I'm just ticked off

**Old Hippie** · 8th March 10, 01:25 PM

Just this weekend I was in attendance at a local gardening seed-exchange event. For the record, I was not the only kilted man there! Because the organizers were completely overwhelmed, and there were some problems with the building -- some rooms that were off-limits had been included in the event reservation, which meant shuffling people and tables and chairs up and down stairs and setting up in hallways -- at any rate, I was there and strong so I did what I could.

As I was setting up one room, a woman who was going to present looked at my kilt (UK Workman) and said, "I like that...(pause)...skirt you're wearing." Some other people nearby quickly told her it was a kilt. I just assumed she had to hunt for the right word, as for some people "kilt" is not a word they need every day. She was getting flustered that she might have offended me, so I just said, "Well, you're close. If I were wearing anything under it, it WOULD be a skirt." She started laughing fit to bust and suddenly everything was OK.

Now, I was decidedly "contemporary" in my "look" -- runners, short sox, Workman, and a sweatshirt embroidered with "Rhubarbarian" in Olde English script. More people commented on the sweatshirt than the kilt, actually.

Hey...ya play to the crowd.

Later in the afternoon, I had a very nice nursing student whose group is organizing a community garden as a development project ask me, "Would you be our mascot?" I guess it turned out pretty well, all things considered.

**SoulFyre777** · 9th March 10, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Spc. Scott

<snip>
On the other hand I got to use this when my son was with me: "Nathaniel, this is an example of your typical ignorant, ill-mannered, human. Learn to spot them and avoid them as much as possible".

I have only had to use it once and the effect was exactly as you could imagine. Stunned silence combined with utter embarrassment and a deer-in-the-headlights look that was epic.

I'm storing that one away for future use! Brilliant!!

**Oldhiker** · 9th March 10, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Beertigger

You could've said, "Sorry sir, but I fail to see how that's any of your concern."

; )

whoa.... gotta remember this one

**wildrover** · 10th March 10, 03:56 PM

Tell her this...

"I'm not wrestling with a pig today, even a pig in lipstick."

...But for most situations, Old Hippie's response is the sure winner

!

**Galician** · 20th April 10, 12:46 PM

I just came across this thread. I'll just share a similar experience for what it's worth.

I was riding home on the subway last summer the few days I got away with being kilted in the office. A small group of people at the far end of the car were snickering most of the way whenever they looked at me. As I passed them to get off the train, a woman in the group asked me (in a thick, Spanish accent), "Are you a lady?"

I had been prepared for some kind of comment. So I just answered back, "No, are you?" The car doors closed before she could think of a response.

**Bugbear** · 20th April 10, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Galician

I just came across this thread. I'll just share a similar experience for what it's worth.

I was riding home on the subway last summer the few days I got away with being kilted in the office. A small group of people at the far end of the car were snickering most of the way whenever they looked at me. As I passed them to get off the train, a woman in the group asked me (in a thick, Spanish accent), "Are you a lady?"

I had been prepared for some kind of comment. So I just answered back, "No, are you?" The car doors closed before she could think of a response.

**BeechBrae** · 20th April 10, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Galician

I just came across this thread. I'll just share a similar experience for what it's worth.

I was riding home on the subway last summer the few days I got away with being kilted in the office. A small group of people at the far end of the car were snickering most of the way whenever they looked at me. As I passed them to get off the train, a woman in the group asked me (in a thick, Spanish accent), "Are you a lady?"

I had been prepared for some kind of comment. So I just answered back, "No, are you?" The car doors closed before she could think of a response.

Congratulations on your presence of mind!

**LANCER1562** · 20th April 10, 07:32 PM

On the anniversary of my wife's death from cancer last year (so I was not in the best of moods) I had decided to wear my kilt when the family and I went to visit her grave. As i was on the way to meet the family, some edjit approached me and said "Nice skirt. Does you wife know you borrowed it?" I looked him straight in the eye and told him "Since she's been dead for the past year, I don't think she'd care do you?" You should have heard the guy sputtering his apologies as I walked away.

The day got better when we stopped at the florist to buy flowers for the grave. The store owner told my oldest daughter "Your dad looks great. Take good care of him" and then gave me a red carnation to wear on the lapel of my kilt jacket. Which she pinned on me herself as she gave me a kiss on the cheek. My daughter told me as we were leaving the store that while I was browsing the flowers she had told the proprieter why we were buying the flowers.

**Kiltman** · 20th April 10, 07:44 PM

Ignorance is everywhere, it our job to combat it concerning kilts and those of us who are wise enough to wear them. The only thing she won was a chance of diminishing her ignorance — you're the big winner.

**Brian K** · 20th April 10, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by LANCER1562

On the anniversary of my wife's death from cancer last year (so I was not in the best of moods) I had decided to wear my kilt when the family and I went to visit her grave. As i was on the way to meet the family, some edjit approached me and said "Nice skirt. Does you wife know you borrowed it?" I looked him straight in the eye and told him "Since she's been dead for the past year, I don't think she'd care do you?" You should have heard the guy sputtering his apologies as I walked away.

The day got better when we stopped at the florist to buy flowers for the grave. The store owner told my oldest daughter "Your dad looks great. Take good care of him" and then gave me a red carnation to wear on the lapel of my kilt jacket. Which she pinned on me herself as she gave me a kiss on the cheek. My daughter told me as we were leaving the store that while I was browsing the flowers she had told the proprieter why we were buying the flowers.

Lancer, my heart goes out to you and I am glad the proprietress of the store was able to show you that for every a$$hole out there there are those with kind and generous hearts. Indeed, in my experience there are many more of the latter than of the former. The problem is that it is the a$$holes we remember. I hope you saved the flower as a reminder of the fact that all the light has not gone out of the world.

Regards,

Brian