have met simply because of either the locks or the kilt.

They do a great job at making the undesireables be known, but also encourage the curious to come and strike up a conversation... And only good can come of that.

[KiltedKnight]

I agree.

I find that my dreadlocks (and my kilt) work as eejit detectors. They let me know right away what kind of person I am dealing with. I hear comments all of the time. Lice nests. Racial slurs. That I am somehow dirty. And so on and so on. I like having my locks and my kilt acting as a detector for what sort of people are around me. Some of the nicest people I have ever met in my whole life I have met simply because of either the locks or the kilt.

They do a great job at making the undesireables be known, but also encourage the curious to come and strike up a conversation... And only good can come of that.

As I've said before, I was always pretty much used to this kind of treatment from low-lifes so I mostly let any comments slide right off my back and back into the gutter where they came from.

I wore a U.S. Army uniform for many years that started in 1970 when there was much anti-military sentiment. You could easily project this onto the uniform and how some people reacted to it as those very same types react to the kilt. They never had the nerve to wear one but are the first to make the comments and insults.

Chris.

[nixphotography]

Brother I couldn't have said it better myself.


Brett

[Warlock]

Dreadbelly, You are so far above the inbred scum around you! Even Taller due to you uncommon common sense. It seems to me sometime that one trait has been bred out of a large portion of the general public. It is the seat of Decency, Courtesy, Bravery, Honesty, and Humility. I do believe the young lady had you pegged! I tip my Tam to you Sir. I think it an Honour to know you!