Fantasy genre fans & personal hygiene

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Whenever I go anywhere that has fantasy, gaming, and general Medieval enthusiasts, I always expect at least a few who lacks the concept of person hygiene. Why the hell do they do that? Just how the hell does someone go for days without showering? I can understand that it's a way of rebelling, showing that they just don't care what people think, and that's fine great and wonderful, power to them but c'mon dude, isn't it uncomfortable to stick to yourself and have your hair weigh heavy, and clump up due to grease?

I went to a gaming store over this past weekend and I swear, I must've been one of the maybe 3-4 people there (including the staff) that showers on a regular basis. Just simply walking into the tournament room made my nose hairs singe from the body odors. I just don't understand it. I can't go 2 days without showering and not feel just gross. I don't shower to impress anyone else, I shower because I don't enjoy peeling my arm from my body at my armpits!

I can understand that some do it for the RP factor of the fantasy genre. After all, knights of the Medival age had long, disheveled, battle worn hair, but if you look at say the cast of LotR, even in battle their hair is fairly clean! None of their hair was so damn dirty that it clumped from grease! Even Aragorn's hair when he was in his fiercest battles didn't look like that of a bum's. How is not showering considered RPing a nobleman? Like last night at the movie theater for RotK. One guy in the row in front of me needed to head to the concession or whatever, he chivalrously bowed to the lady who was in his way, and politely said "pardon me, m'lady." Ok that was a bit geeky, but as a RP fan myself, I found it kinda cool...till I noticed that this guy obviously hadn't bathed in at least 2 days, his hair was ratty and greasy, and that's just not how knights look. Dude, pardon your way down the soap aisle, get some soap, and bathe! No lady wants to smell B.O.

[Nenjin]

When you deal with something other than reality on a daily basis....certain aspects of real life tend to suffer. You think Throgdar the Barbarian cares what some cream puff thinks of his MAN SCENT?!?! RRAAAWWWWWRRRRRR. "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable."-John F. Kennedy

[Kaielen]

Hahaha. Nenjin, I had to leave my desk and laugh outside for about five minutes because of that.

Edit: I don't think it's because of the roleplaying, but I do think that it may be due to the fact that RPers are usually introverts by nature (I know I am) and they simply keep their minds busy and probably don't even think about hygeine.

I have played RP games all of my life, but I have also always had this thing for having to bathe or shower 2 times a day or I just feel gross. I even go out of my way in AD&D to pay a couple gold to have a hot bath every chance I get when I'm in a town. Unfortunately...I always seem to get attacked when I'm in the bath, and I have to fight butt naked with my dagger that I took into the bath room with me. Edited by: Kaielen at: 12/17/03 9:27 am

[Dragynphyre]

Don't EVER go to a weekend gaming con then.

Even though there are bathtubs with showers, and the hotel provides clean towels, and free soap in the rooms they are piling 5 guys into, NONE of them will actually USE the bathtub as more than an extra place to sleep or for keeping the beers on ice...

Multiply that by the fact that the salons they hold the gaming events in usually don't have adequate air conditioning for the number of people in each room... (Back In Black)
Delissandra Splitshadow - Marauder of Clan X
Grandmaster Poisoner (250), Master Potter (191), Grandmaster Lush (200)

Edited by: Dragynphyre at: 12/17/03 9:30 am

[Krimzan]

People who don't shower in general piss me off. There is a certain group of people on camus, which will go unnamed, who seem to be consistantly more stinky than the rest of us. Some of them it gets to the disgusting part where, when I worked in foodservice, the managers had to occasionally send them home and say, "Take a shower."

Really, it's just stupid and disgusting.

[Dorla]

OK, I'm gonna admit something here... I used to be one of those stinky gamers, and I'm a girl. I used to be a HUGE gamer... my dad game-tested at TSR and we RP'ed a few nights a week. When we weren't gaming, we were hanging out with the people that we gamed with. I had bad hygiene for a long time... so did most everyone we hung out with, heh. Do I know why? Well, I think a lot of it had to do with how focused I was on things at the time and my priorities... I gamed, I read, breathed and ate fantasy. When I wasn't doing that, I played violin for hours. That was my day! Showering just didn't fit into it. Plus, why shower when you're just going to get stinky again? I remember saying that to my mom many times.... LOL, it sounds so asinine now.... cleanliness was just not a priority back in those days... I was so, so focused on other things, almost to the point of OCD I think.

