I rather hold that there is: Dressing well displays a level of self-respect, respect for your fellow man and the world (God too, if you like) and a degree of socio-cultural sophistication that elevates it to the level of an arete ("virtue" in Greek terminology) that is above the level of a mere skill like being able to repair a computer or tune an automobile engine ("techne" in Greek). Thus, I hold that the man who dresses well is, ceteris paribus, morally superior to the man who who spurns dressing well and clothes himself in slobwear. Stating this drove some of the cretins who have come to infest the land of the BBR to an absolute fury and generated the acrimonious exchanges that led to my departure from what has degenerated into a sump of sartorial mediocrity.
Some opponents of this view have cited well dressed mobsters like Al Capone, "Bugsy" Siegel or John Gotti as evidence of the fallaciousness of my views. While it would be foolish not to concede that they were bad men, I would state that they would be yet worse men had they spurned the sartorial decencies, so I stand by my original premise.
Your thoughts on this matter, gentlemen?
There may be a grain of truth in all that, but the kindest, most pleasant and well-mannered people I've ever met have not necessarily been the best dressed. Many of the most arrogant, vacuous and unscrupulous have been well-dressed. I don't really see the connection.
I'm sure this fairly universal point will have been made by many others.
However, I do suspect your theory is being presented only half-seriously...
Bollocks- I say the highest achievers and wealthiest people are slobs ( see how I am able to just type out that word here and not type something like s10b5- unlike some where else) -I joke off course Cap`n -P I think your argument has merit but - I personally prefer to stand on the middle ground.
Who by the way would adopt the user name - of a euphamism - for pulling gay men- ( perhaps just in the UK is cruising used in this context- ask Uncle if you don`t believe me)
There is no objective state of being well-dressed, but aye, people ought to dress the best they can in their own contexts of culture, age, and physical hawtness. If the weather is warm and the person is young and fit, this means wearing curve-highlighting and fashionable clothes with some clean colours and sharp lines in there, with lots of skin exposed.
If they are a right minger (whatever age) they should cover all that shit up and maybe dress more conservatively, go earth tones like a nice brown paper sack over the head, nicely pressed, etc., style over fashion. And of course work on their personality.
i guess the main moral point is to be charitable & compassionate for other ppl's eyes.
I think 'cruising' as a term for men picking up men for sex actually comes from the US...
'Trolling' is the old London term for this would you believe. (Fact).
Is Polari big in the States?
You only hear it now ironically or from very old Queens...
Shame.
http://www.chris-d.net/polari/
Off for a varda at some bona Batt sites on the Net. now - Ta-ra!
Miss Jim-Slip.
Last edited by David (2008-02-15 05:38:30)
i like to imagine e. Waugh using those terms with a pronounced lisp.
Although I recognize the value of dressing well (versus dressing like a slob), I can never subscribe to the "respect for others" arguments posited elsewhere on the men's clothing internet message boards, er fora. It seems too much like "respect" arguments used by mafia hoods and rapper gangsters (and cops); in other words, with an unsavoury element of threat.
One dresses. That is all.
What does the rest of the world have to do with this?
Are you poor?
I agree with the Cap'n that there is a moral dimension to dressing well. Indeed, the virtue gained from it is my only route to that particular commodity. The clothes do rather offset my many undesirable qualities.
^ Not so sure.
I smell camouflague. Why would a good person need to look good?
Are you evil & not happy about people knowing it?
Oh go on - We all know that's why you joined up here.
Would you do a 'fruit bowl' to kick things off?
i think i like you.
I'm not Mike you know...