Are We Being Typecast?

[smudgersmissingleg]

I was browsing the Halloween costumes when I came upon an 'old man' fancy dress outfit. I noticed straight away it came with a pipe and after I clicked on it Amazon brought up further costumes and quite a few also had pipes in the kit.
I'm guessing that the makers of these outfits and probably the general public at large are under the impression pipe smoking is an old man's game. I've gotta say I disagree as I've noticed more and more middle aged or younger pipe smokers on the forum, especially since the site was updated.
Here are some pics.



Incidentally there was a final old man Halloween mask (that to be fair didn't come with a pipe) but for some reason (I can't think why) it reminded me of this great forum and its members.


Chris.

 

[mikethompson]

I've seen that old man costume as well. In fact they sell that pipe separately, and I remember looking at the price and thinking you could get a decent estate for that price!

The bottom mask is... Interesting?

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I've seen that old man costume as well. In fact they sell that pipe separately, and I remember looking at the price and thinking you could get a decent estate for that price!

The bottom mask is... Interesting?

I was actually considering using the bottom photo as my thumbnail picture as it does bear more than a passing resemblance to me.
I have a much larger 'nose' though.

Chris.

 

[Casual]

Most young people will have an impression of pipe smokers from older media rather than personal experience of real people. Typecast is exactly the word to describe it.

 

[jaytex1969]

Incidentally there was a final old man Halloween mask (that to be fair didn't come with a pipe) but for some reason (I can't think why) it reminded me of this great forum and its members.

 

[jpmcwjr]

OH, my. Too early in my morning to see all this....

 

[Dusk]

It's more likely the costume designers are out of touch. That stereotype of elderly people makes sense in pre internet days but now is very outdated. Those style of glasses have actually made a small comeback and pipe smoking is on a steady rise.

 

[brian64]

I was browsing the Halloween costumes when I came upon an 'old man' fancy dress outfit.

That's actually the hipster costume.

...for some reason (I can't think why) it reminded me of this great forum and its members.

Must have been the beard.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

Hmm... Actually, the "old man" costume looks a helluva lot like me. I have a cap and glasses exactly like that. Only difference is I wear a full beard in addition to the mustache.

 

[mso489]

Isn't it Tom Waits, the singer songwriter, who started talking and dressing like an old guy in his twenties because, as he explained, the old guys got to wear all the cool hats. I don't need to buy anything to do that "costume," and I already grew the mustache. As for the dick head mask, I've known a few folks who don't need to buy a costume for that either.

 

[tg51]

Most young people will have an impression of pipe smokers from older media rather than personal experience of real people. Typecast is exactly the word to describe it.

I definitely think there is a typecast but not just a single type. Yes there is the pigeon hole that most pipe smokers are older but there is also the idea that anybody "younger" has a beard , wears a flat cap, and smells like patchouli. An acquaintance of mine saw me smoking my pipe the other day and loudly asked if I was seventy years old. Another has called me a hipster even though I look nothing of the sort. It's all part of it I guess.

 

[Chasing Embers]

middle aged

Though I'll likely never have gray hair, middle aged is defined as 45-65. The costume seems accurate as most of my friends,including myself, are in that age bracket and are looking that way.

 

[tg51]

Isn't it Tom Waits, the singer songwriter, who started talking and dressing like an old guy in his twenties because, as he explained, the old guys got to wear all the cool hats. I don't need to buy anything to do that "costume," and I already grew the mustache. As for the dick head mask, I've known a few folks who don't need to buy a costume for that either.

Hats, comfy shoes, comfy pants and sweaters. I could go on. As far as the mask goes, I agree with you there as well

 

[brian64]

middle aged is defined as 45-65.

That would make old age 90 to 130.

 

[Chasing Embers]

That would make old age 90 to 130.

None of my family has ever lived past 65 so I guess that means I'll never be old!?

 

[anotherbob]

I personally like the stereotype of the pipe smoker as an old man. It's very helpful when convincing people that pipe smoking isn't as dangerous as cigarettes.

 

[brian64]

None of my family has ever lived past 65 so I guess that means I'll never be old!

May you be the one to end that trend...the pipe smoking destines you to achieve old age.

As for the middle age thing...it's the word middle that's kind of misleading...but I guess it just means that old age is over 66.

So all of you 66 and up are officially "old" apparently. I've got less than a decade remaining, but supposedly "senior citizen" starts at 55, so I guess I'm there already....I don't know who made this stuff up.

 

[philobeddoe]

Well.....I’ve got the pipe, a few gray hairs, the flat cap, a beard and I wear glasses. No cane yet, but the check is in the mail.

 

[irishearl]

Hmm... Actually, the "old man" costume looks a helluva lot like me. I have a cap and glasses exactly like that. Only difference is I wear a full beard in addition to the mustache.

Me, too.

 

[olkofri]

I don't have an issue being labeled as an old man. I actually prefer it. I carry a cane around not so much because I need one, but because it makes me look old.

Those costume/props are just the thing to take to political rallies and demonstrations, seeing how now the police is filming the crowd and using face recognition to open files on attendees.