[Jimmy]

So cheeky Johnny Depp starring in the new Alice in Wonderland film at the press conference in front of a multitude of journalists said that 'he liked wearing that skilrt'
Johnny being the perfectionist and speaking in a Glasgow accent in the film, well knew that he would upset his Scots fans by this remark. It would appear he has joined that band of pretenders who somehow just love to call the kilt a skirt

[Schiehallion]

I do get annoyed when I hear " he's wearing a skirt" and I reply 'It's a KILT and to say otherwise is offensive.' They often reply ..."so what's the difference?" I usually say ... 'about 8 yards to start with! ....and if you need to know more it might be too much to ask of your intelligence'

Harsh?
Do others have a quick reply to such an insult?

[Heming]

Well, in my book a kilt is a specific type of skirt ...



Seriously, I don't think Mr. Depp said what he did to be cheeky or disrespectful. I think he thought he was funny or cool or something. We can disagree with that of course, but I think it's a waste of energy to get all hot and bothered by someone calling a kilt a skirt. So what if they call it a skirt? I call it a kilt, and I'm wearing it because i want to.

Anyway, I'll be standing in line for premiere tickets.

Heming

[lethearen]

Would someone get upset if another called the jeans they were wearing "pants"?

I understand that there's a bit of a social construct condemning "skirt" as a solely feminine article, and through ignornance or insult it's thrown at us kilt-wearers to shake our confidence... but y'know, it is a skirt. A specialized skirt, it may be, but still a skirt.

One kiltie can approach another with a grin on his face and say "Hey, nice skirt!" and the recipient of the erstwhile "insult" would know the light heartedness involved. Connotation and intent are paramount when taking offense at something said. If he was earnest when saying he enjoyed wearing it, then one would hardly assume he was being derogatory to the kilted masses.

He did have the opportunity to educate the public and make a stand for kilted men everywhere. Am I upset he didn't? Nah. If anything, he showed that he's comfortable enough wearing it that he can be tongue-in-cheek. For all those people out there who would rib him for wearing a skirt, he proved that he can look at them, smile and say "Why thank you, it is!" He took the power from their attack before they could even open their mouths.

If someone is trying to offend, ignore them. Being offended by their sophomoric jests will only embolden them. If they are just ignorant, educate them, but again take no offense. Otherwise, with a remark insulting their intelligence, you may offend someone who meant no harm. Now instead of respecting the kilt, they just see a jerk in a skirt.

Wearing the kilt is something we do for ourselves, despite the cultural oddity it creates about us. We walk out of our homes without regard to what someone else might think. If we cared that much about conforming, we wouldn't cross the threshold. Why start letting what other people think bother us after we're out the door?

[csbdr]

Originally Posted by lethearen

Would someone get upset if another called the jeans they were wearing "pants"?

I understand that there's a bit of a social construct condemning "skirt" as a solely feminine article, and through ignornance or insult it's thrown at us kilt-wearers to shake our confidence... but y'know, it is a skirt. A specialized skirt, it may be, but still a skirt.

One kiltie can approach another with a grin on his face and say "Hey, nice skirt!" and the recipient of the erstwhile "insult" would know the light heartedness involved. Connotation and intent are paramount when taking offense at something said. If he was earnest when saying he enjoyed wearing it, then one would hardly assume he was being derogatory to the kilted masses.

He did have the opportunity to educate the public and make a stand for kilted men everywhere. Am I upset he didn't? Nah. If anything, he showed that he's comfortable enough wearing it that he can be tongue-in-cheek. For all those people out there who would rib him for wearing a skirt, he proved that he can look at them, smile and say "Why thank you, it is!" He took the power from their attack before they could even open their mouths.

If someone is trying to offend, ignore them. Being offended by their sophomoric jests will only embolden them. If they are just ignorant, educate them, but again take no offense. Otherwise, with a remark insulting their intelligence, you may offend someone who meant no harm. Now instead of respecting the kilt, they just see a jerk in a skirt.

Wearing the kilt is something we do for ourselves, despite the cultural oddity it creates about us. We walk out of our homes without regard to what someone else might think. If we cared that much about conforming, we wouldn't cross the threshold. Why start letting what other people think bother us after we're out the door?

Well put!!

[jkane]

The only thing that offends me is people who are offended by others.

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

Originally Posted by lethearen

Would someone get upset if another called the jeans they were wearing "pants"?

I understand that there's a bit of a social construct condemning "skirt" as a solely feminine article, and through ignornance or insult it's thrown at us kilt-wearers to shake our confidence... but y'know, it is a skirt. A specialized skirt, it may be, but still a skirt.

One kiltie can approach another with a grin on his face and say "Hey, nice skirt!" and the recipient of the erstwhile "insult" would know the light heartedness involved. Connotation and intent are paramount when taking offense at something said. If he was earnest when saying he enjoyed wearing it, then one would hardly assume he was being derogatory to the kilted masses.

He did have the opportunity to educate the public and make a stand for kilted men everywhere. Am I upset he didn't? Nah. If anything, he showed that he's comfortable enough wearing it that he can be tongue-in-cheek. For all those people out there who would rib him for wearing a skirt, he proved that he can look at them, smile and say "Why thank you, it is!" He took the power from their attack before they could even open their mouths.

If someone is trying to offend, ignore them. Being offended by their sophomoric jests will only embolden them. If they are just ignorant, educate them, but again take no offense. Otherwise, with a remark insulting their intelligence, you may offend someone who meant no harm. Now instead of respecting the kilt, they just see a jerk in a skirt.

Wearing the kilt is something we do for ourselves, despite the cultural oddity it creates about us. We walk out of our homes without regard to what someone else might think. If we cared that much about conforming, we wouldn't cross the threshold. Why start letting what other people think bother us after we're out the door?

Yes, I agree with csbdr

[fluter]

Kilts are a proper subset of skirts. No argument there.

That said, I wouldn't put it past Mr. Depp to be cheeky. :P Since I have not heard the remark, I have no idea how it would strike me.


"Well, constable, it wasn't so much what he didn't say, as the way he didn't say it."

[CDNSushi]

I'm not a mod here, but I AM gonna rules-lawyer this one...

Posts and/or threads containing topics not related to kilts or topics deemed questionable by the forum staff may be deleted, without cause. This includes but is not limited to threads concerning kilt accessories used as weapons or used to carry weapons, what is worn under the kilt, the "is a kilt a skirt?" issue, the gender of those wearing kilts, National pride issues, etc...

Highlight=mine.

Plus, this should be in the "Kilts in the Media" forum....

[O'Callaghan]

Well, technically, the topic is not whether we think a kilt is a skirt, but what we think of Johnny Depp referring to a kilt as a skirt. OTOH, we are pretty likely to divide on lines decided by our own views on the subject!

PS: I think that the important thing is that he's wearing it.