Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Oh I agree. I have clients worth millions upon millions of dollars that dress like they just spent the past few nights on the street.

A good buddy of mine is a Secret Service agent. He's also black. And he likes to wear baggy pants and wife-beaters when he's off-duty. I'm sure he makes some people uneasy.

dorminWS wrote:I don't think it is or ought to be about how you dress. Clothes truly do not make the man. It is about your demeanor.

this!

I agree, clothes do not make the man. Though using a belt to hold your pants up on the waist and presenting yourself in a respectable manner speak words of your character.

Ya might say that even though they don't make the man, they can unmake him. Drawers 6" above your jeans, a hoodie, wifebeater t-shirt at church or the bank... Things like that might start one out with a negative impression to overcome; I'll certainly grant you that. I bet even Reverendell cleans up once in a while when he wants to.

Clothes may not make the man, but they seem to enhance him. I usually wear whatever crap is comfortable and not too ready to fall apart; my wife hates this naturally.

Periodically I must dip into my old Manhattan work clothes AKA the very expensive suits, which, by some miracle, still fit me well....these are now conference, wedding, and funeral only by and by, as I had to wear them daily for years and learned to hate the necktie/noose of the bourgeoisie.

Now, when I have to stop and run an errand in my usual slob clothes, as compared to the really nice tailored suits, which do you think gets me treated a whole hell of a lot better?

Granted I'm the same prick no mater what, but the nicely dressed prick gets taken care of alot faster and with a much more servile attitude.

Just a necktie (in these parts, at least) usually makes a discernable difference in how most folks perceive and deal with you, and I'm convinced a necktie significantly reduces the chance that a marginal driving practice will get you pulled over by many if not most LEOs. wear a necktie into a grocery store or Walmart, and like as not somebody will ask if you are a manager. I guess it buys you credit with a lot of folks for being respectable and/or in authority. On the other hand, if you wear a paisley necktie with a polka-dotted shirt and striped pants, I'd guess you'd lose that effect. I wore a coat and tie every weekday for 33 years, and never minded the tie at all. Here recently, I've not been because I outgrew all my dress shirts and coats, but I've been able to drop almost 35 pounds since the end of April, and will probably go back to my old dress code when cold weather arrives.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN. It just means they may effect the way others see him.

dorminWS wrote:Just a necktie (in these parts, at least) usually makes a discernable difference in how most folks perceive and deal with you, and I'm convinced a necktie significantly reduces the chance that a marginal driving practice will get you pulled over by many if not most LEOs. wear a necktie into a grocery store or Walmart, and like as not somebody will ask if you are a manager. I guess it buys you credit with a lot of folks for being respectable and/or in authority. On the other hand, if you wear a paisley necktie with a polka-dotted shirt and striped pants, I'd guess you'd lose that effect. I wore a coat and tie every weekday for 33 years, and never minded the tie at all. Here recently, I've not been because I outgrew all my dress shirts and coats, but I've been able to drop almost 35 pounds since the end of April, and will probably go back to my old dress code when cold weather arrives.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN. It just means they may effect the way others see him.

Well because that just clashes. Paisley ties are great, but you should only wear them with a solid shirt or one with simple striping (not bold stripes... it's a little difficult to pair a patterned tie with a patterned shirt). And if you wear a striped shirt you should never wear striped pants.

m4a1mustang wrote:

dorminWS wrote:Just a necktie (in these parts, at least) usually makes a discernable difference in how most folks perceive and deal with you, and I'm convinced a necktie significantly reduces the chance that a marginal driving practice will get you pulled over by many if not most LEOs. wear a necktie into a grocery store or Walmart, and like as not somebody will ask if you are a manager. I guess it buys you credit with a lot of folks for being respectable and/or in authority. On the other hand, if you wear a paisley necktie with a polka-dotted shirt and striped pants, I'd guess you'd lose that effect. I wore a coat and tie every weekday for 33 years, and never minded the tie at all. Here recently, I've not been because I outgrew all my dress shirts and coats, but I've been able to drop almost 35 pounds since the end of April, and will probably go back to my old dress code when cold weather arrives.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN. It just means they may effect the way others see him.

Well because that just clashes. Paisley ties are great, but you should only wear them with a solid shirt or one with simple striping (not bold stripes... it's a little difficult to pair a patterned tie with a patterned shirt). And if you wear a striped shirt you should never wear striped pants.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HELLIDON'TKNOW! I just told you everything my wife's been able to teach me about what not to wear in 42 years, OK Please don't tax my capacity beyond that; I can't be responsible for what I might do - OK?

dorminWS wrote:

m4a1mustang wrote:

dorminWS wrote:Just a necktie (in these parts, at least) usually makes a discernable difference in how most folks perceive and deal with you, and I'm convinced a necktie significantly reduces the chance that a marginal driving practice will get you pulled over by many if not most LEOs. wear a necktie into a grocery store or Walmart, and like as not somebody will ask if you are a manager. I guess it buys you credit with a lot of folks for being respectable and/or in authority. On the other hand, if you wear a paisley necktie with a polka-dotted shirt and striped pants, I'd guess you'd lose that effect. I wore a coat and tie every weekday for 33 years, and never minded the tie at all. Here recently, I've not been because I outgrew all my dress shirts and coats, but I've been able to drop almost 35 pounds since the end of April, and will probably go back to my old dress code when cold weather arrives.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN. It just means they may effect the way others see him.