Around 16-17 I finally broke out of that and started gussying myself up. I shower daily, make sure I smell good and my clothes are clean. I can't imagine not doing that anymore. I think my husband wouldn't be too happy either.

This would be a great research paper for someone, by the way... "Gamers and why they're greasy".

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Quote:You think Throgdar the Barbarian cares what some cream puff thinks of his MAN SCENT?!?!

I'm not asking those guys to smell all pansy ass lavendar, but c'mon, even Throgdar took a dip in the river now and then. People who RP the fantasy genre such as the guy in the movie theater do it to pretend they are the characters on the screen. I'm sorry but like I said, even Aragorn at his nastiest didn't have his hair clumped together by head grease, and speckled with dandruff. That's not RPing, or making a statement, or being introverted that's just nasty.

Ever since I got into the whole gamers scene, I became pretty introverted myself. I in general have started to hate people in general, just want people to leave me alone for the most part, and I only really associated myself with my close circle of friends. I frankly don't care what people think about me. I have plenty of things to keep me busy too, but yet I can still find 10 minutes, yes, 10 minutes out of my day to shower. It's not like showering takes a long time (well it can but it doesn't have to), but sheesh, at least get a wet towel, wipe off your pits and feet and slap some deodorant on. Being introverted and busy isn't really an excuse to not have personal hygiene. And these guys in question, most of them are fairly clean shaven, if not their facial hair are at least kept mildly neat. If they can find time to shave, they can find time to bathe. If they didn't do some sort of shaving, their beards would look rattier than Gimly's, so obviously they have time to do it, they just choose not to, and I guess that's what baffles me. And even some women are like that. Some of those women smell nastier than the men, for obvious and down right gross reasons. I guess I'm just trying to figure out why and at what point in their lives do they feel it's acceptable to banish soap?

DP, that's the very reason why my fiance and I avoid Fan Faires, and cons. I can barely stand walking into a gaming store to pick up a new set of dice without my nose burning. Personally, I think owners of those gaming stores can afford to hang some pine tree shaped car fresheners from the ceiling like fly traps. It's not like people go there for the decor. Edited by: Nyssa Rainwhisper at: 12/17/03 10:03 am

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

I think body odor is something youre going to have to deal with when you deal with RPers. It just comes with the territory.

Comic book geeks are almost as bad. I read indy and small press comics, and let me tell you every time I hit my local shop I want to take a gas mask. My gf wont even go in anymore.

[freonsmurf]

That ain't nuttin!

Imagine the "Ass Chair" at home.

[Gnmish Gearbinder]

That is a stereotype that I loathe.

I am fastidiously clean and orderly, to the point where it could almost be called a complex. Still, I know exactly what you're talking about.

These people are, in my mind, what draws the line from geek to dork. I am a geek, quite happy to be so in fact. I love gaming of all kinds, but I at least know how to bathe and clothe myself.

I feel pity for these people more than anything. I mean they probably hate other people for labeling them as pariahs, when in fact, it's 90% them that makes things this way.

I think at the next gaming convention I go to, I'm going to hand out little Tri-Force shaped soaps at the door. That should get their attention. Then again, they might just save it (I know I would ) and wonder why it's made out of soap. <sigh> gnmish.gearbinder.ring.warden.sullon.zek
'Me? I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest... Honestly.'

[EZ_Diabalein Avidyia]

the cure for your game store stinky blues is candles, cheap ass 4 for a buck dollar store candles.

I used to own a Gameing store and most of my space was tables for play, it started getting really funky in there so I grabbed a few candle holders (I own dozens, dont ask) from home and took them to work. spend 5-10 bucks on candles every month or 3 and just keep a few burning. something about burning wax does amazig things to smells. of course you have to convince the owners that this is a good idea. it looks cool anyway.

[freonsmurf]

We need a Offline tshirt.

Im a gamer and I bathe..or something

[Meddik]

Quote:but if you look at say the cast of LotR, even in battle their hair is fairly clean

Legolas looks like he's doing an endorsement for Herbal Essence Shampoo or something.

[Dragynphyre]

D20's carved from soap

[Gnmish Gearbinder]

That would work great until you held them for a bit, then the sides would start to decrease exponentially until you ended with with a D1 or 2. Edited by: Gnmish Gearbinder at: 12/17/03 11:49 am

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Diabalein, I wouldn't go as far as wishing they'd have candles since that could be construed as being pansy ass ghey, but I think those pine tree looking like car fresheners hung all over the ceiling would do nicely. Most gamers wouldn't care that they look cheezy. As a matter of fact, they'd probably think they're cool.

