Conversations with Strangers

[jmercier]

I'm a little surprised how many goth kids are willing to just talk to me or comment positively on the kilt. Very neat aspect.

That suprised me the first few times I wore a kilt to the mall myself. Just a few weeks ago I wore my black amerikilt and a tshirt to the mall near me, and every time I passed some group of 'goth' kids I got some nice compliment, usualy from the girls, and usualy followed up with the girl poking one of the goth guys with them in the rib asking "why dont you have a kilt?"

I'm about as far from goth as you can get, a 25 year old computer engineer with my nose in a book or planted infront of a computer game most of the time. (ok ok, or in my garage infront of a hot forge beating on glowing red metal as a hobby) so it took me by suprise when 'the people who try to stick out' went out of their way to compliment me.

-Justin

[McFarkus]

I chose Halloween because it is the only way I could wear such a thing at work.

But my brother, Turpin, wears his daily to work in a US government office. I guess there was a 'breaking-in' period, but now it seems to be accepted.

Here are pictures at the office
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=22567

(I have to confess to being kiltless. But the jones is starting to build. I'm trying to decide which tartan to choose for the inaugural kilt.)

[jordanjm]

When I am kilted I am asked all sorts of kilt questions, like the history of kilts, why the Irish wear the Scottish Kilt, etc.

[arrScott]

I really have some mixed feelings here. I do not consider the kilt as appropriate for halloween! I do not consider it a costume!

Anything can be a costume. It's all about how you wear it. I play on a Vintage Base Ball team, and to me our 1860s-style uniform is just an athletic uniform like any other. But on Halloween, I wear it and people think I've just stepped out of the corn at the Field of Dreams. Gives me a chance to talk up our team, do a little recruiting, and people always want to talk about baseball history if you show up in an old-looking uniform with a big old bat.

(That uniform, whether at Halloween or during a game, often engenders its own form of The Question. Usually goes something like this: "Where is your glove?" They didn't wear helmets or gloves in the 1860s. "So the ball must be pretty soft then?" No, it's just a tiny bit less hard than a modern baseball. "But doesn't it hurt to catch a hard throw or a line drive?" Yes, it does. But your palm stops stinging after you make a catch a lot quicker than your pride stops stinging after you miss one.)

[Troy]

People are always asking me questions (including The Question), and while I don't mind, I do think it's interesting that strangers seem much more interested in talking to me when I'm out-of-the-ordinary.

This has happened to me more than once, while wearning my Cornish National kilt at Highland Gatherings:

I notice an elderly couple - he in a kilt, she in tartan skirt - watching me intently. Soon they involve themselve in a nervous discussion. Eventually the lady approaches me and asks, "Excuse me, but my husband wanted to know what tartan you are wearing - I can recognise most of the clan tartans, but not yours".

What comes next is a lovely discussion about my mixed Celtic lineage, Cornish Tartans, how beautiful my half-Indian kids are etc. etc.

Just goes to show that a kilt can be the catalyst for a conversation with total strangers, even when you're surrounded by kilties.

Cheers,

Troy

[David Dalglish]

When you wear a kilt you are someone worth speaking to.