You just can't beat culture!

[davedove]

Very true. I'm from Alabama (roll Tide!) and there were people that fought on both sides for many different reasons.
Also we had "The Free State of Winston" an area that basically seceded from Alabama after it seceded from the Union.

That's really interesting. I had never heard about that before.

[beowulf67]

That's really interesting. I had never heard about that before.

Yes we have some interesting people around here.

[creativeaccents]

Call it ignorance, bigotry, judgmentalism, bias or whatever, the sad fact is that such exists throughout the world in every locale and has throughout history on every continent. I think that for myself it was probably a learning experience to actually feel what it like to be on the receiving end of the snickers, the looks, and the sense of real tension. As some have pointed out here, the choice is ours as to how we choose to respond, both internally and situationally. The night it happened I chose to move on, to extricate myself from such an environment and the potential of escalating hostility. Last night the wife and I were doing a photo shoot in another location where I enjoyed my Black Watch kilt and the company. For myself, the casual kilt was a catalyst for a learning experience and some reaffirmation that I have absolutely no desire to be in a community or among people where such negativity, bigotry, bias...call it what you will... is predominant. This is by no means an issue of north or south, or rural versus metropolitan, but just a recognition that ignorance exists everywhere and that from time to time we may well find ourselves the target. Even as the recipient, I don't think that provoking anything further would either change any minds or the people, but only serve to reinforce stereotypes and bring negative attention to kilts in general. They are who they are, so I move on.

[Makeitstop]

I must say, in my admittedly limited experience, I have received far more positive responses to the kilt from rural folks than city boys.

I will however agree about college age guys tending to be idiots. And the girls are too, but they're just not as irritating.

I actually enjoy it when someone tries to give me crap about the kilt. I always have a witty response, and it's always fun to drive a jerk nuts.

[thescot]

Man, you should have been with me when my wife talked me into going to a "great" (her word) antique market. Turns out, it was a primarily Mexican flea market where I was more than slightly out of place in a kilt.

However, the worst I got was a few stares, and many of the folks there actually liked the kilt and made complementary comments.

Creativeaccents, glad you are in the area. Hope we'll see you out one day soon.

[creativeaccents]

Thanks for the kind comments!

My original efforts in launching MENSPLACE were to reach out to the market around the area, but since then have enjoyed Atlanta's ease of shipping and receiving to reach out internationally.

Would love to introduce you and others to my favorite pub, MacCrackens, in Marietta...just about as friendly and authentic as I have found in the Atlanta area. I live thirty miles north.
Have a blessed week!
Clarence Walker

[Roan Carter]

This is exactly how it is in my town. : /

[Rigged]

I wear traditional and non-traditional kilts, and people who know what a kilt is recognize the non-traditionals as some kind of kilt. Some people know what a kilt is, but just want to be a pain-in-the-a$$. Some people just don't know and don't know what to make of it.