This is some sort of sick joke, right?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

"I think the lady doth protest too much"
Shakespere

Heehee! Is that your final answer to the part where I showed you also "feel the need to laugh snarkily at what others obviously enjoy"? We're all human, in the end.

Cheers to both iSm and €

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Heehee! Is that your final answer to the part where I showed you also "feel the need to laugh snarkily at what others obviously enjoy"? We're all human, in the end.

For me, it is the disdain for the creative that gets to me. It is so easy to justify being uncreative - and some are just not appreciative of creative expression. That is sad to me, but a reality. Again, I think I come to expect that in other environments, boards, etc. But, here, I expect more. Just as we can have decent political discussions from a wide variety of views, I expect the same thing to happen when discussing social and creative issues. This thread started out in a bad way, IMHO. If a thread about a political topic was started with the same tone, I think we would all consider it baiting and probably not participate. I held off on participating in this thread for quite a while and then I just had to say something. Unfortunately, by that time I was in a general state of disgust and it showed.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

For me, it is the disdain for the creative that gets to me. It is so easy to justify being uncreative - and some are just not appreciative of creative expression.

I simply don't see the creativity in this line of merchandise. It's mass produced shlock, no more creative or rebelious than a jacket with a Misfits patch sold by the thousands at Hot Topic. If I saw someone in the park wearing a home made shirt with an iron-on of a family phot of them at Disneyland 40 years ago, that'd be awesome. But sold by Disney at $90+? Bah, just another chapter in the never-ending cycle of true rebelious creativity being coopted and mass marketed by corporate America. It'll make them some good bucks, but to me it's the sign that it's time to move into new areas of creativity.

Some people have shown quite a bit of disdain towards Shag for the very same reasons. And even though we obviously like the stuff since we bought it, I certainly understand it. Of course, they weren't charging $130 for cheap prints. They were charging $15. Had they been $130, I probably would have had the same reaction as I did to these shirts.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

If a thread about a political topic was started with the same tone, I think we would all consider it baiting and probably not participate.

I wouldn't say that this thread started out with a nice tone. I mean no offense to STC or anyone else, because I am fine with people having strong opinions and stating them clearly, no matter what the topic.

If I think something is overpriced, overblown, ugly, and lame, I'll say so, and I hope you do too. And if people disagree with me I hope that they'll say so as well. Anything else would be self-censoring.

Here's another drink for you NA because I love trading opinions with you.

ETA - what said, again.

[SacTown Chronic]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

For me, it is the disdain for the creative that gets to me. It is so easy to justify being uncreative - and some are just not appreciative of creative expression.

I'm far more likely to snarkily laugh at someone wearing the hottest trends (especially if I know that person wears every trendy article of clothing that comes down the pike) than I am at someone who has their own style and occasionally looks like an overdressed peacock. I admire the whack looking individual's creativity and sense of style, no matter how far-out they might appear to me.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Heehee! Is that your final answer to the part where I showed you also "feel the need to laugh snarkily at what others obviously enjoy"? We're all human, in the end.

I wanted to go back and address this issue specifically before I got too far off in another direction..

Whether I am dissing a young kid for wearing a band shirt of a punk rocker who died before he was born or if BTD is laughing at other people because of how they choose to appear at the gym, the same thing is happening. We're using other people's choices to help us "feel" superior and to prop up our own egos at the espense of others. Everyone does it. I do it. But, I don't like it when I resort to what I see is childish behaviour. It us really not attractive and, sadly, says more about the insecurities of the person saying it than it does to dis another person. But, I see the transparency in myself and, sometimes, in others. But, I still do it when I I need a little ego boost. Maybe one day I will be perfect.