My wounded Saffron pride!

[Blu (Ontario)]

I've encountered that attitude before (if it's not tartan, it's not a kilt), but solid colored kilts are most definitely Scottish, and most definitely historical.

That's an excellent essay, Matt.

Unfortunately, the simpletons that need to read and understand this stuff are more than likely watching television instead.

T'was ever thus, I suppose. :rolleyes:

[Rex_Tremende]

I might have been inclined to ask the boor why he had no better manners than to go about making disparaging remarks about other people's attire. Sounds like you suffered him far too long, but your retort in the end was effective.

Regards,
Rex.

[Riverkilt]

I live in a tourist area. Its not unusual for Scots to ask polite, curious, questions about my solid color Utilikilts. Their attitude has always been positive.

Once in Las Vegas while wearing a traditional hand sewn kilt I was approached by a "lady" who claimed to be Scottish but had an American accent. She berated me for something but I couldn't understand her because she was very intoxicated and her vocal cords, tongue, and lips weren't moving the way she thought they were to produce the sounds she wanted to make. Still wonder what she wanted to berate me for.

And that, I suspect, is the case with your young Scotsman. Guessing he "approached" you at the reception AFTER he'd had a few drinks....?

In any case, you have my high admiration for such a glorious retort. I'm working on adjusting it for being American so I'm ready in case it happens to me again.

I do love these stories.

Ron

[scoutniagara]

Every three years or so, a group of Glaswegian scouts travelling with their kilts, visits Niagara Falls. I act as host and arrange a restaurant meal for them. While hosting them this summer, I greated them in my tan Sportkilt. They thought it was neat! They'd never seen a non-tartan kilt before, and seeing a cotton/poly solid colour kilt "tickled their fancy". I wore that kilt while grocery shopping with them and never noticed a glance from other shoppers. I changed for dinner, and wore my SK black stewart. I save my Burnetts and Struth hunting MacIntosh for dress-up occasions and travelled all over the UK with it.

The scouts' leader (and now friend) was my host in Glasgow while I visited me gran'mither's birthplace, Dunoon.

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... While hosting them this summer, I greated them in my tan Sportkilt. They thought it was neat! They'd never seen a non-tartan kilt before, and seeing a cotton/poly solid colour kilt "tickled their fancy"....

Niagara Falls is a fantastic kilt friendly place.... I've had many wonderful compliments - on both sides of the border. Many very attractive women there giving winks and thumbs up. Never had a single negative comment there. (Just be careful on the grate stairs at Niagara Glenn.)

I plan on wearing my solid color kilt there next spring.

.

[Cirthalion]

I think ignorance about non-tartan and various pan-celtic variations on the kilt is precisely why, as we are always saying, that education is so important. Worse than those who know nothing about the kilt, perhaps, are those who only know the basic things and want to turn them into hard and fast rules. Then to run around blowing whistles like they were referrees.

The other thing that occurs to me is that this could be a classic case of how some people react to the cultural and masculine "intimidation factor" of the kilt: some people, often female, are drawn to it with a certain shy admiration and respect. But some, often male, get belligerent and want to criticize. Most of the time, I've noticed, they are actually just trying to deal with the fact that they wish they were wearing a kilt, but either lacked the backbone to wear one on that occasion, or don't own one.

Cirthalion

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... (worse) are those who only know the basic things and want to turn them into hard and fast rules. Then to run around blowing whistles like they were referrees....

To compensate for their own shortcomings I suspect.

... Most of the time, I've noticed, they are actually just trying to deal with the fact that they wish they were wearing a kilt, but either lacked the backbone to wear one on that occasion, or don't own one.

Or both!

Insightfull and articulate post, Cirthalion.

[MacTavishOfJapan]

An ignorant know it all idiot. Pay him no heed.

[McClef]

But some, often male, get belligerent and want to criticize. Most of the time, I've noticed, they are actually just trying to deal with the fact that they wish they were wearing a kilt, but either lacked the backbone to wear one on that occasion, or don't own one.

Cirthalion

I think there is something in that. Out of envy or desire they feel the need to attack what they don't have themselves.

In this case another retort would be that we wear them to show up the Scots like him who don't!

[Panache]

slohairt,

The next time an idiot goes out of his way to tell you "what's what" here is a great reply:

"Thank you for sharing your opinion, I'm certainly refreshed and challenged by your unique viewpoint"

Then smile and walk away from the aforementioned idiot as he tries to figure out if he has been insulted or not.

Cheers