Sightings "in the wild"

[Derek Plattis]

Let's be realistic folks. You have a better chance getting more men to wear Kilts or Utilkilts than you do skirts. Unless there is some major change in society.

Isn't that the major point here? We need that major change in society and it won't happen at all unless we make it happen. We must hold the banner for men in skirts and show the non-believers that it really is OK. Then and only then will it gradually become acceptable. Get out there in your skirts gentlemen and the more you do so the less self-conscious you will feel!

Derek

[crfriend]

Unless there is some major change in society. Yes, you will see some stray into skirts ( be it shorter than a traditional kilt or longer).

The point here is that if we wish society to change it's up to us to affect that change -- nobody is going to do it for us. As is attributed to M. Ghandi, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

However if women complain about high heels why would a guy want to wear them? And if skirts are so good, why are women so willing to embrace pants?

On the topic of heels, I suspect that most women would find the notion of a man wearing same rather humorous and they'd have some fun contemplating the "revenge" notion. On the notion of women embracing trousers, that's down to the double-standard of men being "superior" and therefore it empowers women to emulate, and dress like, men. That's a thoroughly flawed notion, and a grossly unfair one, but it's pretty well entrenched in society. That's another thing that needs to change.

To reiterate: "Be the change you want to see in the world." There is no other way forward.

[Jim2]

crfriend wrote:
On the notion of women embracing trousers, that's down to the double-standard of men being "superior" and therefore it empowers women to emulate, and dress like, men.

I don't think most women would think that wearing trousers is in order to emulate men. My wife would say that trousers are practical in a way that skirts are not, that is the reason women fought for the right to wear pants. She would say that there is nothing similar the other way. I disagree with her on the latter point, but I think she is at least partly right about what is behind women wearing pants. I think it is better to argue that there are valid reasons for a man to want to wear a skirt other than a desire to look like a woman. Not that it is necessarily wrong for a man to want to look like a woman, but it isn't the reason we are here.

[Jack Williams]

I think that is very valid.
Why do some of us insist on wearing the "impractacle" skirts?
To be different?
To be more comfortable?
To appear more sexy?
All of the above I suspect.
Me?
I love to see men break out of their self imposed straight-jacket.
Besides the fact that it is a whole lot of fun!

[crfriend]

I don't think most women would think that wearing trousers is in order to emulate men. My wife would say that trousers are practical in a way that skirts are not, that is the reason women fought for the right to wear pants.

She is correct enough on the point that sometimes trousers are a more "practical" garment than skirts, but that is only one argument on the matter and there are a large number of others, most of which have to do with power, prestige, and positioning -- and men have almost always enjoyed a superior spot in those roles, rightly or wrongly. Sometimes the more vehemently somebody decries a notion the closer they actually hold it than they want to admit.

I think it is better to argue that there are valid reasons for a man to want to wear a skirt other than a desire to look like a woman. Not that it is necessarily wrong for a man to want to look like a woman, but it isn't the reason we are here.

Well, for one, this place is most definitely not about "looking like a woman" as there are a mind-boggling proliferation of sites dedicated to that practice. Secondly, I can think of a plethora of reasons for men to adopt skirts including, but not limited to, comfort, style, and expressivity. One does not need to adopt a feminine persona to enjoy any of those reasons.

Methinks the "other half" is societally a bit jarred by the notion and can't get her mind around the matter -- that, or simply isn't willing to.

[Jack Williams]

Well, for a comment upon that, see above.

[Grok]

I don't think most women would think that wearing trousers is in order to emulate men. My wife would say that trousers are practical in a way that skirts are not, that is the reason women fought for the right to wear pants.

Methinks the "other half" is societally a bit jarred by the notion and can't get her mind around the matter -- that, or simply isn't willing to.

As you grow up you become used to things being a certain way, and the taboo against MIS is one of the strongest. A taboo so rigid and absolute.that MIS is unthinkable.

[crfriend]

As you grow up you become used to things being a certain way, and the taboo against MIS is one of the strongest. A taboo so rigid and absolute.that MIS is unthinkable.

It may be "unthinkable" to the lowest-levels of intellect, but certainly that cannot be universal, else this place would not exist. So, there is clearly a segment of the population who regards it not just "thinkable" but practical as well.

Mostly, the issue seems to be with folks with perpetually closed minds, or who do not have the imagination or other mental facilities to deal with new things gracefully. If it wasn't for the threat that these type have the potential to pose I'd rather feel sorry for them. Being confined so must be akin to being in prison.

