How important is a "badge"?

[WhiteCrowUK]

Okay heres a puzzler for you.

I guess most people here would say they try and not judge by appearances, and perhaps that some people might judge you negatively on yours (if this is not the case, reply and shout me down ;) )

So many people choose a wardrobe which is like a badge - you know dressing like their pop idols, or football team, whatever. Its a way of kind of saying what group you belong to.

Okay, so what if some guy walks in with a orange T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers - and then tells you "oh yes I'm a Goth". But obviously he doesnt dress how you expect one to normally dress, what is your reaction then? Would you think because he doesnt dress like one he cannot be one? And if so would you be as guilty of forcing a badge on others?

[Disclaimer: This of course makes out that everyone on here is a Goth of some sort - I'm not stereotyping everyone here - I'm just using it as an example to get the ball rolling, don't bite me, PLEASE!!! :) ]

[AlphaMale]

Did you see the episode of Southpark where Stan decided to become a goth and started hanging out with the local goth kids? The most memorable line was (paraphrasing):
Stan: What do I have to do to be a non-conformist like you?
goth boy: If you want to be a non-conformist like us, you have to dress just like us and listen to the same music we do.

How funny is that. In attempting to be non-conformist, he was conforming to another set of standards.

But back to your question:

so what if some guy walks in with a orange T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers - and then tells you "oh yes I'm a Goth".

It might be laundry day and he's washing all his goth clothes. hehe.

When I was a kid in junior-high, I wanted to be a "headbanger". But my mom wouldn't let me wear the appropriate clothes cause she viewed them as satanic. I still hung out with the headbangers and listened to the music, but I didn't wear the clothes.

While the clothes one wear could be used as a slight indicator of the type of person you're about to encounter, it shouldn't be used to make a final judgement as to the quality of the character of the person.

[Ves]

so what if some guy walks in with a orange T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers - and then tells you "oh yes I'm a Goth".

It might be laundry day and he's washing all his goth clothes. hehe.
Or maybe they're a slightly dressed down Cybergoth. Jeans and sneakers may not usually be found upon the person of a Cyber, but orange might well be (reflects the UV nicely).

It's when they dress like that and they say "I'm a Goth, I listen to Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, and Murderdolls" that you are very much within your rights to think "wannabe" ;)

[Cephas]

There's a hilarious Trigger-Happy TV sketch where he dresses up as a complete punk with chains, gelled and coloured hair and swear words written all over him and his coat. He aproaches members of the public and asks about French cuisine with a very English accent and with sophisticated language.
The public's expressions are great. :D

[DarkHunter]

Sun Fused Goth.

Its human nature to identify people by their clothes. Or badge as was said.

But since human nature is played out so much:

People dress supposedly to express themselves. Goths carry similar ideas (i would think) so they kinda express themselves the same.

Screw humanity, I'll wear what I want.

[Necro Mortis]

Well this is a very common problem but one worthy of discusion. I like the idea of gothic things and I like gothic music and in my own head I am a goth but I dont look like one. My profile will tell you that.

Most people do judge people by what they first see, I sometimes do but have learned my lesson not to. Boy have I.
:o

[Hellcat]

Dammit I'm me. I wear what i feel comfortable in. Recently I have taken to wearing my sheep skin coat which is basically an old RAF flying jacket. It's unfashionable, nobody wears one like mine (except maybe Biggles). Who gives a shit? I like it, it keeps me snug and warm in this godawful cold weather, I'm comfortable, I'm me. I don't do uniform, I wear what I like- usually this involves a pair of jeans (any color will do) and a t-shirt. Uniform is for people who want to belong to be identified as part of a group. I happen to be the only member of my group and I'm recognised as being a part of that group by my clothing. I stand out like a elephant at pyjama party

[Klark]

It's a very common thing to automatically put your own ideas onto other people that you see. This includes the fact that if you dress to express yourself, then to you, everyone else would too. I wear very 'loud' shirts. Lightning bolts, orange on black tiger fighting eagle, very red and black tribal designs, stuff like that. Does it mean that I'm a very loud person, yes it does. heh. I'm expressive and I tend to stand out every now and again so when I see people, I judge them by their badge....but only at night. I never judge them by the daytime. You see a man in a three piece business suit, is he an uptight workaholic? Not necessarily, he could be just as goth as the original goth....you just don't know.

[PureMoonlite]

"You see a man in a three piece business suit, is he an uptight workaholic? Not necessarily, he could be just as goth as the original goth....you just don't know."

That's interesting because it means people don't always have to look like something. People dress up as (be it) goth or punk clothes when they are with their friends or go out to clubs or concerts. But some people dress like goths all the time, and who knows maybe they don't even like gothic music but just like the clothes.

