What is your most common question?

[Dollander]

It is is usually "Are you Scottish?"

I was at the Great American Beer Festival and we joked that I should get some badges made up for distribution - "Scottish", "Scottish Heritage", "Just Like Kilts"

I get this one less often. I usually respond with "Well, I have a Scottish surname, at least," seeing as my ancestry is mostly Italian and German. I'm also occasionally asked if I'm Irish. I'll typically just say "Scottish" even though I'm part Irish, too, just because my kilts are in Scottish tartans. Though if they seem up for a quick conversation, I will briefly explain that Irish kilts are fairly recent and typically solid, while Irish tartans were designed by Scottish weavers to appeal primarily to Irish-Americans.

I've only been asked about the tartan I was wearing maybe two or three times. And only once was I asked THE question. A woman walking past me called out "Is it true what they wear under the kilt?", and I just smiled, pointed at my feet, and called back "Timberlands!"

[GMan]

Why is probably the one I get asked most. Why are you wearing that? Why are you not wearing pants? Things like that, but to me it feels like the underlying question feels to me is why can't you be like everyone else? I know I might be reading into it more than that.

[lschwartz]

It is is usually "Are you Scottish?"

I was at the Great American Beer Festival and we joked that I should get some badges made up for distribution - "Scottish", "Scottish Heritage", "Just Like Kilts"

Hirsty,

I have had the same thought. I am contemplating getting some business cards made up with the answers to the freqently asked questions and keep them in my sporran..."Scottish ancestors, Lamont, No I don't but I am thinking about learning, No special event...I just like wearing the kilt, and Only my wife knows for sure and she isn't talking."

Larry

[ctbuchanan]

I would say the three most common are:

Are you playing the bagpipes somewhere?

Are you Irish? (Oddly more often asked than if I'm Scottish)

Is that your family plaid?

Since I'm often with my wife, she glares down the occasional "regimental" question.

If I am wearing it in New York City (which I do on occasion) I always get stopped for photos, most often by Asian tourists. I'm not sure if they think a kilt is an American thing?

[Holcombe Thomas]

I am most often asked which clan, but have more than once been asked if I was Irish.

On one occasional, a very charming young lady around ten came up and announced that she, too, was part Irish. Mom was looking on, smiling. We chatted for a moment or two and then she went her way and I went mine.

Holcombe
(Clan Graham, if you were wondering)

[WalesLax]

Jock,

I've had a similar conversation with a number of the people I play pipes with - we have got to be in pictures across countless computers in America at this point. It's kind of weird on days like a St. Patrick's Day when there are lots of bands, police, and firefighters also wearing kilts. I'm generally pretty amenable to taking pictures with me (until I see my wife starting to get annoyed (she is also in the band but almost always says no to pictures because "I don't know this weirdo")), but I love your "rare parrot that is umpteen thousand miles off course that must be photographed" analogy. It's incredibly funny and accurate.

As a side note, there is a colony of Monk Parrots/Parakeets (depending on who you talk to) that live in my neighborhood in New York, that are descended from a shipment that was stopped at JFK in the 1950's (-ish?) but escaped and seem to have thrived. Similarly, I was CRAZY about seeing them when I first moved here, and now am kind of indifferent, though they are much more pleasant than, say, a pigeon.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/10/...t-parrot-nest/


Rob

The one question that I have really come to dread and is a common one is; "can we take a picture of you?". Over the years I have learnt two things, "we" means a coach load and group pictures get the job done much more quickly! I must admit that being regarded as some sort of rare parrot that is umpteen thousand miles off course that must be photographed at any and all occasions by one and all does cause one to consider if wearing the kilt anywhere in public is worth the bother. Actually it isn't! But courtesy prevails, particularly if there are pretty young ladies present. As yet, I cannot recall that I have ever been asked THE question.

[Jack Daw]

The one question that I have really come to dread and is a common one is; "can we take a picture of you?". Over the years I have learnt two things, "we" means a coach load and group pictures get the job done much more quickly! I must admit that being regarded as some sort of rare parrot that is umpteen thousand miles off course that must be photographed at any and all occasions by one and all does cause one to consider if wearing the kilt anywhere in public is worth the bother. Actually it isn't! But courtesy prevails, particularly if there are pretty young ladies present. As yet, I cannot recall that I have ever been asked THE question.

Well, at least you get the common courtesy of being asked. I was at a Highland Games and suddenly a woman was standing next to me, but looking to my right. I looked over in time to see my picture being taken by her husband (?) with not a word of request or thanks.

[Moses]

Easily the biggest question is of the why or what is the occasion variety. Also "what is that called again?" comes up a lot...I really thought it was funny when a lady who had been imbibing liberally kept referring to my "Quilt" .

I too seem to have gotten more Irish related remarks than Scottish

[WalesLax]

I should clarify that I do get far too many people who run up, grab me, and take a picture. I try to have an "it's all in good fun and it's positive attention," but at the same time, there's an element of "you are in my personal space and touching me, and you look like you are drunk/sticky, so eew." This is specifically why my wife has a "a) No, b) Nope, c) no way, d) touch me and I'll scream" attitude when it comes to pictures.

Rob

Well, at least you get the common courtesy of being asked. I was at a Highland Games and suddenly a woman was standing next to me, but looking to my right. I looked over in time to see my picture being taken by her husband (?) with not a word of request or thanks.

[WalesLax]

In Chicago I got "are you Scottish" more often, whereas in NY I get "are you Irish" most.

Easily the biggest question is of the why or what is the occasion variety. Also "what is that called again?" comes up a lot...I really thought it was funny when a lady who had been imbibing liberally kept referring to my "Quilt" .

I too seem to have gotten more Irish related remarks than Scottish