One person's opinion

[Andy Ternay]

I got this from a "friend' last night.

Don't like the kilt thing. Feel like you are just trying to draw attention to yourself, which seems self indulgent and vain. Although maybe you just don't want to deal with buttons. I dunno. I just find it embarrassing and self-indulgent. I am embarrassed to be with you. I don't like that. What is wrong with you? Can't you just be a normal man? So much money wasted on such a stupid thing, in my opinion

Interesting
Craig

I bolded the words and phrases that really struck me. This little tirade was very hostile. To me it comes across as an attack. If this happened to me, from a "friend" I would be very taken aback because I don't expect "friends" to insult and scold me over what is really, at its core, a matter of personal choice.

It is also his problem, not yours. Obviously your kilt causes him no mild amount of discomfort. But again, that's on him, not on you.

It just seems a very over the top reaction.

[islandkilt]

hmmm... what mr. scot said - if it applies... and what tobus said, for sure... and what my brother on the river said - from the gut...

it's a fine and true friend who can feel so free as to share such feelings with you...

and a fool of a false friend who would judge you on your choice of clothing and feel that it somehow reflects on them...

take it as you want, deal with it as you want, because in the end its the same choice as the kilt - yours...

[gordontaos]

Why are you wearing a kilt?

Because my wife won't let me have a mistress!

There you go!

[guardsman]

So knotty,seems like a question to me is ,is the guy right or wrong. If wrong please educate your friend,or is he jealous.To be honest sounds something a woman would say....By the way,TACTFULLY put Jock,hit the spot again LOL

[OC Richard]

If a friend, a genuine one, cannot voice an opinion that runs contrary to yours, then who can? That is life, surely? Respect him/her and the views voiced and get on with doing your own thing.

Whilst I have no wish to stir up a hornets nest,-----I probably will-----, I do think that your friend may have some valid points there, for some kilt wearers of today.

I find myself (as usual!) in agreement with you here.

It's precisely this sort of thing that keeps me from wearing kilts to church, or to my daughter's graduation today. The focus of these events is on others and the last thing I want to do is dress in a way that will make me be noticed.

Like many pipers I have a bit of an aversion to wearing Highland Dress when I'm not piping. Unlike most pipers, however, I wear Highland Dress to Games when not competing (which gets comments and raised eyebrows from the piping community) and having not owned a suit for decades I wear Highland Dress at those very rare occasions where a suit is required (once every few years).

[dea3369]

and doesn't spend any of his money on anything "stupid"?

I seriously doubt that because he likely doesn't believe his collection of Craftsman or Snap-On tools ain't stoopid.

Sounds to me like he's jealous that you've got the stones to stand out from the crowd.

Maybe not jealous. My guess is threatened -- that you're a bigger man than he.

But have you considered that, given that he's truly a friend, he really wants you to convince him that kilts are great, liberating, fun, fashionable, etc.? A long time ago, I had the lapse of reason to call motorcycles a waste of money. Two friends took turns letting me ride passenger on their group rides. Today, I'm the only one of us three who still has a motorcycle.

Keep wearing your kilts. He'll get used to them and you wearing your MUG.

But I have to ask: Was there alcohol involved in this friendly exchange? Also, as in the discussion that brought up little, plastic octopus kilt pins, what was the context of the comment? To me, this comment might have arrived at the tail end of a heated debate when many simply throw out any derogatory statement just to have last word.

[dea3369]

To be honest sounds something a woman would say....

OUCH. You DEFINITELY have bigger stones than I.

[JohntheBiker]

Its' precisely this sort of thing that keeps me from wearing kilts to church, or to my daughter's graduation today. The focus of these events is on others and the last thing I want to do is dress in a way that will make me be noticed.

Not wearing a kikt to mydaughters graduation today either. Same reason.

[James Hood]

CDNsushi,

As the colourfully-garbed, hopelessly hip, youthful denizens of the megopolis of Chicago exclaim upon notable occasions such as the expounding of profound wisdom, their sincere enthusiasm accentuated by spontaneous flourishing gestures and elaborate hand-choreography...

...YOU DA MAN!!!!!!

[Spartan Tartan]

If wearing the kilt is about wearing the kilt...then perhaps your friend has a point. If wearing the kilt is appropriate to the situation, then there you go.

Personally, wearing my kilt is not so important that I would wear it just to prove a point. I don't wear it to prove points; rather, I wear it in appropriate moments to show respect to my family and the venue. But BOTH the venue and the wearing of a kilt need to be appropriate for it. If I KNOW it bothers my friend, then I certainly would not make an issue of it and insist upon wearing my kilt to "show him" a lesson when with him...unless he were joining me to a specifically kilt-type event.

For example, I DO enjoy going to soccer games here in the States in my kilt. However, if my buddy were uncomfortable about my wearing a kilt to the game...I would wear shorts or pants or whatever else fit the temperature. Either way, I'd be wearing one of my soccer jerseys...

As another example, my kilt wardrobe is the most formal clothing I own (not my military dress uniforms). If that same friend and I were to attend a formal outing, I would HAVE to wear my kilt or my uniform...I'd let the situation dictate that decision, NOT my friend.

On the other hand, my friends do not concern themselves with my clothing. Whether it is my kilt, my old BDUs or my nasty old sneakers. Nor do I concern myself with what they are wearing. But I do feel comfortable telling them if I believe their clothing is somehow inappropriate. Likewise, I appreciate them telling me the same.