Fear of Impending Doom, What Was he Most Difficult Place to Wear Your Kilt?

[Ayin McFye]

I think the place that I feared the most, was when I was planning to wear my kilt to a bar near ASU campus. The bar that I was going to was filled with 21 year olds, and even though I knew some of the ladies may like the kilt, that was exactly the problem I feared.

People are territorial and 21 year old drunk boys are usually very territorial. As soon as you take the ladies' attention away from them, and on yourself, you quickly and automatically become a target. The more alcohol they consume the braver they get, and they like to show off to not only their male friends, but to the females around them as well.

My fears were completely justified, and as expected a few of the drunken kids had to come over and try to establish dominance with me. I did not get angry, or cower, or defensive or aggresive. I merely maintained my composure, continued to drink my drink, and answer their silly questions with serious answers. After a few minutes of them attempting to make me feel stupid, it became obvious that I was making them feel stupid because I wasn't letting it bother me.

Anyways, my point of advice is to know the surroudings your going to be getting yourself involved in, and if you choose to enter those environments regardless of what you know will likely happen, don't blame the other people, because you knew what you were getting into. Have a plan in place before you go, or don't go at all.

My two cents.

Good topic Ron.

[Minnow]

My fiancee (we were not yet engaged when this happened) recommended I wear my kilt when going to dinner with her parents. Needless to say I was a little nervous they would think less of me.

Thankfully I was worrying for no reason, her parents are very open-minded.

-Minnow

[siva011]

By far the most difficult for me was returning home.... not to my family, but to the neighborhood. I come from a very rough, gang filled and drug dealing section of West Philadelphia. I prepared for the worst, and those fears were completely justified. Granted, this isn't a very open minded area, and if any celtic heritage is there it is an extreme minority, so I don't think most understand even what it is. Basically, if you aren't dressed like a rap video, then you are a target for harassment... and that is with normal clothes. A kilt is just like a giant bullseye. I had a guy follow me down the street, laughing over the top while pointing at me, purposely falling into people and cars and bumping into the wall for "dramatic" effect. But what do you say to him to stop something like that? Cops are shot in this neighborhood, what's a kilted guy by himself to do?

But lately anywhere has been difficult. I read these comments and get a bit envious, because it ends up not being a problem for most people. I would say comments to me are 90% negative/10% posative, and not just in my old neighborhood. I've learned to keep head high and be confident, but that doesn't seem to dissuade anyone. It's nice when my wife is with me, because she makes sure she shoots them a nasty look.

For me at this point, it isn't about going somewhere and not being harrassed, because I'm learning to deal with that.... it would just be nice to get a compliment once in a while.

[GMan]

Like most of the responses, it was all psychological. But on looking back going to a construction site on business.

[puffer]

I am a BoD ( Properties ) member of a large Gun Range ( Range Safety ). A few months ago, I was "required" to appear before a County Commissioner's Board ( We lease from the County) to present our "new" SOPs for final approval. The County Board consisted of a "commissioner, an AG + 2 others.

I made the derision to "Kilt up. ( A navy Tweed Jacket,sweater vest,Tie. etc.)

REACTIONS -
1.Our Team =
A. Fellow BoD member, questioned my attire. (negative as to being appropriate )
B. Our Female Attorney = She Liked it

2. County Board -
A. As I walked in, I saw "some "surprised looks" ( 1 smile 2 neutral & 1 BIG FROWN ) & some "whispered asides"
B. After the meeting ( we got full approval), the AG came up to me & stated that He really liked the KILT & told me that he had informed the BoD of his "opinion" on it being VERY appropriate. In fact, he mentioned that they would see @ the office "Kilted" on occasion
C. BTW, a couple of weeks ago, I met with him over Lunch & he was KILTED ith:.

Would I advise this to others ??? Perhaps. IMHO, if you do so, REMEMBER that your "LOOK" should be the "same" as you would wear if wearing a "suit" Dark grey, navy etc & keep the "BLING" @ home.

Puffer

[Phogfan86]

Two places come to mind...

1) The first bar I ever went to a bar to watch a KU basketball game. It was a bar I'd been to several times in a safe area, but my first time in a kilt. A drunk clumsily attempted a kilt check. Me, being full of kilted confidence and about four drinks, encouraged him to back off. He was also ripped soundly by his girlfriend and a buddy who, while also drunk, said, "Dude, guys in kilts are bad@ss. Stop it."

2) My first time kilted in church. You don't want to come off like an attention ho, but it was the Feast Day of St. Andrew. Not being kilted wasn't an option. But I got several compliments after Mass, and I even laid a little good-natured Catholic guilt on our associate pastor. I went to approach him after Mass, and as soon as he saw me, he said, without me saying a word, "Oh, man! I didn't say a word about St. Andrew, did I?"

[bricelythgoe]

Mine has yet to come. Show up kilted at the in-laws. Not sure how that will go over.

[werewolves]

The only time I've been truly nervous about wearing my kilt was the first time. It was a black UK that I had picked up the day before, and I had decided to wear it to a Metallica concert. It went fine. I even had a pretty girl tell me I was her hero ;)

[David Dalglish]

When I was captain of our golf club I decided to hire a kilt & PC outfit. The only time I was nervous was when I walked down the stairs with the PC outfit on & my wife to see me in it for the first time. I needent have worried as she told me I looked great. Since then I have never been anxious again.

[piperdbh]

I grew up in a very conservative church, and the first time I played the 'pipes there I was a bit apprehensive. I was 17 at the time. I was particularly nervous about the reaction of one gentleman, for whom I have enormous respect. Not only did he LOVE it, but he also began telling me about his Scottish ancestry and how much he enjoyed the 'pipes and the whole nine yards.

I played at a different church a few years later, and was introduced to several of the members. Most really enjoyed it, but one old bat thought I was cross-dressing and made a major point of voicing her disapproval of such. Her sisters and other older ladies took her aside and explained what was going on. I think she still didn't like it, but had to find a different reason to "hate on" me. She was the kind of person who never liked anything, epsecially if someone else was doing it.

My mother has 7 brothers, and some of them have given me a little joshing about the kilt, but (I think) they admire me for having the chutzpah to wear a kilt.