[WhiteCrowUK]

I don't do uniform

Good for you - I alas have sold my soul to an evil multinational software company, and they have expected standards of dress. To give you an idea, they recently clamped down on dress down on comic relief as "too unprofessional".

Ideally they would have us dressed as undertakers, and probably with the by-line "we bury the opposition".

Alas I can only restrict myself to rebellion in the form of wearing very dark blue instead of black trousers!

[JadenKorr]

I have a very good friend who chooses to be as weird as he can. He'll show up in the room wearing orange sweat pants, a crazy hat, and a navy blue blazer.

My professors will all look at him like he's a complete lunatic, when in fact he is one of the most sane people I know.

Just because he dresses weird, people immediately label him "Freak". And he uses that to know who his real friends are. If you go up to him and talk to him about something else than his strange mode of dress, he knows that you really don't care.

Just my insight into this conundrum... Hmm...maybe I should try my own thing...?

[Necro Mortis]

I have somone like that at my school, they dress as weird as possible and they act gay. This may seem like he is just a gay guy who likes to cause a stir but its really a little trick of his. He hates homophobes with a passion and so whoever insults him because of they way he dresses or acts as soon as they see him without really knowing him, he picks their brains apart with his wit. It may be that he is gay but no-one really cares because he is a great laugh. I just think he's weird and he knows it!
What a world we live in :shrug:

[DarkHunter]

Good for you - I alas have sold my soul to an evil multinational software company, and they have expected standards of dress. To give you an idea, they recently clamped down on dress down on comic relief as "too unprofessional".

Ideally they would have us dressed as undertakers, and probably with the by-line "we bury the opposition".

Alas I can only restrict myself to rebellion in the form of wearing very dark blue instead of black trousers!

Get a suit that is purple with gold stripes. They'll love that.

[Drascorpio]

Badges may not only apply to clothing. I'm a male an I wear my hair long, because thats what I want. But some people just can't help but play off the occasional side comment. These people usually stand around in groups wearing designer clothing (Wu-tang, Dada, etc.).

Gothisism is a "sub-culture" and there are many variations and one of these are "Neo-Goths". They usually wear dark clothes but are contrasted by neon colours E.g. neon green hair dye, black vest over a neon coloured shirt, black pants neon belt. (Actually I don't know if this is world wide but this is in Australia. I've seen some neo-goth before, It's ... Shocking)

[Qyv]

labels can be a problem, so far in my life ive been called freak (maybe), goth (even though i was wearing a hawain shirt at the time), gotho (who knows), punk (because i had a mohawak), skater (i havent been on a skateboard since i was about 5), greebo (even though i shower and wash my clothes quite regular), mosher (hhm, theyve got me on that one) GI Joe (i was wearing my dpm jacket, very warm and waterproof) and many obscentities.
all because i dont wear adidas, nikee, or reebok like the majority of people in my area. true, i dress in a similar way to friends and others i know and it could be construed "uniform" but personally it doesnt matter to me if im wearing shirt and tie or an iron maiden hoody, the only thing i do draw the line at is tight(ish) trousers, the baggier the better in my mind.
but back to labels and the way you are percieved, i have been followed around the store where i work because the security guard did not recognise me at first and judged me by what i was wearing. i have been beaten up for dressing the way i do. ive been pulled over by the police too many times to count whilst walkin home late from work (1am) because of the way i dress. recieved stares in restaurants when i go for a meal with my nan and grandad. been refused entry from pubs for not being dressed properly then later been started on by people who were dressed properly.
labels schmabels, i have learnt now not to judge by appearence but by actions, i have friends who dress in many different ways, some "normal" some outlandish, even some who wear nothing but shirt, tie, suit trousers and proper shoes, but all of them i know to be good people, people i can rely on, whereas other people are c*nts no matter how they dress, i have known complete twats that wear designer labels, others that dress like goths, had hassle off people wearing suits, hell i even got stick off people in the RAF once because they judged me by my clothing, these are meant to be the heroes of my country.
hhhmm.... ive ranted a bit and probably missed the point completely, but i will say this, people will always prejudge you, the only thing you can hope for is that they will be open minded enough to give you a chance....

[I-Walk-Alone]

At first glance, someone may appear foolish. I always listen, if they want me to, at least long enough to prove one's appearance as true or false. Beyond that, there's lots to know about anyone. Get my attention, and I'll listen forever.

That said, to hell with the notion of a badge. The only thing appearance proves is some sort of truth or lack-thereof.

