Are We Too Casual?

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Status
Not open for further replies.

Winnipeger

Lifer
Sep 9, 2022
1,288
9,692
Winnipeg
I don't believe male sweatpants should even exist, let alone be worn outside the house but that's just me. My wife knows I'm going to give her a look if I see such an attired person out and about.

Personally, I toy with the idea of bringing the waistcoat back.
Since my hernia surgery I'm very uncomfortable wearing a belt. Sweatpants for me. If people want to judge me, so be it.
 

stearmandriver

Might Stick Around
Mar 13, 2018
73
176
I'm mostly a lurker on pipe forums, but I've been doing that for a while and I've noticed that this is a thread that crops up with some regularity. It could be summarized as "the rest of the world doesn't care what I think of it and this is wrong."

Conversely, another thread that tends to repeat could be summarized as "I'm a crotchety pipe-smoker who therefore does what he wants and doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks of ME, and this is as it should be."

I sense disparity. 😁
 

HawkeyeLinus

Lifer
Oct 16, 2020
5,857
42,246
Iowa
Some 45 years ago I went to a lot of concerts at the SF Symphony. 90%+ of the men were in suits, or jacket and tie, and ladies— coiffed and turned out nicely.
Five years ago, my last time in SF, some of the attendees were in sweats!

But my chief cheese-off is men who wear hats indoors- including upscale restaurants and churches... Some of it is I hope- a California thing, and that there are higher standards back East.
Not in the Midwest. We had our annual employee gathering 3 weeks ago and out of about 26 or so guys 4 wore their ball caps throughout the evening in a nice dining room at a nice event. No hats on the women. Dress ran the gamut from casual to jacket and tie and was expected and no big deal, but I had to bite my lip on the hats.

Having said that, it’s Friday tomorrow and I’ll be in jeans and a flannel shirt for the morning at work - taking the afternoon off for a funeral (will dress for that) then jeans and flannels until Tuesday!
 
  • Like
Reactions: romaso and scloyd

Servant King

Lifer
Nov 27, 2020
4,815
28,042
39
Frazier Park, CA
www.thechembow.com
The wife and I were at a retail store today in Cincinnati that sells what I would call luxury items. The last time I was at this location was probably 25 years ago, at which time the employees were dressed in suit and tie. Today the employees looked like they just got out of bed, that is, unshaven, wrinkled T shirts, uncombed hair, etc. Things have sure changed in the last few decades, and the changes have been especially fast since Covid.

Proper manners have gone away also, I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination, but the language used in conversation with my wife and I would make a sailor blush. I almost felt dirty upon leaving, and, unfortunately this all seems to be the norm. One more thing that seems to be universal also is no one can say a simple "thank you" for your patronage anymore. The closest one gets to that is "have a good one", not even close to a genuine appreciation for me spending my money with them.

Sorry for the complaining but I felt the need to vent a little.
I love people who channel their own personal Bill Hicks. Vent on!

Some are just raised differently.

I'm a "Good morning", "thank you sir" kinda guy.

But this is what you get when I go out in public.
View attachment 274755
I can't tell if you're flipping the bird here or not. I'm going to assume possibly.

Also, you are missing the cover of your remote's battery compartment, and it is playing hell with my OCD. That is all.

People have a choice regarding how they decide to show up. Seems a lot are choosing to show up as slobbering nitwits.
In the words of the late Frank Zappa, "You are what you is."

He said lots of other things as well, such as "Wristwatch, Crisco!" and other similarly profound truths. 🤷‍♂️
 

VDL_Piper

Lifer
Jun 4, 2021
1,503
14,636
Tasmania, Australia
I think one of my first life lessons from my father was when I was 6 years old. I was playing rugby and we had our warm up and then ran on the field. My father shouted loudly and ordered me back to him, I returned. He bent down and pulled up my socks and tucked my football jersey into my shorts. He looked at me and said “you may not be the best footballer but you might as well look like you are”. From that day forward I have always had my shirt tucked in and socks up, even if I’m covered in cow shit and flies.
 

Sam Gamgee

Part of the Furniture Now
Sep 24, 2022
649
1,696
50
DFW, Texas
I still use manners and call most older men “sir”’ and most women over 35/40 “ma’am.” I’ve been told by more than one woman (sometimes quite vehemently) to not do so.

