acceptable things to ask

[Bri]

I have a really good feeling that his has been addressed before but can't find the thread.

Why is it that women think it's acceptable to ask what a man/boy wears under their kilt /skirt but it's a totally unacceptable when men /boys ask the same to them?

[crfriend]

Why is it that women think it's acceptable to ask what a man/boy wears under their kilt /skirt but it's a totally unacceptable when men /boys ask the same to them?

Gentle hint: it's not. The question is inappropriate no matter who is doing the asking.

Now, make no bones about it, there have been lots of jokes on the matter (including at least one riotous song about a sleepy Scotsman and his kilt), but that does not detract from the fact that it's just plain and simple an off-colour question to ask -- of anybody. Women may get some more slack cut for them than guys, but that doesn't make it right.

The reaction one offers to such a question can be gauged according to whim, but it's always wise to note that it shouldn't have been asked in the first place. And no, the amount of alcohol on board the asker is not a valid excuse.

By way of experimentation, how many guys here have had that question asked of them in public? How did you feel about it? How did you answer it? Did you answer it?

I can say I've been asked that a couple of times, and was miffed at each and every one. Two stand out: One was in the local liquor store with a pair of "elder women" (i.e old enough to know better); I found the question insulting and demeaning. The answer was a very curt, "That's my personal business and I don't discuss it in public." The other was from a slightly tipsy (and rather good looking) young woman at my local "watering hole"; in this case, the response was more oblique: "Probably something akin to what you're wearing", and I walked off, leaving the inquisitor dumbfounded.

[Bob]

Now that I'm a parent with a cute baby, I get no end of people (usually women) who go all ga-ga over my daughter in public. In my opinion, this is about as inappropriate as asking about your underwear. Usually, I just give a stony silent stare. For example, today someone asked me what her name was while I was in the checkout line working on payment. I pretended I didn't hear her.

People who touch my baby aren't ignored, of course.

[r.m.anderson]

When presented with the question of what is worn underneath my kilt I have a standard answer while
not original it does defuse the issue from further ado:

"Nothing is worn underneath - Everything is in fine working order!"

"KILT-ON"
rm

[alexthebird]

I'm a bit puzzled by this question. I wear a skirt about half the time I'm out and about (and not at work) and I've never had anyone asked this question.

Am I unique?

[r.m.anderson]

alexthebird
No. You are not unique.
This question only applys if you wear a Kilt.
The "What's under your Kilt?" while posed as a humorours statement is never the less a crude one that
should be reserved for back alley comedy theatre.
In all my reading of these forums I have not encountered anything close to this for someone wearing
a skirt.
The only thing in wearing an unbifurcated garmet is you hope the wearer has the good taste to wear
appropriate protection from accidental or intentional flashing least someone in authority issue a
citation for indecent exposure.
An embarassing day in front of a judge is to be avoided even if innocent.
"KILT-ON"
rm

[Since1982]

I've been asked whats under my skirt, I know it's not a polite question, however, I do realize most folks seeing their first ever man in a real (non-sarong, kilt, pareu, or other traditionally male skirted garment) skirt do wonder if the man is a semi - CD and might be wearing all the female stuff underneath. Now none of what's under there is any of anyone's business but taking into account the average persons naivete (sp?) I just answer them with a one word answer and a big smile. I used to answer with curt remarks but usually, I could see after making a remark that they were not expecting one and were actually hurt by my response. So I changed my reply to my one word answer that works so good it leaves them with a look of wonderment and quiet...My one word answer? it's ME...Them: Sir, what's under your skirt? Answer: ME!! and I walk away...

[Pythos]

If someone asks me, I will be honest and answer the question.

I do not have the hangup some here have.

I was aksed once by soon to be girlfriend what I had on under my cat costume because of how smooth the suit fit. I answered her.

That particular song though, I don't have a fondness for. I find the really really loud Yahoo when what is found beneath the kilt is revealed quite how shall I say? Troubling. Why does that guy give a big hoot when a man's genitals are revealed? Hmmmm, makes one wonder;)

Also, I am puzzled with the ignoring the person asking what the kids name is, since when is that rude. In a more polite society people in general showed love and caring to others children. These days? God we have become isolationists to the extreme if "proud" parents can't even tell their kid's name to someone in a store.

[Bri]

I would find it the same if a woman asked me what I have under my skirt as if I asked her what she had under hers. She would probably say, underwear, to that I would reply "same here", and it would probably be left at that. I know that the old way of wearing a kilt involves nothing under it. I was actually asked one time what I was wearing under one of my fam kilts and so I said, well underwear. Then I asked the woman (who was late 30s I would imagine) what she was wearing under hear knee length skirt, and she just about slapped me for asking that question. I remember it was something like "Well, that's not something you ask a woman!" Then I just asked her back "So, how is it right to ask what I'm wearing under mine and wrong to ask what you're wearing under yours?" That's just about when she thought for a second and said, white, then I asked "briefs" she said, "yes".

That's kind of the whole reason why I asked the question. Somehow some women think it's perfectly fine to know what I'm wearing under my clothes but indecent for me to inquire about theirs. If you ask me, the only way you're going to know what I'm wearing is if 1. The wind blows the skirt/kilt up, and 2. If we're married, or dating. If we're neither of those, then you're not going to find out.

I guess some girls and women just think it's ok to do whatever they want and then complain if you do it back to them (raise the skirt, and look under it). Of course if that happened, I wouldn't keep it a secret, I would think about some sort of legal action. Where they learn it's acceptable, I don't know.

[Departed Member]

I do realize most folks seeing their first ever man in a real (non-sarong, kilt, pareu, or other traditionally male skirted garment) skirt do wonder if the man is a semi - CD and might be wearing all the female stuff underneath.

Skip, as usual, you have astounded me! I've never given it a moment's thought that folk might think along those lines. But maybe you're right! Even wearing a Kilt, someone may indeed think that. Trouble is, with Kilts being a not that uncommon sight in the UK, and 95+% of folk just ignoring (or admiring! ) them, you'd not expect that reaction. I suppose, with a 'conventional' looking skirt, their curiosity might take them down that road - depends on the 'overall look, would it not?

[RichardA]

under my kilt I wear shoes and socks (hose)

[Bri]

After thinking about this for a while. I came up with the idea that it's not OK for someone to ask you what you're wearing under your skirt so bluntly. However, if you ask if you may inquire to what you wear under your skirt if it's acceptable and in a private room or setting where you expect that no one will overhear you. I would think that the other person could say "I don't think this is an acceptable time or place to ask such a question". A better response to that respecting that answer is "You're right, sorry. Moving along", or similar. Then it's up to the person who was asked that question to answer it or not. Feel as if it's a privilege that if they tell you, not that they're obligated in any way.

[Since1982]

I suppose, with a 'conventional' looking skirt, their curiosity might take them down that road - depends on the 'overall look, would it not?

Not neccessarily, everyone out there is not aware that there are more than TV or CD males out there. Most folks until they actually SEE one, have no idea that there are men who like to wear skirts and are in no way CD or TV oriented and would usually have nothing but men's undershorts, men's briefs or be commando underneath.

[Sasquatch]

In the first year of the Clinton administration I was hailed by a car full of half-drunk middle aged women as I crossed a parking lot. They shouted at me "Do you wear boxers or briefs?" in imitation, I suppose, of the infamous MTV interview of Bill Clinton. I gave the most appropriate answer I've ever given to any question - "Yes!"
sasq

[crfriend]

[...]"Do you wear boxers or briefs?" [...] I gave the most appropriate answer I've ever given to any question - "Yes!"

That notion was memorably parodied in User Friendly back in 2000.