Quote:That is a stereotype that I loathe.

Well, being someone who is a gamer, I don't think I'd consider it a stereotype. I don't expect a gamer to stink like 3 week old garbage until they walk by and my nose hairs singes like Michael Jackson's hair in a Pepsi commercial.

What they ought to do at gaming cons is what they do at clubs in party centrals like Ibiza. Towards the end, just dump a whole crap load of bubble bath on the crowd, and glitz it up with colorful spot lights with dragon, & wizard shaped celophane over them to display shapes on the walls. That way, those people at least get a shower a year or however many times they attend a gaming con.

[Gnmish Gearbinder]

Quote:Well, being someone who is a gamer, I don't think I'd consider it a stereotype.

You don't, because you are one, but the popular culture does. That's what a stereotype is.

Quote:ster·e·o·type ( P ) (str--tp, stîr-) n.
1. A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

Oversimplified meaning, a not necessesarily accurate blanket statement. The word 'opinion' speaks for itself.

Opinions are like gamers, everyone has one and they all stink...or something like that.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Quote:as·sump·tion - : ARROGANCE, PRETENSION
: an assuming that something is true b : a fact or statement (as a proposition, axiom, postulate, or notion) taken for granted

I'm well aware of the definition of stereotype, thank you, but just because I AM a gamer myself, doesn't mean I can't and don't stereotype what a gamer is. Don't tell me you never stereotype a subculture you belong to.

[Gnmish Gearbinder]

Nyssa, I knew you were going to get fired up over nothing.

For the record, everyone, I was attempting a mere persiflage on the subject. Not trying to offend, which apparently I can achieve without trying.

w00t me!

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Sometimes I wish ezboard has voice command, but I wasn't fired at all. Actually, you got me thinking about just how exactly do I stereotype the gamer subculture.

[Elerion]

Quote:There is a certain group of people on camus, which will go unnamed

[Nocte]

Well, he DID write Caligula.

[Brelkor]

Quote: I think my husband wouldn't be too happy either.

ding ding ding, we have a winnar. Gamers tend not to interract with the opposite sex that much, and in parrallel don't stay very clean. However, give them the hint of having a date and they will be squeaky clean within minutes (unless they are ... well, wierd in a way that goes beond being a gamer). Now when a person evolves from being a gamer, the first thing to change along with higene is sex, or the sudden introduction of unless its one of those lucky people who find romance through gaming .. and we all probably know someone like that and envy them but also hold them in a unique spotlight. Brelkor the Blackhammer, The Masta Back Stabba, retired rogue

"And it's lend me ten pounds, I'll buy you a drink
And mother wake me early in the morning "[i]
[i]

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Whatever happened to taking care of yourself for...yourself? Doesn't it feel gross to stick to yourself? Or have your hair so damn heavy on your head from the grease and clumping that you get headaches? Who the hell cares about what other people think?

[Glip the Gnome]

Nyssa, you said you don't go to gaming cons or Fan Faires -- is this a recent thing or have you never gone?

Because as someone who's been to almost every Fan Faire and has been doing all the big conventions every year for his entire life, I've found the percentage of "stinky" gamers to be pretty darn small.

Just as small as the percentage of non-gamer population who doesn't shower, I'd wager.

Yeah, you get a few of them here and there but you get a few of them anywhere else too.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

I've never gone, Glip.

Unlike most people here, I wasn't into gaming until about 4 years ago when my fiance introduced me to it. I've just never really thought about going to a gaming con to be a must do thing, but when I saw ff pics here, I thought about going, so I brought it up with my fiance and asked him to go with me a few times. Of course, he said no. He's been to them before and A: he's never liked the crowds (typical introverted gamer) B: he's not fond of the funk, C: and while he's an avid gamer and huge comic book fan, he was never into the overly flamboyant crowds who dressed up for events like that. As a result, I just never forced the issue on him even though he said he would go with me if I really wanted to. I'm sure it's fun and all, but it's just not one of those things that I "must do" before I die. It's not the "stinky" crowd that's keeping me away from going to one (although it is a big deterent) but I don't know...it's just never really been that important to me. Maybe if I grew up being fascinated with it and attending them all my life like you, it'd be different.

[DarthEnderX]

I'll be honest, I've done this, but only when I'm not going out anywhere for a couple days.

Anytime I plan to go out, I make sure I've showered that day.