Makes me sad to see things like this that make life meaningful get flippantly discarded. Taken to its logical conclusion, people won’t like the ultimate alternative when no manners exist anymore.

When I go out and about, I see people everywhere in bed clothes. Walmart is the worst. Not long ago I was in my local Walmart Supercenter and some fellow in bed clothes was actually smoking pot while he shopped. Absolute lunacy.

I went to get a pizza recently at my local Little Caesar’s. All the employees looked like weekly bathing was optional. I walked out.

The worst (and very common) reply to a ‘thank you’ these days: “no problem.”
🤢
 
Last edited:

huntertrw

Lifer
Jul 23, 2014
5,875
7,593
The Lower Forty of Hill Country
Maybe if retail employees were actually paid enough to live on, they'd give a damn and show up to work looking presentable.

Or, perhaps, if employees actually gave a damn and showed up to work (on-time and) looking presentable, they just might earn enough to live on. It seems to me this can cut both ways.
 
Last edited:

HawkeyeLinus

Lifer
Oct 16, 2020
5,857
42,246
Iowa
I imagine one day I’ll transition to suspenders. My dad has. A nice set of suspenders shouldn’t be overlooked!
They were somewhat anachronistic even 30+ years ago when I started wearing them with what was then work attire. Will wear them with the suit I’m having made for my daughter’s wedding this summer - I always thought they were cool but came to understand the comfort aspect vs. “accessory”. Then I discovered how great they are for hunting pants vs. a belt, especially waterproof bottoms I’ll wear over jeans or trousers that always slide down my butt if they have a drawstring - hate walking miles and hitching up all the time.
 

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
4,183
54,793
Casa Grande, AZ
The masking and “social distancing” of the plandemic succeeded at their designed intent of depersonalizing individuals and their interactions.
Masses are easier to bamboozle when they have been trained to fear contact with fellows.
It’s gotten better, but common consideration, communication, respect and pleasantries have suffered.
I’m afraid the idea that pajamas are ok out and about is here to stay, especially when you see teachers and students dressed as such.
I’m pretty sure we’re at the “weak men make bad times” part of the cycle, and the deck is stacking against those that would rise up as strong men to make good times…
 

sham

(theSHAMOO)
May 20, 2022
115
386
Charlotte, NC
I am younger than the average poster here, but am surprised at the disdain for certain responses to 'thank you'. I've used all sorts of replies never realized that some were frowned upon. To me it would seem that the tone and body language would have much more significant impact on whether I come back with a 'no problem', 'of course', 'anytime, brother', or 'your welcome'

I wonder how many people I've pissed off
 

bluegrassbrian

Your Mom's Favorite Pipe Smoker
Aug 27, 2016
6,674
64,537
41
Louisville
Man, I don't like being that guy. There's the old trope of each new generation driving the older one crazy..

I've been involved in the service industry for going on 13 years now (in succession) (there were a couple restaurant jobs in my teens too). I've witnessed a drastic change in the personnel in that time AND a shift in the attitudes of corporate management. It starts at the top.

A couple weeks ago I was training a couple new faces for the company. One young man wasn't devoting enough attention to detail so I stopped him and showed him how to do a process correctly.
He said the end result is basically the same and his way is quicker.
I didn't mind explaining and illustrating precisely how and why the correct way is the correct way. He agreed with me in the end.
Same guy this week tried to skip out before detailing his work area (cleaning up). When I stopped him he was kind enough to remind me "This isn't his long term career, just a job during school".
I politely reminded him that integrity doesn't begin with his career. It's a habit that needs to be practiced.

Kids these days.
 
Jul 26, 2021
2,416
9,811
Metro-Detroit
Or, perhaps, if employees actually gave a damn and showed up to work (on-time and) looking presentable, they just might earn enough to live on. It seems to me this can cut both ways.
Show up on time, in uniform, and they pay you for it. Stay off the phone, produce profits or benefits to the company, and you might get a raise or promotion.
I’m pretty sure we’re at the “weak men make bad times” part of the cycle, and the deck is stacking against those that would rise up as strong men to make good times…
This is the perfect time for 20 - 40 year olds with drive to destroy the competition. Out working others while studying my trade and honing skills has helped me get an advantage over others and put me where I am today.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.