First time stopped by a kilt kop

[derosa]

I was walking through the mall today wearing my Muir kilt when a nice looking lady came up to me, and with a noticeable Scottish accent said "I hope you're Scottish wearing that". I just replied that it was a family tartan, I also had a clergy tartan kilt as a Presbyterian minister and that I just love wearing them. She just smiled wide and said " that's good to know" then walked away.
First time having anyone question the right to wear it and apparently I pass muster.

[Jock Scot]

Well alright, you think that was a kilt cop episode. To a Scot that is a perfectly normal, tongue in cheek opening to a conversation with someone wearing the kilt in an out of the ordinary situation(which you would have been to a Scot)and no harm is meant by it and as you say smiles occurred. This style of comment comes in a variety of forms. So no big deal really to us in Scotland, although perhaps a tad disconcerting to you.

[Taskr]

Had a similar encounter back a couple of years ago from a group of ladies, accents thick as porridge. All light hearted and they seemed pleased to see the kilt being worn so far from home.

[OC Richard]

As I've mentioned before, I was confronted once in Glasgow. It was not tongue-in-cheek.

[McMurdo]

As Jock said that is the norm and not to be worried about, in fact, to me, that seems rather pleasant. I've had so much worse over the years from someone asking if I had the right to wear the kilt, to a drunk guy doing a kilt check infront of 20 or 30 people at a pub, he did so by lifting the aprons up over my head.

[derosa]

Jock, thanks for that info, she came across as very serious on approach, more so then I would have been with a stranger though left with a smile making it hard to read. I kept things lighter on my part and I don't offend easily by direct questions though I could see some taking it worse.

Overall it wasn't an unpleasant occurrence just completely unexpected.
McMurdo, I'd have taken that one badly, hope you managed to teach him a lesson in manners.

[Sparky McFizzlenuts]

As Jock said that is the norm and not to be worried about, in fact, to me, that seems rather pleasant. I've had so much worse over the years from someone asking if I had the right to wear the kilt, to a drunk guy doing a kilt check infront of 20 or 30 people at a pub, he did so by lifting the aprons up over my head.

He would have been doing a jaw check at the local hospital had that been me. Then again, I don't play well with others.

[Taffy Jack]

As I've mentioned before, I was confronted once in Glasgow. It was not tongue-in-cheek.

I've been "confronted" only once. No Scottish accents were evident, nor did either party smile.

"What kinda tartan is that?"

"United States Army."

"You can't wear a kilt if you don't have a clan!"

"I've bled for mine."

There was a short silence before he walked away. Probably still thinks I'm a jerk.

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I am put in mind -- quite often actually, and not only around questions of heritage -- of this quote appended to Jock Scot's messages:

"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the adherence of idle minds and minor tyrants." --Field Marshal Lord Slim.

[Stoff]

I've been "confronted" only once. No Scottish accents were evident, nor did either party smile.

"What kinda tartan is that?"

"United States Army."

"You can't wear a kilt if you don't have a clan!"

"I've bled for mine."

There was a short silence before he walked away. Probably still thinks I'm a jerk.

=============

I am put in mind -- quite often actually, and not only around questions of heritage -- of this quote appended to Jock Scot's messages:

"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the adherence of idle minds and minor tyrants." --Field Marshal Lord Slim.

My response to your comment about being taken for a jerk: Maybe, but in my book the right kind of jerk. He earned the response he got.

Stoff
(In another life TM3 Christoph H. Hintze, USN)

[lschwartz]

I've been "confronted" only once. No Scottish accents were evident, nor did either party smile.

"What kinda tartan is that?"

"United States Army."

"You can't wear a kilt if you don't have a clan!"

"I've bled for mine."

There was a short silence before he walked away. Probably still thinks I'm a jerk.

=============

I am put in mind -- quite often actually, and not only around questions of heritage -- of this quote appended to Jock Scot's messages:

"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the adherence of idle minds and minor tyrants." --Field Marshal Lord Slim.

Ah, but you do have a clan/were part of one/our oath never expires, he just doesn't see that. What better to make a clan than proximity, fraternity, common goals and leadership...and of course our clothes all look similar. Sounds like a clan to me.