Kids!

[Milfmog]

Yesterday I had to go into town and do some banking. It was a glorious sunny day and I chose to wear my Utililkilt Survivor with a wide kilt belt and a t shirt; a fairly common mode of dress for me and one that rarely provokes any reactions.

It was the last day of the spring term for most of the local schools and they finished at lunchtime, so there were far more teenagers in town than normal. This lead to more reaction than I'd expected, mostly grins, second looks and nudges. I generally ignore them and just continue to behave as normal, however one group of about ten (aged 14 or 15 I guess) followed me for a while before one of the lads called out "They're for women mate". I don't think he intended me to hear him, he was just showing off to his mates and did not look too comfortable when I turned to him and asked "What are?"

After a couple of swallows, he said "Skirts, they're for girls."

"Really?" I asked, "I thought that was jeans; look around you."

All of the girls in his group were in jeans, as he was. The other lads were in baggy, low crotch shorts. His face was a picture as the others all started to laugh. I went on to suggest that when he grew a pair he'd realise that cutting them in half with a tight seam was not a great plan and maybe one day he'd have the bottle to try a kilt or some other form of skirt. As I continued on my way I could hear the girls teasing him about dried peas instead of wall nuts and lots of laughter.

I passed the group again a half hour or so later and got grins from all of them except the kid who called out, he just refused to look at me.

Have fun,


Ian.

Edited to fix a couple of typos - Ian.

[Since1982]

Sure is fun when things like that happen. I had a very very white untanned young fellow about 14 years old playing Bingo with his equally washed out skin-tone parents that walked by my Bingo station that I always sit at, which is at the end of a long bench, he noticed that I was wearing a skirt instead of pants and he stopped like he'd run into a wall. He stared for at least 5 minutes without moving. About then, his mother called out to him to hurry back with the cokes and he, with no feelings for anyone but himself, wailed out to the room "BUT MOM, THERES A MAN HERE WEARING A SKIRT!!!!" She said, So? Get over here with the cokes. He sat at their table, and since they were only about 10 feet away I could hear her badgering him. "Why are you bothering him? HE'S WEARING A SKIRT...We're on vacation, you're making a scene, you might get us kicked out, be quiet. BUT, MOOOOOOOMMMMMM..shhhhhh sit down and be quiet!" I turned and talked to the woman, Ma'am, more men are learning to wear whatever's the most comfortable for them, as are women, who mostly wear pants, like you...She turned red as a beet, and apologised for her son's outburst saying they were from Viobaux Montana (pronounced Weebo, I couldn't find it on a map of Montana) and men didn't wear skirts there. (I loved that) I said, Are you suuure?

About 3/4th of the room, old ladies that are used to me and my skirts all laughed at once. I didn't laugh at them, but they got so embarrassed they left. I noticed they didn't mind embarrassing me though..If it would have, which of course, I'm long past.

[r.m.anderson]

Since1982 -

Did a little research for Viobaux Montana.
Did not find a Viobaux but I did find a Wibaux in eastern Montana on Interstate 94
just 8 miles from the North Dakota border. Population at the 2000 census was 567.
Here is the link for more information:

http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=wi ... f7,6cbdfdc

Very interesting history for such a small town and County Seat (Wibaux).

Felt sorry for the young kid. He no doubt has had a sheltered life in a small rural town.
Not much exposure to changing cultures.

When I go traveling about shopping or whatever the looks of children are priceless when
they observe a man in a skirt or a kilt. And what is equally amusing is the efforts of the
parents to try and squelch the unwanted attention and embarrassment.

"KILT-ON"
rm

[AMM]

..I didn't laugh at them, but they got so embarrassed they left. I noticed they didn't mind embarrassing me though..If it would have, which of course, I'm long past.

From your description, they were not trying to embarrass you. It was the mother who was embarrassed by her son's behavior. And the son wasn't trying to embarrass you, he was just trying to understand why one of the things he'd thought he'd figured out about the world (only females wear skirts) suddenly wasn't working. Imagine if you suddenly saw a waterfall flow uphill.