[EZ_nekoken]

When I can go in a comic store and smell worse body odor than down on 1st Ave by the needle exchange, that is a problem. It is to the point where I'm about ready to start ordering my comics online so I don't have to deal with the dredges of humanity that infest the shop I've been frequenting for the last eight years.

Anyone who knows me will readily agree that I live well outside of the bounds of normal reality. Interestingly enough though I manage to bathe daily. Not only is this from a desire not to offend others but from a sense of personal pride. I'm vain. Stinking like a dirty otaku is one of the last things I want to do.

Narsse Nekoken

[EZ_Kinare]

/agree with Nyssa on reason why I have never been to a con.

Quote: ... Michael Jackson's hair in a Pepsi commercial.

My god, how many people here do you think really know what you mean? =p It's scary that kids are growing up with scary Michael. Edited by: Kinare at: 12/19/03 7:02 am

[EZ_Northerner]

Oh, I remember

That as an aside, it's really a pretty accurate stereotype of not just gaming geeks but computer geeks as well. Hell, I am a full fledged computer geek and am quite capable (or frequently guilty of) having conversations with collegues/friends that are not meant to be followed by anyone else in earshot. I also worked my way through school as a bartender in some pretty trendy places though and I've always been a fairly functional member of society.

Hell, I bathe and shave daily if not more often and even make some effort to see if my tie/shirt/pants/shoes/whatever happen to make some sort of coordinated sense (or at least try and judge the reactions of those around me to see if I am FUBARing things). I actually enjoy dressing nicely for appropriate situations and I'll be damned if I can't find half an hour a day to do general upkeep on things.

I do know a heck of a lot of people though that think the majority of our socially sanctioned hygene requirements are not worth their attention. I think it comes from the whole rejection of societal norms combined with a feeling that they aren't going to get laid anyways, so why bother. I draw the line at odour though. Ya want to wear Dockers and a company XXX or Linux T-shirt everyday? Hey man, go for it. Still, if you smell like you have not seen a bath or shower in the last month I'll pretty much tell you so. Celeris Tujimson
Maurading Deceiver of The Nameless

"Obviously crime pays, or there'd be no crime."
G. Gordon Liddy"

[Dragynphyre]

Yeah, I've been associated with geeks for years, and if they stink, I tell them so - usually loudly enough that they get embarrassed enough not to ignore me.

[EZ_Jassy of Povar]

Well... I once went 7 weeks without a shower. But of course, that's because I was deployed during Desert Storm and continually on the move with the Division Surgeon's Office attached to the 2nd Marine Corps Division. Bitch Baths just didn't seem to do it. Sweat, Sand, ugh...... I really felt sorry for the WM's that were in the Division. They went/were close to two monthly cycles without showers. "I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'" -- JFK

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

As an offshoot of this rant, Id like to vent some feelings about how gamers dress.

Its just f*cking painful. Dark black jeans, hiking/ tennis shoes, a Nike/ geek cultural ref shirt, and a trenchcoat/ windbreaker does not an outfit make, folks. There are a thousand ways to dress, but only gamers can f*ck it up so bad.

Buy a pair of nice jeans, a button up shirt (dont you dare tuck that motherf*cker in, dumbass), some black Kenneth Coles (matching belt), and a good cord jacket. Its freaking easy, but if you still have trouble getting out of your patterned cowboy hat, threadbare polos, or Batman teeshirts, head to Nordstroms and ask a clerk to pick some stuff out for you. Seriously.

Rant off. Thank you for your time.

[Kaielen]

White or black undershirt (depending on mood and if I'm out of bleach) button up overshirt halfway buttoned and untucked, a pair of Levi's 501 blues, and a pair of Vans with ankle high socks and a black Levi's belt.

Anyone who doesn't like it can kiss my $50.00 outfitted butt.

[EZ_Swipey]

Gee, and I dressed in tennis shoes, black pants, and t-shirts back when I was a more active gamer because I was flippin' poor. What a f*cking crime it is to be a poor student, who doesnt want to spend what little disposable income he has on being a clotheshorse.



What Ten thinks everyone should wear :
(From the Kenneth Cole site, all items on sale)

Kenneth Cole shoes : $100
Kenneth Cole belt :$30
"Nice" jeans : $60
"Good" Cord Jacket : $100
Button up shirt : $40

Total : $330

Note also that, in order to prevent these clothes from becoming "threadbare" they will have to be replaced frequently.


