You just can't beat culture!

[creativeaccents]

A FUN evening of experiencing cultural diferences..
Wore my black canvas kilt and Black Watch Tee Shirt as a test...
In NW Georgia small town pub and grocery many a sneer, lots of none too hidden laughter, and lots of "Easy Rider" like reception to the point that I was GLAD to get past the parish line!
THEN to an Irish pub closer to Atlanta where everyone just had fun talking, joking, and being real people. At 57 methinks we really haven't come all that far. I gotta get outta this place, but with many more days of wearing a kilt in rural NW GA, it may well be the last thing I ever do.
AND I HAD MY WIFE WITH ME.

[Rigged]

Reminds of that line from the movie, "300" -- "We've been sharing our culture with your army all morning." You shared your culture with them. They shared their culture with you. Seems their culture is lacking.

[Chase]

Sorry to hear that CA...Ignorance is all it is...Good on ya though...Keep up the faith

[beloitpiper]

Eh, you'll get a sneer wherever you go. Hold your head high, and don't let it get you down.

[bikeolounger]

I get the sniggles from onlookers from time to time, including when I was in a Q'Doba (regional chain of semi-Mexican fast food joints), wearing a black UK Original, and saw two college-aged guys looking pointedly at me and tittering amongst themselves. I ignored them after that, until the woman in front of me in line asked why they were being such feckwits--she liked my kilt.

So did the woman at the cash register.

In fact, of those who have commented to me, most have been appreciative. The negative comments have universally come from the immature, usually either college-aged or younger (or of similar inebriation to the stereotypical frat rat).

After reading so many comments on comments, I am sometimes surprised at the fairly low rate of discussion. Perhaps folks around here are more cosmopolitan than I give them credit for being.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Hey, now. Don't go bashing the college-aged!

Oh, who am I kidding? People (generally males) my age are morons.

[Ozman1944]

I find it's usually the unsophisticated and un-travelled, or the poorly educated who are ill-mannered.

[Chef]

A FUN evening of experiencing cultural diferences..
Wore my black canvas kilt and Black Watch Tee Shirt as a test...
In NW Georgia small town pub and grocery many a sneer, lots of none too hidden laughter, and lots of "Easy Rider" like reception to the point that I was GLAD to get past the parish line!
THEN to an Irish pub closer to Atlanta where everyone just had fun talking, joking, and being real people. At 57 methinks we really haven't come all that far. I gotta get outta this place, but with many more days of wearing a kilt in rural NW GA, it may well be the last thing I ever do.
AND I HAD MY WIFE WITH ME.

I think, in this comparison, it may be significant that you were not wearing a traditional kilt. On this forum we have debated many times what is or isn't a kilt but, I would bet, even the traditionalists on xmarks have a wider view of what constitutes a kilt than the general public at large. In many people's minds what you were wearing may not have constituted a kilt. Truth is you may have been viewed the same in Atlanta as you were in rural GA, however in a cosmopolitan area people are used to seeing us "eccentrics" and tend to ignore them.

I have spent many times in southern rural areas kilted and my experience has been similar but different. Similar in that I tend to get more comments/reactions than I do in cities; different because it has always been positive. Remember, a lot of people in the south can trace at least part of their heritage back to Scotland. I have most definitely heard more stories about grandfathers or great-grandmothers that came from one place or another in Scotland in rural areas than I have in urban areas.

Now I almost always wear a traditional kilt, it may not have anything to do with it, but I think it does. I think wearing what others have in their mind as a kilt does make for a different experience.

I'm not suggesting everyone should only wear a traditional kilt, that is a a personal choice. My point is, I think there may occasionally be differences in the experiences one has when wearing kilt vs. a non-traditional Utilikilt, Amerikilt, Sportkilt etc.

[creativeaccents]

I think that you are right about the different reactions for the different types of kilts. The traditional is universally recognized for what it is...a kilt. The casual kilt, even with a 3" black belt, still is viewed as a skirt. Interesting thing is that some in the first pub were wearing plaid shorts, white socks and sandals while a few others were in the heavy biker leathers and chains...in an "IRISH" pub. Location had a lot to do with it, there are some places where it is just best to make a discrete retreat to the door. "good ol boys" don't like different and CAN be dangerous.

Curious for me, but a learning curve. Probably the first time as a straight, WASP, conservative that I was the recipient of ignorance and bigotry. Maybe we all need to experience that to know how it feels?!
The Marine heritage led to anger and a desire to adjust some attitudes. Common sense told me this was NOT a time or place to start something.

Born and raised in the south, it didn't take much to become "different" based purely on outward appearances judged in one glance. It wasn't about who I was, but simply my appearance.

Lesson learned, sometimes its better not to go where ignorance abounds. On the other hand, it reconfirmed my desire to move to Asheville.

[Mark Keeney]

I think it is less of what kind of kilt it is as to how you wear it. It is all about confidence. If you own the kilt and don't react to comments or looks you will walk away a winner. I wear both tartan and Utilikilts and its all the same. I wear them to big cities and small towns, no difference. The most problem I ever get is teenage boys in groups who are just showing off how "cool" they are.