Brand X

[vovat]

First of all, happy birthday to Andy Partridge, formerly of XTC. I believe he's 55 today.

And now, I think it's time for a list of things I have some trouble understanding.

1. Fashion. Not the "hey, this outfit looks good" kind of fashion, but the kind where people are obsessed with brand names. I guess that, as a straight male, I'm not really supposed to get it, but, like, what's the point of buying a Coach bag? Does having the letter C all over it really make it better quality? And what's with the faded-looking T-shirts with store names on them? Also, why do we drive on a parkway and...no, wait, that's something else.

2. Cheerleading. I mean, it's not that I can't see the appeal of scantily clad women jumping around (straight male, remember?), but people take it WAY too seriously. I mean, cheerleading competitions? Sure, it takes talent, but it's a show, not a sport. Not to mention that I associate cheerleading with bitchy emaciated girls.

3. Sports. I've mentioned this before, and I have to say that, although I don't like them, I have an idea as to how people can get caught up in the excitement. I have no idea how people can talk so much about the results of sporting events, but in all fairness, they probably don't see how I can talk so much about Super Mario Bros. and Oz books. I guess that, while my chosen means of escaping from reality involves the realm of the fantastic, theirs involves guys running around and throwing things.

4. Enforced gender differences at fast food restaurants. Okay, I don't know that this is common, but I overhead the worker at the McDonald's drive-thru asking whether someone wanted a "boy or girl" Happy Meal. Why not just ask which product they prefer, instead of trying to reinforce the stereotypes?

Comments

[colleenanne.livejournal.com]

I think cheerleading IS a sport.. those girls are risking their necks (literally) with their gymnastic feats and pyramids. It is a lot of hard work and practice. And I, too, am a former marching band geek (clarinet section leader. WHoo hoo!)

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I think cheerleading IS a sport.. those girls are risking their necks (literally) with their gymnastic feats and pyramids. It is a lot of hard work and practice.

But I don't know that its being dangerous and taking hard work makes it a sport. I mean, construction is dangerous and hard, but I don't think anyone calls that a sport. {g}

[colleenanne.livejournal.com]

There are elements that can be judged. It's just as much a sport as figure skating.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

My sister was in the clarinet section, then went on to be dum major for two years. (I was in choir and show choir, as is my daughter.) Yay, music geeks!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I remember someone at my college mentioning that he didn't really care for marching band, because it was more about playing loudly than doing anything musically interesting. I guess I can see his point.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

I always thought the marching band was more multi-talented than most other musicians, because they have to hold a tune while marching in step. It's like my daughter singing and dancing at the same time in show choir -- I haven't a clue how that group can do it without crashing into each other.