I think it might have been better if you had expressed sympathy with the mother for her embarrassment and understanding for the boy's confusion and curiosity.

[Milfmog]

This is off topic but I wanted to share it with you...

Imagine if you suddenly saw a waterfall flow uphill.

I've actually seen that! Seriously. I was on a ferry between the north of Scotland and the Orkney Isles and the wind was blowing a seven or eight from the south west. Streams that should have been cascading down the cliffs of South Ronaldsay were being blown straight up in the air. It was a very surreal moment.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Since1982]

AMM said: From your description, they were not trying to embarrass you. It was the mother who was embarrassed by her son's behavior. And the son wasn't trying to embarrass you, he was just trying to understand why one of the things he'd thought he'd figured out about the world (only females wear skirts) suddenly wasn't working.
I think it might have been better if you had expressed sympathy with the mother for her embarrassment and understanding for the boy's confusion and curiosity.

AMM, I know they weren't trying to embarrass me, and I did nothing to embarrass them, the rest of the room did, but I can't control that, I'm happy to be accepted there. In my experience there are a lot of men all over the middle of America that DO wear skirts inside their houses but never venture outside in them. We have members that are in that category now, and I was in that category for at least 30 years. As far as understanding the boy's curiosity, the only thing he said to me at any time was "Mister, what do you wear under
THAT?" I thought not answering that was the best way to handle that question. I'm sure you'd have had a better more thought out response, but you're smarter than me and I, being a Scorpio, sometimes respond too quickly to innapropriate questions.

I can only handle situations that arise in the way I think best. I'm not you, I'm sure you'd have handled it far better than me.

AMM said: Imagine if you suddenly saw a waterfall flow uphill.

In Lake Wales Florida, there is a hill that is about 30 feet high that if you park on the North side at the bottom of the hill, take off your parking brake and put your car in neutral, it will roll all the way to the top of the hill. All you have to do is steer. There are other similar hills in the USA and probably in other countries as well. Here's the link to one.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1021446/w ... pook_hill/

[Mipi]

... here is a hill that is about 30 feet high that if you park on the North side at the bottom of the hill, take off your parking brake and put your car in neutral, it will roll all the way to the top of the hill. All you have to do is steer. There are other similar hills in the USA and probably in other countries as well. Here's the link to one.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1021446/w ... pook_hill/

Hmmm? What is the "scientific explanation for this???

[JRMILLER]

Optimal Illusion, I have seen things like this in the South Dakota black hills. It's just an attempt to grab a few bucks so you can witness "anti-gravity."

-john

[sapphire]

Optimal?

Optical??

[crfriend]

Optimal?

Optical??

It all depends on who's doing the selling...

[ChrisM]

I like "Optimal illusion." I shall have to keep my mind open for a chance to use that!

(Too bad I didn't have that phrase last week: I spent a week in DC in a workshop discussion the US Government's armaments acquisition system... seems fraught with situations that could be referred to as "optimal illusions"! )


Chris

[Since1982]

You're right, Chris, the Gov has a lot of Optimal Illusions. Like where is the "actual" 100 trillion dollars we "the USA" is supposed to have in our treasury. "Saying" we have 100 trillion and proving it may be a definite Optimal illusion. I know there's not ONE trillion in gold at Fort Knox..gold is pricey, but not THAT pricey.

Another optimal illusion may be what they were saying on last nights Jay Leno show. He inferred that the President is possibly related to the UK Royal family..looking at the ears....
This is what he said, not me. They do both have noticeable ears tho..the better to hear you with, my dear!

[Jock]

Optimal?

Optical??

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.' (From Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll )

[Skirt Chaser]

Bravo, Milfmog! Common sense and quick thinking won 9/10 possible converts. Probably all of them once the commenter puts his pride aside and sees your point.

[cessna152towser]

Yes, indeed, hopefully a few more converts there, well handled.