4 ms·

And that is a problem?

• Tyrannosaurs 15y ago
  Yes. It's lazy thinking. The whole ethos of casual dress at work was that it didn't matter what you wore, it was about what you did and thought and that we shouldn't make assumptions based on something so superficial. That's now flipped and become some form of inverted snobbery where the people who objected to being judged on what they were wearing (or not wearing) are now doing exactly the same. The point isn't that wearing a suit or jeans or whatever is good, bad or indifferent. It's that it doesn't matter.
  • philwelch 15y ago
    If it didn't matter what you wore, no one would wear suits. They're either uncomfortable and impractical or incredibly expensive, and sometimes both. The only real reasons to wear a suit involve either social pressure to do so or narcissism.
    • ramblerman 15y ago
      " The only real reasons to wear a suit involve either social pressure to do so or narcissism. " You say that as if it is an absolute truth. This might be true for you, but it certainly doesn't hold for everyone.
      • philwelch 15y ago
        My argument should be pretty easy to refute then; name one reason, other than social pressure or narcissism, to wear a suit.
        • Tyrannosaurs 15y ago
          Name one reason to wear a band t-shirt other than social pressure or narcissism? Your argument isn't an argument against suits, it applies to any item of clothing other than the absolutely most basic, utilitarian items. It's an argument against fashion and self expression through clothing of all sorts. Now if this is what you genuinely believe then that's fine but I hope you're applying the same standards you apply to those wearing suits to people wearing band t-shirts, anything branded where an equivalent non-branded item is available, or frankly anything that has been chosen for any reason at all other than it's absolute functional value.
          • philwelch 15y ago
            I appreciate and wanted to support the band, it's comfortable, and all my other shirts were in the laundry. You still haven't answered my question.
            • burgerbrain 15y ago
              How about: Because I don't subscribe to the philosophy of Diogenes.
            • Tyrannosaurs 15y ago
              OK, I wanted to appreciate and support the tailor because I like the idea that people make clothes that are about craftsmanship and skill not just utility. Or my other clothes were in the wash. Happy now? Is that not a clear enough example of why your argument isn't just about suits when I can just reuse your answer an it works?
              • philwelch 15y ago
                Both of your reasons are circular--one buys a suit to support the manufacture of suits? Buying a shirt to support a band is quite a different thing. And if all your clothes are in the wash except your suit, well why did you own the suit?
                • Tyrannosaurs 15y ago
                  You're missing the point, I'm buying the suit to support the designer / tailor, the creator NOT the mass manufacturer. Like you I'm supporting the creative endevour of an individual or group. In this sense it's a far better reason for a suit than for a band t-shirt. A suit is the primary output of a tailor, a band t-shirt is a commercial by-product of a band. There are better ways to support a band than buying a t-shirt - buying their records or seeing them live for instance. There is no better way to support a tailor. As for the circular reasoning on its dirty - I agree but it's the same for both suit and band t-shirt. You have to have a reason to own it which I've given you.
        • grobolom 15y ago
          Here's a reason: it's the most comfortable piece of clothing I own.
    • Natsu 15y ago
      Actually, my suit (there's only one) fits nicely and is comfortable. But I only wear it to interviews.
    • Tyrannosaurs 15y ago
      I think this may say more about your personal circumstances and world view than anything much wider. I've got suits that aren't uncomfortable and weren't incredibly expensive. As for impractical that depends entirely on your life. I certainly wear them less now I have small children but when I was younger I never found it an issue. In terms of social pressure, well yes, but that's true of a many many things that we do. If you've ever pulled on a clean pair of jeans to go out and meet a friend rather than the dirty (but still hygienic) pair you'd worn the day before, that's social pressure, when you don't just fart in front of people, that's social pressure. Are those worse than my occasionally wearing a suit to go out with my wife because it makes her happy because she likes the way I look in it? Or because I've just been feeling a bit schlubby lately and fancy looking smart for the day? Or simply fancy a change? I say this all as someone who typically wears jeans seven days a week and has casual dress as a significant factor when I choose a job.
      • philwelch 15y ago
        I didn't say there was anything wrong with it; people do worse things out of social pressure and there are far more obnoxious ways to express narcissism, but I don't see any of your rationales falling outside of those two categories.