Well because that just clashes. Paisley ties are great, but you should only wear them with a solid shirt or one with simple striping (not bold stripes... it's a little difficult to pair a patterned tie with a patterned shirt). And if you wear a striped shirt you should never wear striped pants.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HELLIDON'TKNOW! I just told you everything my wife's been able to teach me about what not to wear in 42 years, OK Please don't tax my capacity beyond that; I can't be responsible for what I might do - OK?

When I have to clean up? I look like a an Israeli Mossad agent...

Or a Mafia Hitman....

It's better if I just friggin' look like a redneck. And I beg to differ about the ticket, and the tie...

They care about a QUOTA AND YOUR SPEED!

Trust me...

Reverenddel wrote:When I have to clean up? I look like a an Israeli Mossad agent...

Or a Mafia Hitman....

It's better if I just friggin' look like a redneck. And I beg to differ about the ticket, and the tie...

They care about a QUOTA AND YOUR SPEED!

Trust me...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My experience indicates otherwise, Rev.

Of course, I don't look like a Mafia hitman or a Mossad agent when I'm cleaned up........

Perception is powerful. Regardless of how you are on the inside, you are first always judged by the outside... no way around it. While I don't OC often, when I do, I try to be extra respectful and presentable. It's not that I so much care what others think, as much that I care what kind of reputation and image I am projecting for the OC community.

dorminWS wrote:Just a necktie (in these parts, at least) usually makes a discernable difference in how most folks perceive and deal with you, and I'm convinced a necktie significantly reduces the chance that a marginal driving practice will get you pulled over by many if not most LEOs. wear a necktie into a grocery store or Walmart, and like as not somebody will ask if you are a manager. I guess it buys you credit with a lot of folks for being respectable and/or in authority. On the other hand, if you wear a paisley necktie with a polka-dotted shirt and striped pants, I'd guess you'd lose that effect. I wore a coat and tie every weekday for 33 years, and never minded the tie at all. Here recently, I've not been because I outgrew all my dress shirts and coats, but I've been able to drop almost 35 pounds since the end of April, and will probably go back to my old dress code when cold weather arrives.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN. It just means they may effect the way others see him.

Neck tie with a tee shirt work to? I think that might have the opposite effect! I OC to often to dress up for it but I make sure to be polite and not to dress down!

Practically the whole of this discussion focuses purely on the topic of carrying a gun as a showpiece, something to make a political or personal statement and completely ignores and undermines the heart of why many of us carry a gun and push for laws making it easier for people to carry guns: Personal protection. Even if these young folks were being a litlte obnoxious they have every right to personal protection that any of the rest of us do. Does it irritate me a little that gun carriers could be seen in a bad light? Yeah, a little, but were they also carrying pocket knives or car keys, do they have political bumper stickers on their cars or do they speak up in support of particular causes? Any of these may take a little shame as well due to their actions too, but that's life.

As long as gun owners treat other gun owners and carriers in a manner that would appear to the public as though they only want gun ownership to be a privilege for those who look, think and act a certain way, can we be surprised that those who are not yet convinced that guns should be a part of everyday life like knives, cars, telephones and kitchenware continue to think that many people push for looser gun laws only for those of a certain portion of society who like to wear their little pieces around to be a showoff? Guns may be showpieces to some, but they have the practical benefit of being a great tool for the protection of innocent life and I believe they should be available to people of all walks of life.

I carry concealed. If I carry OC, it's because I WANT someone to see it!

Which is RARE!

Now PRINTING? yeah, I print like a beeayatch quite a bit these days, and couldn't care less, but unless you're a gunowner, or a cop? You wouldn't know, nor care.

I find that 90% of the world is so preoccupied with their own task a nekkid person could walk by them, and they wouldn't know.

dorminWS wrote:I don't think it is or ought to be about how you dress. Clothes truly do not make the man. It is about your demeanor.

I'm just turning 50, but I can remember the young, dumb, full o' cum kid I used to be not long ago. It is surprising to look back on my behavior, loud music, foul mouth etc., and I was in my 30's. Now I have grown, well brought up children (go figure-had to be their mom) that are respectful of others. And I believe in a great quote that I thought should be for all young men aspiring to make to this ripe old age. It goes like this: "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them." (John Wayne-The Shootist) Words to live by.

P.S. The scary part is I was a police officer for 10 years, and there is no way I'd hire my immature ass then!