The "real cold question" season

[James MacMillan]

I usually explain that kilts are to pants as mittens are to gloves. That way, the other person leaves a little bit smarter.

It does get old for me though. I swear people ask this question more often than "the" question.

Matt

P.S. for those of you who play, I just lost the game.

I like that! I am going to steal it and use it........Thanks....

[ccga3359]

I like that! I am going to steal it and use it........Thanks....

Yeah but my response would be "You stick your thumb where?" Are you sure you want to use that I might have brothers out there from a wayward father.

[Nick the DSM]

huh, so it is possible to wear a kilt the chilly or cold weather and live. i should do that instead of wussin around cuz i have no socks.

[Oldhiker]

Robert just tell them you have a heater under the kilt and wink... answers BOTH questions

[bikeolounger]

Most folks who know me well have gotten used to me not getting cold easily no matter what I'm wearing. I am now in the second job I've had since turning 19 that hasn't involved long periods outdoors in any weather normally seen here (and some weather not normally seen here--think "ramp rat" at the big UPS Next Day Air facility for nine+ years, among other things).

That said, yes, I have already experienced the "aren't you cold?" bit. Since I figured they were referring to my bare knees, I simply shrugged it off. Easy for them to see me shrug, too, given that I wasn't wearing a coat at the time (~5C). Come to think of it...

And, no, I wasn't cold at all.

[string]

I get asked if I'm too hot at reenactments a lot, I always say, aren't you? Invariably they just look surprised and say yes. I mean, I'm sitting there in 3 layers of clothing including a 1/4 inch thick set of leather stays (18th century version of the corset) of course I am! But no hotter than they are, it's what you are used to.
At cold events I'm always warmer than they are, but they haven't learned that I keep a steaming hot cup of tea nearby to stay warm with at all times, if you keep it just under your hem where you are sitting it's like having a little heater warming the pocket of air.
I would assume a Kilt, being wool would have the same effect, although I am pretty sure I'd freeze from ankle to knee (my feet do not become cold, ever)

[emolas]

I get asked that a lot. It happened today as I was out shovelling snow in my driveway. Somebody walking by just had to stop and carry on a conversation with me

Stranger: "Aren't you cold in that?"
Me: "In what?" Knowing damn well what he means...
Stranger: "In that kilt."
Me: "I have 25 feet of fabric wrapped in layers around my waist, how about you?"
Stranger: "What about your legs?"
Me: "Thick wool socks and these snowboots keep my legs toasty warm."
Stranger: "What about your knees?"
Me: "There isn't a lot of skin showing and I don't notice the cold much there."
Stranger: "What about wind?"
Me: "What about it?"
Stranger: "I mean isn't it cold when the wind blows up your kilt?"
Me: "I suppose it would be if it blew UP but in my experience wind generally blows horizontal."
Stranger: "Oh... Umm... What kind of dog is that?"

Funny how quickly he changed the subject. No segue or anything, just a new line of questions. He asked so many questions I was wondering if he was a 2 year-old trapped in a man's body. I was kinda hoping he would ask THE question because I already had "snowballs" in mind as an answer.

I do get a few comments from women asking if I'm cold because they say if they were in a skirt they would be cold. I just let them feel the thickness of the fabric and tell them about the 25 feet of it wrapped in layers and they understand. The "What about your knees?" question never comes up from women for some reason.

[Dalmore]

During our stroll up to Rockefeller Center and back on our NYC kilt night last week were repeatedly asked if we were cold.

More often people don't ask but rather insist. They usually say something like "you must be cold" when they pass you on the street.

Good thing I'm immune to suggestion.

[sorcererdale]

Well, my knees are always cold in a kilt in the winter, but they are in jeans too, I just don't have good circulation in my knees. But I usually reply, "Yes, my nose is very cold!" That usually stops them as it is not what they expect.

DALE.

[Jock Scot]

Do you know,I have never been asked that question.Not even by a tourist!