| StoreTags: fashion, hipsters, trends, being old
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My town is infested with hipsters. Being older than 30 I couldn't care less about whatever these people are interested in because frankly Portland confuses popular with cool. They are not the same thing. Never have been.
Years ago when it became fashionable to where heavy metal shirts even though the wearer isn't into heavy metal, I was quite sad because because it meant poseurs were getting some headway into global fashion trends.
Ironic T-shirts are nothing new but to me that was over the day you could buy a Mr T t-shirt in the mall. Same thing with punk.
This brings me to my Yes t-shirt.
I love Yes. They are one of my favorite bands ever and I wear it with pride, but usually only when laundry time makes me wear jeans and t-shirts or I'm just feeling lazy. But I've had a couple experiences now that have really bummed me out regarding this shirt:
A younger person at my work came up to me one day and said "Do you actually like Yes or do you just like the shirt?" A part of my spirit died right on the spot. This guy thinks I could be a poseur? How can this be? What could possibly give someone the idea that I am not real?
Then it happened again but with some guy who is closer to my age. "Cool shirt. Do you like Yes?" What the fuck!!! Why the fuck would I be wearing a Yes t-shirt if I didn't like Yes? The only thing I could think of at the time was that I looked like a poseur to these people. It really broke my heart that people are even entertaining the thought that I wore this shirt to be hip. Obviously there is nothing hip about Yes so the only possible conclusions in my mind are a) I like Yes or b)I want the hipsters to think I'm cool.
So let me get this straight: People look at me, look at my Yes shirt, do the math, the numbers don't add up and the have to manually ask me if I like Yes? Jesus fucking christ man! Do I need to carry a poloroid of my record collection around with me to prove it? I have eyes. Look into them and you should see a real person. Not a 'hip' person. I don't have poofy or greasy hair.
I used to think that I really didn't care what people thought of but I guess that was before the possibility of being confused with a poseur was on the table. And that's what I'm getting at -why is that even on the table and who put it there?
So now unfortunately when I look in my closet and see my old friend hanging there I just get sad.
I've come to terms with understanding that this is just a puddle town and that it's not my fault but I wonder how far this problem has spread? If I was in New York would people still have to think for a minute as to why I would be wearing a Yes t-shirt? | |
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08/24/08
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Zanf
so do you like "Yes"?
I work 1 minutes walk from where this video was done but I dont think my building was constructed back then [London Bridge bits] link
08/24/08
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Fredo
Forgive me, whitecar, but when you put so much importance into such matters isn't the joke on you? There will always be poseurs, but even among that group there are varying degrees of authenticity. Hell, I would venture to say that everyone and everything is authentic in it's own way.
08/24/08
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astroid
well i'd like to feel sympathy for the dying of your spirit, but i recently had a kid say to me "yeah you look like you play warcraft, stain on the shirt, redbull in one hand, mouse in the other, headset."
the kid was 14.
08/24/08
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Roshi
Ugh.
One of the reasons we have 'post-metal' is so it's ok for hipsters to like metal.
Fuck irony.
08/24/08
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cbit
From the perspective of your co-worker, you may also have been wearing the Yes shirt because you like the way the shirt looks. Without regard for how hip it is.
08/24/08
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energygiant
yeah, i have a rolling stones shirt that i wear often..........but ive only heard a handful of their songs.
its just a nice, soft shirt
08/24/08
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kenrestivo
Heh! For about a year now, every time I've read your screen name ("whitecar"), I'd find myself singing "Man in a White Car" in a silly Trevor Horn falsetto.
Glad to hear that your namesake is a tribute to a band you like and not just a random coincidence.
Funny too that Horn wrote the song "White Car" to mock Gary Numan and the new-wavers who were the hipsters of the day (1979-1980 ish).
08/24/08
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dylan
close to the edge is my favorite album of theirs.
08/24/08
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gamatam
Hasn't anybody asked you _why_ you like yes? Seriously, WTF?
<duck>
sorry to have to point out the joke, but years online has taught me otherwize
I listened to them a lot because my brother was into them and he was my big brother and all, but could never get into them, its a bit void for me..
08/24/08
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jmdaly
I wear nascar t-shirts because I think they look awesome, perfect combo over overblown graphic design, unicorns, and highspeed cars.
if that make me a poseur, well I guess, I guess I suck then.
08/24/08
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daswesen
i wear an astroid power-up tshirt, does that make me a poseur?
08/24/08
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nagrom
i have an astroid power-up tattoo, does that make me ironic?
08/24/08
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astroid
i am an astroid power-up, does that make me me?
08/24/08
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energygiant
where the F can one get an astroid power up shirt?????????????????
08/24/08
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astroid
i hereby license you to make and distribute them
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