Who acts like this?

[Powermac]

Actually if you look they are wearing belts. It keeps their pants just below their butts.

I was referring to prison, where the practice originated. Often belts are a no-no for safety reasons.

[David Thorpe]

I have an old high school bud - nice guy - I've known him for over 40 years. He, upon seeing either my brother or I kilted, just can't help but snigger and giggle derisively. It is absolutely predictable from him. It doesn't bother me in the least. Why would I be upset by similar behavior from a total stranger?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Its more than likely what town or area of town you are in. In my area people area very accepting of the kilt, but the closer you get to hillbilly central the less accepting people are. Its like a threat to their norm.
I wouldnt worry about it. Youre obviously the much bigger man.

Craig

Actually, from what I glean from the OP's description, I doubt he was anywhere near "hillbilly country."

As someone who lives in the hills, I hardly ever have negative reactions to my kilt wearing. Rather the opposite, in fact.

It is when I venture into the larger urban centers that I am much more likely to encounter people like the OP described. They are usually young, usually not very educated, and almost always in groups.

[OC Richard]

I almost never get any negative reaction to wearing the kilt except when I'm piping at a Middle School, or sometimes a High School.

I think it's simply to due the age of the kids, kids around 13 or 14 years old. This is the age of extreme conformity, when peer pressure is at its highest, when individualism is at its lowest.

Ever walk around a school and notice how all the kids are dressed exactly alike?

I used to teach at a High School and I would comment on that from time to time. For example one day I came across four or five of my students, young guys, who were all wearing black tennis shoes, black jeans, black t-shirts with the logo of some band on them, and flannel plaid shirts, worn open to show the t-shirts.

I said "hey what did you guys do this morning, get on the phone and plan to wear the same thing?"

"Oh hey Mr C... we're not all wearing the same thing... oh, dude, we ARE!!"

and they had a laugh about it.

Or I could look down the row of kids sitting at their desks and see that every kid in the row, ten kids or so, was wearing the same exact tennis shoe, same brand, same colour, and I would mention it.

Just to make them aware of how extreme their conformity to a group norm was, at a time when they imagine that they're being rebellious or nonconformist.

Anyhow part of this need to conform to a strict (though unwritten) code of dress, with these immature kids, is to make fun of any sort of dress that's different.

[Father Bill]

Yup. I remember at age 17 in the late 60s sitting in the University coffee shop with a long haired fellow with a jeans jacket, jeans and boots telling me that I had to stop conforming and be myself. I had a crew-cut, grey flannels and a collared shirt, and asked him to look around and see for himself who the only person in the room was who was "being himself." It wasn't really what he wanted me to do; he just wanted me to be like him.

But then, I'm an auld crabbit and probably always was.

[dea3369]

You consider the source and forget it. I find I'm able to ignore stupidity once I was finally able to accept the fact that about 20% of the population are terminally stupid and there is nothing I can do to change that statistic. You don't wear the kilt for them, you don't even wear it for the other 80% of the population who appreciate it. You wear it for you! Forget the 20%. There is nothing you can do to help them.

AMEN to that! Also, you forget that many in the USA never leave the USA or even their own State. For them, all that tolerance, anti-racism, etc. is "stuff on TV."

[English Bloke]

I've had a couple of occasions where mates of mine have tried to rib me about my Kilt. All in good fun I might add (unlike 48th Highlander's experience which seems quite threatening). But it is quite satisfying when you can respond with something like
"I like to tread my own path through life. But you lot carry on sticking with the herd, you'll be safer."

I do enjoy it when the grins fade and realisation of what I'm actually saying dawns.


Picture from premier1supplies

I agree with Knotty, it IS a threat to their norm.

[david30101]

I was standing outside of the building where i was waiting to open for a class. I was wearing a Tan Utilikilt and there were about 20 other guys in the same group standing there with me waiting for the door to open. I was there for 30 minutes and all these guys seen me. Anyhow during class we all had to get up 1 at a time to get out pics taken for our IDs. When the Instructor called me up he asked about my kilt, at that time most of the others in the room started snickering.... Like.. Its was the first time they heard about my kilt even though i was standing in front of them 30 minutes before class started.. I sayed.. "laugh it up" "what, now you laugh when after I was standing outside waiting for door to open for 30 minutes with all of you?" This was in the Atlanta Metro area where i live.

[1oldsarge]

Try not to lower yourself down to their level.
As they say, "Don't Feed the Squirrels".

[cessna152towser]

just can't help but snigger and giggle derisively.

First time I read this I read derisively as defensively.
Can't help thinking they're on the defensive with their laughter because they are overwhelmed as to how well dressed you are compared with them.
Anyway, as has already been said, You can't fix stupid.