People of WalMart

[€uroMeinke]

I never saw the website, but have appeared in something similar - or so I gather.

The way we dress is one of the most basic forms of communication we engage in, we use it to convey so much about ourselves - our affiliations to various tribal sub-cultures, sports team affiliations, our wealth, our availability, or unavailability. Sometimes they carry statements like "I don't buy into this consumerist culture," or "check out my legs."

So in that respect, commenting on appearances is just furthering the conversation - and everything being subjective, no matter how you look and dress, someone will mock you for it, because they look and dress differently themselves.

Now I didn't see the website so if it was more about mocking peoples hairlips and hunchbacks, then that's a bit mean-spirited to me.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Alex

Stand up on a table at Plaza Inn and gather an audience of strangers and start insulting people walking by in the distance. Sure they'll probably be entirely oblivious to what you're doing but you're not doing anything to avoid them hearing of it. That's ok, right?

One of the best street performers I ever saw was outside a cafe in Berlin. This man would walk behind people passing by and do mine-like caricatures of that person. It was awesome. Sometimes the "mockee" would figure out what was going on and the interaction was all the better.

[Alex]

Yes, I've seen those. And I don't like them either. But if the mockee is a willing participant then I don't care. It is in the same general area of reason as to why I don't care for Candid Camera or Borat style humor (even when I can't help but be amused I feel bad about it). Making fools of unwitting people for the enjoyment of others just always seems mean to me, not just if it is hairlips and hunchbacks.

In SF we have the bush man down at Fisherman's Wharf. Who hides behind a shrub then jumps out at tourists to scare them. For some reason this is considered high humor. One day, when he gets beat up I'll be tempted to applaud the person who did it.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Regarding making judgmental assumptions about underlying character and value - again, this happens anyway. If people will write it down, people will think it while walking around.

I think what's happened is that those people who would never think such things, or at least try to suppress the urge to think such things, are surprised at what's written about these people. I guess I'm outing myself as someone who does think "what the hell are they wearing". The idea that you can think that and not make assumptions about that person seems silly to me. I dressed like a freak myself at times, and I was fully aware of the reaction people might have, which is part of the reason for doing it, of course.

I think that, whether it is stated out loud or not, EVERYONE makes assumptions about a person based on the way they are dressed. Clothing is a choice and it tell you a lot about a person - maybe as much as the way a person holds his body, makes eye contact, has facial expressions, etc.

We, as a culture, spend a LOT of time focused on what people are wearing and how they come across. Why should we feel any different about what Joe is Peoria is wearing at Walmart than what Angelia Jolie was wearing to the grocery store?

Although I had no desire to see the movie "Borat", from what I understand there was a lot of mocking going on in that film - mocking disguised as comedy. The Fugly website mocks people on a daily basis and we "all" laugh. Why is the Walmart site any different?

An AWFUL lot of assumptions were made about the Walmart people, especially their economic status. How do we know these people are poor? Maybe they are wealthy misers who just dress badly, any maybe they dressed badly on that one particular day and got caught. But, that's what clothing does for a person - good or bad, it is a way to make an impression on others.

[3894]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

An AWFUL lot of assumptions were made about the Walmart people, especially their economic status. How do we know these people are poor?
Maybe they are wealthy misers who just dress badly, any maybe they dressed badly on that one particular day and got caught. But, that's what clothing does for a person - good or bad, it is a way to make an impression on others.

So I've been thinking about this and the context. If the site had been called People of Safeway or People of Home Depot or People of Michael's Crafts Store, would I have had the same impression? Yes.

[€uroMeinke]

People of the Red Carpet, People of Disneyland, People of the Art Walk, People of the Airport, People of the Metro, People of the Nursery, People of Coachella, etc.

All would make for potentially amusing photo-collections - some of which I've probably already contributed to - on both sides of the camera

[3894]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

People of the Red Carpet, People of Disneyland, People of the Art Walk, People of the Airport, People of the Metro, People of the Nursery, People of Coachella, etc.

All would make for potentially amusing photo-collections - some of which I've probably already contributed to - on both sides of the camera

I love you, EuroMeinke, sir.

[Strangler Lewis]

People of the Jewish Ghetto, People of the Negro ghetto, etc.

As an aside, I think Candid Camera was far more gentle than Borat. It simply put people into unusual, but fairly benign situations. I doubt anyone was ever called ugly on Candid Camera.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by 3894

So I've been thinking about this and the context. If the site had been called People of Safeway or People of Home Depot or People of Michael's Crafts Store, would I have had the same impression? Yes.

If the photos were taken in Wal-Marts that were not located in such depressed areas I probably would have had a different reaction. Laughing at oddly dressed people (like most of us have done at DL) who have the means to do differently is one thing. Laughing at those who don't is kicking them while they're down.

There's a group on FB about making fun of people who wear Crocs. Event he title is mocking - saying Croc wearers look like a dumbass.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

People of the Jewish Ghetto, People of the Negro ghetto, etc.

Both of which might make for interesting photo collections and I have no doubt the conversation inspired in the comments might be rather interesting. But then, I'm looking at this not so much for a "humor" perspective as a "communication" perspective, and as Brad pointed out earlier - that kind of analysis kills the funny pretty quickly.

But certainly both communities mentioned above have pieces of apparel or styles used to identify them or show solidarity with that community. But Yarmulke and Sagging aren't all that funny in themselves.