[Fascination]

Gothisism is a "sub-culture" and there are many variations and one of these are "Neo-Goths". They usually wear dark clothes but are contrasted by neon colours E.g. neon green hair dye, black vest over a neon coloured shirt, black pants neon belt. (Actually I don't know if this is world wide but this is in Australia. I've seen some neo-goth before, It's ... Shocking)

Over here they are referred to as 'cyber-goths'. Alot of my clothing is classed as such (UV anime tshirts, trainers with a circuit board design printed all over etc) but I gave up caring too much about what type I wear - as long as its mostly black. :)


Ive been classed differently soley on my hair; when it was long and black it was 'goth', when I got an undercut it became 'mosher' and when I got a mohican it was 'punk' - in each instance I always wore the same style of clothing.


Remember;

"Im an individual, just like my friends!"

[Hellcat]

I remember when I was working (something I haven't done for several years due to being a lone parent) I wore jeans and the uniform t-shirt provided by work, I had my hair up in a pony tail, but because (or at least thats how I see it) I was doing a mans job (unloading trucks, shifting pallets of sugar, beans etc around) I often got mistaken for a lad.

[shadowhound]

Dammit I'm me. I wear what i feel comfortable in. Recently I have taken to wearing my sheep skin coat which is basically an old RAF flying jacket. It's unfashionable, nobody wears one like mine (except maybe Biggles). Who gives a shit? I like it, it keeps me snug and warm in this godawful cold weather, I'm comfortable, I'm me. I don't do uniform, I wear what I like- usually this involves a pair of jeans (any color will do) and a t-shirt. Uniform is for people who want to belong to be identified as part of a group. I happen to be the only member of my group and I'm recognised as being a part of that group by my clothing. I stand out like a elephant at pyjama party

You are part of a group. The group that wears what is comfortable. Some people will think of you as a slob, others will think of you as someone who wears the most practical clothing, regardless of fashion. You say you're the only member of your group, but I generally wear the exact same thing: jeans and a T-shirt. People thinking I was a boy kinda irritated me, but they don't do that anymore. ;) There are more people then you might think whose fashion guide is "Who gives a shit." And I say : YAY! :p

[Hellcat]

You are part of a group. The group that wears what is comfortable. Some people will think of you as a slob, others will think of you as someone who wears the most practical clothing, regardless of fashion. You say you're the only member of your group, but I generally wear the exact same thing: jeans and a T-shirt. People thinking I was a boy kinda irritated me, but they don't do that anymore. ;) There are more people then you might think whose fashion guide is "Who gives a shit." And I say : YAY! :p

Dammit- is there no escape from labels?. :cry:
LEAVE ME ALONE :banghead: I don't get mistaken for a bloke these days, usually I'm mistaken for some masculine lesbian :shrug:

[WhiteCrowUK]

I don't get mistaken for a bloke these days, usually I'm mistaken for some masculine lesbian :shrug:

And this is a good thing??? :confused:

[phantomroller]

I'm coming in late on the topic, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents in.... for some reason it's so easy for people to lable others. I mean, when most people see someone dressed in nothing but black they automatically assume that they're gothic and are going to blow something up, or when people see girls wearing tight shirts and American Eagle outfitters shirt, they automatically assume they're stupid blondes or preppy. not sure why that it though. I guess since many people who do dress that way, live up to the sterotypes that goes along with the dressing. I know a lot of people who dress like gothics and they all seem to act the very sterotypical way that goths are supposed to act.

Also, a lot of people dress certain ways cause they know that by dressing this way they'll get attention and get people to stare at them and talk about them. some people lable themselves as gothic, so that means they have to dress like some gothic kid and listen to the "gothic music" (as they like to call it). so it's almost like they're labling themselves. and people do that a lot.

[Hellcat]

And this is a good thing??? :confused:

Depends what she looks like- when you get dragged into the pub toilets by some butt ugly peroxide blonde with a face like a slapped arse who then locks the door behind us and proceeds to pull down her britches....NO :D

Erm this is threatening to turn x-rated, lets er *cough* get back on the subject before the mods kick orf ;)

[DarkWolf]

Erm this is threatening to turn x-rated, lets er *cough* get back on the subject before the mods kick orf
Good idea ;)

[Wolffy13]

I own my own business and I take it seriously. I want people to know I take it seriously, so when I am working, I wear a suit with a skirt and pantyhose (I shall hunt down and torcher the man who invented pantyhose....anyway) . This doesn't mean I am a suit, and believe me, I'm not, but unfortunately I only have one chance to impress potential customers. Not to mention I have nothing wrong with people thinking "Damn, that woman looks sharp!" :D

I don't generally judge others by appearance, but I do kind of use it as a sort of guideline with plenty of variables. Hell, one time I sat down with a preppy girl at my high school, you would of thought bricks were smarter by looking at her, and we had an intelligent conversation on the possibility/impossibility of werewolves. I was rather impressed. Then again, not everyone is so open-minded as we may be. My grandmother is a constant reminder of that :(