Cross-Dressing????

[McFarkus]

Being old, ugly, bald, bearded and fat, I don't think anyone would accuse me of cross-dressing, even if I had on a bridal gown…

I don't know, maybe if you were wearing a wedding gown AND veil......

[string]

No, we don't. We call her fashionable.

We think it's romantic if the lady dons her date's shirt the morning after. If he dons hers, well, there won't be another date, probably.

R.

Personally all I can picture now is Yeti trying to put on one of my shirts, he's at least an XL and I'm still wearing shirts I got when I was 6 (it has an alligator on it.) That said, I'm in his sweatshirt and have been wearing it since I saw him last a week and a half ago.

On the topic of cross dressing, the first articles of clothing for both sexes were probably animal hides wrapped around the lower bodies of the wearer, a rudimentary kilt essentially. I don't see the kilt as either a man or a woman's garment really, in the same way jeans as a whole are not a "sexed" garment. It is the individual style and the way it is worn that determines the gender of the garment.

[DireStraitsFan]

Okay, you guys that have been kilted for years, please chime in here. Does it ever get easier dealing with people who say things like "Nice skirt"? I have gotten some overwhelmingly good responses, and most of the guys want to know wear they can get one of their own. But, the occasional person who calls it a skirt can really get to you. And, odd as it is, it usually comes from women, in my case.

So, do you ever get used to this question, and what is the best way to handle it? I have responded with a curt smile, and several other non-offensive replies. But, I must admit that it annoys the crap out of me. I never want to let on that it does bother me, though.

[Rigged]

When I hear the "nice skirt" comment, I quickly determine from the tone and attitude whether it's a sincere comment or meant to be a put-down. Some people don't know what a kilt is (just as there are apparently people in this day and age who don't know the earth is round). In those cases I might say something along the lines of, "Well, yes, a kilt is type of skirt. Thank you."

If it's meant as an insult, I usually just ignore it. If the person is really in my face, well, they're just asking to be verbally ripped to shreds.

In seven or eight years of almost daily kilt-wearing, the put-downs have been very, very rare.

[Rex_Tremende]

Does it ever get easier dealing with people who say things like "Nice skirt"? ... the occasional person who calls it a skirt can really get to you. ... So, do you ever get used to this question, and what is the best way to handle it?

I deal with it the same way every time: I smile real big and say THANKS! as if it were the compliment that was intended (if they meant it) or should have been (if they were being sarcastic), and then I ignore them straightaway, never giving them another thought.

Regards,
Rex.

[Chef]

I deal with it the same way every time: I smile real big and say THANKS! as if it were the compliment that was intended (if they meant it) or should have been (if they were being sarcastic), and then I ignore them straightaway, never giving them another thought.

Same here. I found that it is the best of all responses. Those who say it in jest are glad that you can take a joke and those who don't are stifled because they can't get a rise out of you.

[Abax]

Does it ever get easier dealing with people who say things like "Nice skirt"?

So, do you ever get used to this question, and what is the best way to handle it?

I always advocate that when behavior modification is necessary, the principles I use with dogs work quite well with humans too. In that vein, ignoring the behavior - and certainly not rewarding it with attention - is usually the best way to extinguish it.

But . . . humans are smarter than dogs, and you both may appreciate a different tack. I usually don't let rude people off without making it abundantly clear to them and everyone else within earshot that their behavior is unacceptable and injurious to them (at least when dealing with me). No patience for fools here.

I've said this before, but one response to a comment about a skirt is "You're either rude or ignorant, so which are you?" Women have had nothing but positive comments for me, but to a woman in pants: "This is not a skirt, it's a man's kilt. If I'd wanted to cross-dress like a woman, I would have worn pants like you."

Yes, I know that some readers here consider the kilt to be a sub-group of skirts. But that's not how the derogatory comment was intended if someone calls your kilt a skirt.

The most mature advice is to ignore it, eh?

Abax

[TheSp8]

But . . . humans are smarter than dogs

I think that line is a little to general. I've come across an awful lot of folks that were nowhere near as smart as my dogs.

Unfortunately, I can submit my dogs when they need a lesson but society views doing the same to a person with distaste. That said, I've had good luck with just looking at them like they were something unpleasant I'd just stepped in. I usually reserve that for the loud ones, otherwise I just ignore them.

YMOS,
Tony

[Coinneach]

Does it ever get easier dealing with people who say things like "Nice skirt"?

I usually turn slowly toward them with a raised eyebrow and a knowing ("you know you're an idiot, right?") look and smirk at them so they have their fun and then I'm on my way again.

[Ian.MacAllan]

. . . How in God's name can anyone consider wearing a kilt cross dressing? . . .

Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying, "The difference between ignorance and intelligence is that there are limits to intelligence."

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