drawbacks of kilting

**Captain** · 15th August 07, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Edward Teach

One of the funniest stories I heard on that score was from an instructor I had once. He was over in Europe and he got hit with the "Oh you're from Canada? Do you know ____?" and before the person could get the name out he tersely cut him off with "Look, Canada is a country of over 25 million people, spanning an entire continent! How could you POSSIBLY expect that I would know this person?" Well the other person sheepishly said the name and it actually turned out that he DID know them.

This is funny on so many levels, but mostly because this is the same sort of thing I would do with similar results... It seems if I'm not eating or drinking I'm sticking my foot in my mouth!

**James MacMillan** · 15th August 07, 11:47 AM

True story.... In 1975, I had a chance to play tourist in Paris, France for a couple of days. I'm walking down that main street near that big arch, and up ahead I see my boyhood next door neighbor coming towards me. I duck into a store front, and when he got close, I walk out and casually say "Hi Tom" - He looks back, says Hi, and then nearly falls over with surprise.

It was fun! Turns out his family had a chance to visit, and playing tourist at the same time, we gravitated to the same area.

**ScottEPooh** · 15th August 07, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

No - The more I think about it - There are NO drawbacks to wearing a kilt!

I'm going to have to agree with that! Chatting up random folk, FREEDOM, and knowing everyone in the room is thinking about my underwear selection! Behold, the power of KILT!!

**Portland Kilt Ninja** · 15th August 07, 09:48 PM

Once when I was on a train wearing my kilt a woman asked me if I was part of the highland games.

**Hamish** · 16th August 07, 03:05 AM

On a kilted coast-to-coast tour of the USA in 2005 (NYC, Washington DC, Portland OH, Seattle and NYC again), I was constantly being asked, "What band are you with?" This surprised me somewhat as I have never been asked this here in the United Kingdom. I actually put this down to the fact that Pipe Bands are such a rarity here, especially when compared with the USA. I know of very few friends and neighbours who have ever heard a pipe band playing live - they may see them at the Edinburgh Tattoo on TV, but that's it! For the average Brit, on seeing the kilt, the last thing he thinks of is a pipe band.

**McMurdo** · 16th August 07, 04:15 AM

When I was at Scotland the Brave with my mom (see thread here if you are interested)
I was in my Prince Charlie, and Isle of Skye as we were going to the theater I thought that it was appropriate. After the show I had several people come up to me to thank me for wonderful evening. There were other gentlemen dressed in the Prince Charlie, I wonder if they had the same experience. I suppose you could call that kind of attention a drawback, but I think it depends on your outlook on any particular day.

**the kilted dutchman** · 16th August 07, 06:27 AM

talking about what kind of match?
Football (soccer), rugby, tennis or something else?!
Why don't you wear a "Le Blue" jersey and a kilt at the same time....it's a little U.N like but don't we want peace in the whole world?
what if peace in the world starts with a kilt?

**elitekiltedcommando** · 16th August 07, 08:13 AM

... There are drawbacks to wearing kilts?

And Hamish, you may have been asked about a band because there are several bands here (sans bagpipe) that have kilted members.

**sjrapid** · 16th August 07, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by davedove

That's the drawback to wearing a kilt. You are automatically assumed to:

Play the bagpipes,...
etc.

...know the best make of haggis,
...know the best scottish salmon smokehouse...

(both of these have happened to me in Waitrose in London!)

Best regards

**Howard Clark** · 16th August 07, 10:23 AM

I find all the incorrect assumptions about me to be very entertaining, personally. One of my missions in life, to disturb peoples pre-conceived notions about things.