[partlyscot]

There are people who are insecure in themselves, they can't go against the prevailing attitudes, because it scares them. Then there are some who have what I call "wet cement minds" once an idea has been implanted, that's it, no more changes. Another version is that they are considered as a WORM device, (Write Once Read Many) e.g, an eprom where the data is imprinted in an unchangeable state. (short of destruction)

Occasionally you can change the attitudes of the ones who fear, the other type? I've never succeeded.

I have to admit, that I used to be in the first category, but I'm mostly out of that now. That is probably the one thing I'm most grateful to my partner for, her support and acceptance allowed me to look into myself for what and who I am.

[Jack Williams]

Let's see.. Yes I did put up a couple of posts on this subject but the closed minds just skipped over them as if I hadn't bothered to post. Closed minds.

[crfriend]

I did put up a couple of posts on this subject but the closed minds just skipped over them as if I hadn't bothered to post. Closed minds.

There's a reason for this -- at that level, without a major push, their minds are quite possibly incapable of understanding the concept. It's important to note that there is precisely no shame in this situation for the individual involved; they are merely going about life as it was taught to them.

Free-thought can be a positively terrifying realm for many, which is quite possibly why so few folks actually practice the notion. For one, it removes the "safety-net" that one has been accustomed to since birth ("Mom and Dad will protect me with their knowledge of what's going on.") and once one hits "maturity" (and I'm still not completely sure what that means other than yet another stepping-stone to being dead) one has "personal experience" to fall back on. These things are extremely comforting, especially when confronted with something new (read, "bizarre"), like a bloke who might actually wear skirts by choice. They are especially comforting to the individual if that individual has never been encouraged to use, or has discovered on their own, the ability to "think outside the box".

The only way to deal with those who would behave so is to be ourselves -- in all the glory and dignity (I hope) that entails. It means to do so as example; to be something worthy of emulation; and to be worthy of respect. If we cannot capture that as "skirtsmen" we're never going to make so much as even a scratch in the veneer, much less a dent, nor an outright holing. In short, we need to "be the change we want to see in the world". To embody it and to make it real and visible.

Yes, we'll likely take a lump or two especially if we're careless, but isn't it worth it if we can change the world? I actually have pretty high hopes for this, especially if we can engage one-to-one and avoid herd-mentality. Yes, I have high hopes indeed.

[Jack Williams]

Took this photo today

[crfriend]

There are people who are insecure in themselves, they can't go against the prevailing attitudes, because it scares them.

These are the ones that are likely unreachable and "beyond hope" until they get struck by lightning. (Not literally, mind, but one gets the picture.)

Then there are some who have what I call "wet cement minds" once an idea has been implanted, that's it, no more changes. Another version is that they are considered as a WORM device, (Write Once Read Many) e.g, an eprom where the data is imprinted in an unchangeable state. (short of destruction)

I've also seen "WORM" as being defined as "Write Once Read Mostly", which implies that there is some chance of modifying the "early programming"; however, that may well take more "force of effort" than most are willing to exert.

Occasionally you can change the attitudes of the ones who fear, the other type? I've never succeeded.

I cannot say whether I've changed a mind so much as to allow the individual to actually don something other than trousers, but I have opened minds to the option by way of example. This is important, for if we (as skirtsmen) do not set a good example the we will have either no impact at all, or -- worse -- a negative one.

I have to admit, that I used to be in the first category, but I'm mostly out of that now. That is probably the one thing I'm most grateful to my partner for, her support and acceptance allowed me to look into myself for what and who I am.

The ability of partners, and others close to one, to accept -- and hopefully appreciate -- is huge. More than "huge", it may be critical to success if one is in a relationship. If one's partner is spending all her time putting one's ideas down all that can do is make one doubt his own conviction, and that will show outwardly to the world.

I'm no gambler, but do have a decent idea how to manage risk in my daily affairs. I also have qualified support from my life-partner, whom I trust implicitly when she says something is "wrong" with a look; she speaks her mind when I've managed to blow something, and I am appreciative for that. It's part of the learning process. Given the above, I actually have wide latitude to express myself, and when that's successful (i.e. has garnered positive feedback from outside my inner circle) I view it as a win. My skirts have drawn plenty of positive comments in the past, and my new palazzo pants did a few days ago; this means I'm on a positive trajectory and I'm not going to look back.

Done.

Don't hide behind closed doors. Get out there and experience the full force of the world around you. Sometimes it can be exhilarating.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

[Jack Williams]

Mahatma Ghandi said that. Too right!

[dillon]

Saw a guy in a black kilt early this evening in downtown Wilmington, from a distance. He was too far away to speak to. This is a rarity for me to see in this part of the world.