Do you ever just NOT want the attention?

[TheKiltedWonder]

OK, I'm too old to say "dude," but ... Dude! Most of them also have at least 250 years of Scots-Irish heritage.

Not everyone's really aware of it though. I know my dad counseled me against wearing the kilt in front of some of my WV relatives. They're mostly German-Americans, but they're from Appalachia -- there are definitely Scots-Irish names mixed in. But not everyone holds onto cultural ties like that.

Personally I was hoping to find more Celtic music in the Shenandoah valley and it's the same story. I'm still getting settled in though, so we'll see!

[TheKiltedCoder]

I know exactly the feeling. And there have been several times where I've actually gone in p@nts just because I didn't feel like dealing with the attention.

But then, I'm also stubborn enough to believe that I've let the rude and impudent win if I change what I wear just to make other people easier to deal with. So, I frequently end out kilted, but can be grumpy in public.

Brian

[billmcc]

I know exactly the feeling. And there have been several times where I've actually gone in p@nts just because I didn't feel like dealing with the attention.

Same here. Some days I am just not in the mood to deal with strangers.

[Captain Karrot]

Personally, I love the attention.

I've gotten to answering if I am a bagpiper with

"Nope, I'm more of a swordsman" along with a sly wink at the ladies....that usually gets a good laugh, and we move on.

On an interesting note - a restaurant/pub has opened near my home called The Pub. The wait staff, both men and women, are in kilts. I find now that when I go oot and aboot kilted, the assumption is that I work at The Pub...so instead of the usual questions, I get "how was work tonight" or something similar.

[Kilted_John]

Yes, there are times when I do wear trousers (usually Levi's 550 jeans) or a pair of shorts. The fact that I have long hair and am overweight probably doesn't help me blend in completely, so I always stick out a little. That said, I do find myself less self-conscious in a kilt than in the trousers.

-J

[Bugbear]

... But you know what they say: you can't control other people; you can only control your reaction to them and make your own behavioral choices.

Regards,
Rex.

Aint that the truth. Well, except for blushing.

[joeybear]

I wear shorts if I don't want too many dumb questions, depending on where I'm going. I have a few tattoos and those always bring questions of their own, so it's a double-edged sword.

[runewolf]

Interesting and appropriate question for me now. I have just returned a couple hours ago from over second event of the year. My wife and I sell fudge and glazed nuts at festivals/events. I always wear my kilt at events, right? Well I thought about it for the first two events and didn't wear the kilt for either. Why, you ask? Well, two weeks ago we were in Summersville, WV and this weekend we were in Chester, WV------both were indoor hunting/fishing shows. I've never seen so much camo clothing in one place at one time. Believe me, the people at our WV festivals have been great, but it was scary to think most of these guys own guns!!! I felt much more comfortable in my jeans than I would have in a kilt (even a camo kilt!!)

LOL, I live here and strangely enough the "rednecks" in camo gear have been the most pleasant to talk to while kilted. I've been truly surprised when I have gone to Lowes to get smiles and "thumbs up" from the guys that I was most worried about and looks of disdain from older men and women that you think would be "educated" enough to know the difference between a kilt and a skirt.

Wish I would have known you were in Summersville! It is only an hour away from me and I would have gone down kilted just to confuse some people lol.

[Howard Clark]

I find that it depends on my mood. If I am feeling unhappy, I tend to go out in blue jeans so that I can just operate in stealth mode and remain anonymous or as near as possible.

If I am happy, then I go anywhere and everywhere in a kilt, and can deal with whatever response I get without much trouble, so far. The only time things might have been ugly is when I was out kilted and in a foul temper at the same time. So I just don't do that any more. Likely that's more about me than other people or the kilt though.

[Nighthawk]

Nah! If someone asks me where my bagpipes are I tend to answer, "under the kilt, laddie, want to give them a try?" (unless there are those with tender ears present).

I just give the asker a look says "You're a moron" and I say "At home, in their case. Where would they be?"

And no- I don't care about the attention one way or the other. Positive comments are nice, and I just don't care about the opinions of stupid people.