I'm just ticked off

[CDNSushi]

you chaps wearing the kilt out of its natural surroundings are putting yourselves there to be "sniped at". Surely you must expect comments like this?

From what I'm told, one could probably argue that even the Scottish Highlands are out of the kilt's natural surroundings nowadays...

Instead of being nice and polite about such off-hand remarks, rather than ignoring them, perhaps it's time to start telling people exactly how rude they are.

Hindsight is 20/20 but perhaps for a woman such as the one descibed by the OP, the best solution may have been to interrupt her and say something like:

"Ma'am. When you woke up this morning, I doubt you said to yourself that your goal for the day was to find someone who dresses differently and make fun of them... I know of very few people who would be THAT offensive.. But perhaps you don't quite realize exactly how rudely you are behaving at the moment. It would never occur to me to walk up to you, a perfect stranger, and just start bashing your clothes, hair and appearance. How would you feel? What would you say to me if I went and did that? What makes it acceptable for you to do that to anyone?"

[azwildcat96]

There is no excuse for bad manners wherever you are in the world. As a Scot looking at this circumstance from far away from the event I am not surprised. Ignorance is world wide, cheap comments are world wide, lack of understanding is world wide, so you chaps wearing the kilt out of its natural surrounding are putting yourselves there to be "sniped at". Surely you must expect comments like this? Not often one can hope and it does not make it right, but it is bound to happen.

Well said!

I would venture a guess that, when kilted, you receive more positive comments than negative ones. But, the negative ones will come about periodically.

Maybe a bit more of the "Hey, I have a huge set of to wear this!" attitude will limit these comments.

Bottom line, if you're going to wear a kilt you had better have thick skin.

[dfmacliam]

I would not let this incident get under your skin, because what can you really do about it?Ignorent is simply ignorent.... and to think a company is relying on a person of this caliber, to bring them business.. and with the economy the way it is.. It's really a shame... Oh well...

It often amazes me the intelligence level some people exhibit..

[ForresterModern]

There is an old adage that says something to the effect of "No one comes out smelling pretty when you get in a pissing match with a skunk". Rather than returning smart comments let them lie in their own ignorance---it will eventually come back to haunt them, but I doubt you will be around to enjoy it, although you can take silent satisfaction merely in the knowledge. Walk away and spend your time an energy in an act of joy rather than let them get you down. Unfortunately the rudeness gene runs genetically with the idiocy gene. This will not be the last time someone has a bad interaction with an idiot about wearing a kilt, becasue unfortunately god and the law has not taken away the right for idiots to reproduce. Stay to the high ground, and your blood pressure and psyche will remain in a much better state, my friend.

I do agree with letting this "person's" employer know that they have hired a rude and inconsiderate employee who reflects poorly on their company image, either in person or in writing to the president of the company, and name the offending person, or identify them as best as one can, specifically.

Sorry for your bad experience. Just remember, life is good but far too short to waste time on idiots.


jeff

[rocscotjoe]

This makes me think of some of my favorite song lyrics. From James McMurtry's "Red Dress"

Yes I'm drunk but damn you're ugly
Tell you one thing yes I will
Tomorrow morning I'll be sober
You'll be just as ugly still

2nd grade I know...but damn, it feels good sometimes...

[Schiehallion]

I think you got it in one !

"She did not continue her attack because of the lack of audience."

Some people like to seek attention.... as they have no individuality about them to be noticed!

[cessna152towser]

I guess the lady got her come uppance when she saw you later in the restaurant with your fiancee and realised she could not have you the handsome kiltie as her partner. Sometimes jealous women can be really bitter and twisted, its my guess that's what's truly behind her accusation of cross dressing. I wouldn't let it bother you.

[McClef]

I was once accused of being "dressed like a woman" in Pontypool market.

I replied "Madam you are in trousers so clearly I cannot be dressed like a woman!"

[MacBean]

Well lass, I keep my bagpipes well hidden, but if you're good, I'll let you blow them.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Well lass, I keep my bagpipes well hidden, but if you're good, I'll let you blow them.

That's nearly as good as the one I like for THE QUESTION:

Nothing, mam, it's in perfect working order.

The only comment I have received was from a woman who said something along the lines of she thought men in kilts looked really super (other than the question later that night from a woman at the Whisky tasting I was attending: Ricky Crawford and I had fun with her).

I try to stay as "authentic" as possible when I wear the kilt outside of the highlands, which means at least a sporran and a sgian dubh to stab someone who makes stupid comments along the lines of the one that started this thread.

If you don't like MacBean's answer (which I am filing away for future reference), I can send you a crappy set of ebay bagpipes.

Then you could truthfully say, "are you want offering to come to my house and blow them?"