What Ten complains about gamers wearing :
(From JC Penny Site, most items regular price)

Cheap tennis shoes (Converse high tops) : $40
Cheap belt : $13
Non-premium jeans (Lee) : $20
Wind Breaker : $25
T-Shirt : $10

Total : $103

And note that, since threadbareness is not a concern, these clothes will last a lot longer.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

I'm a female and even *I* don't care that damn much about designer duds, let alone a male.

I wear business casual attire to go to my office job on weekdays. Ya know, collared, buttons, etc... I don't care to dress like a page out of Vogue or GQ on my days off because I WANT to let my hair down and be comfortable so frankly, my $7.99 on sale t-shirts from Target will do just fine. Those several pair of Levis that I've had for maybe 3 years? They're still in 1 piece, no holes, and washed regularly so they'll do me just fine as well. I'll also stick to my nice warm and comfy down jacket that I've had for about 5 years, even though it has small holes in it from a run in with some skis because it's classic, does its job well, and I have it dry cleaned at least once every season.

I don't shop at Nordstroms, Dillards, Neiman Marcus, or any other over priced store to get the same exact thing I can get at Walmart or Target for a fraction of the price. I'd much rather wear a shirt from Target that says "Merona" than one from Nordstroms that says "Kenneth Cole" and spend the extra cash on a brand new bag of dice.

I like wearing t-shirts jeans because they are comfortable, and that's what I'm about when I don't have to abide by a dress code, but I will say that I do bathe daily, and I do huge loads of laundry on a weekly basis. Oh yeah, I can dress to kill for a company Christmas party or weddings. You know, cocktail dress, sheer hoisery, a nice pair of heels, and some bling to match. My fiance who is also a gamer who loves his cheapy t-shirts can dress to kill as well. Suit, dress shoes, nice dress shirt, and a tie to match my dress. No his belt and shoes don't match but I dare anyone to come up to him to check and not walk away with some badly bruised nipples. We just choose not to do that on our days off when we want to relax and just be us. Everyone has a different style, for different occasions. Going to a gaming store isn't a fashion show. Bathing and showering isn't about impressing anyone, but it's about taking care of yourself for YOU.

Really, who the hell cares what brand your clothes or even style are as long as they're clean? I dare you to come up to me to check the brand of my clothing and not walk away with a ruptured scrotum. Edited by: Nyssa Rainwhisper at: 12/18/03 8:35 pm

[Ponzi]

Well, at last year's Vegas fan faire, I don't remember being offended by anyone's body odor. Nor can I remember any of it at the two E3s and several magic card tournaments I've gone to.

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

First, Kenneth Cole is more an example of a brand that works, its not scribed in stone. Nordstroms is an example of a store where the clerks have some sense, its not the Mecca of fashion.

Second, I dont see the difference between complaining that gamers smell and complaining that gamers dress like... well, gamers. I cant think of a good analogy.

Third, Ive been dressing myself on my own dime since my first year of college, and not for too much. Sure I occasionally buy something from a store, for full price, and I pay for it by not buying anything unnecessary for awhile. Im as poor as the next guy, but I just buy my clothes on the internet and from thrift stores.

Fourth, while theres no accounting for taste, Id still make fun of you if I took a mind to ^_^

[notwen]

I sympathize with you. It's not nearly as bad at comic cons as it used to be, but I remember one year I went to Mid-Ohio Con in Columbus and when they put the tyvek wristbands on us at admission we were told "and yes you can take a shower with it on and it won't hurt it, so don't let that discourage you."

Our response was stunned silence. As we waited there a few minutes for some friends about 20 people in line behind us, we discovered that they were telling everyone this when they registered. It kind of made me relieved as I typicly am VERY clean, and twice as much at conventions for fear of falling into that stereotype.

[EZ_Pedric Cuf]

"Second, I dont see the difference between complaining that gamers smell and complaining that gamers dress like... well, gamers."

I pity you.

I've been staying out of this thread, but I've been guilty of this kind of thing before. And trust me, it's not so much a concious rejection of society's values as just not being in a habit of doing it. You DON'T feel dirty if you don't take a shower a day. You just honestly don't care about it and rarely if ever think about it.

Now, I'm still not the posterboy for Irish Spring, but I've been cleaning myself much better, lately. I still don't feel the need for it and I honestly think that people are too anal about it. I understand the need to be clean, but if you tell someone you don't take a shower every day, even if you haven't even left the house that day, they look at you funny. Even when they never could tell unless you told them. Unfortunately for me, my hair is greasy even when I step out of the shower. Romanian blood.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

I like feeling comfortable in a pair of jeans and t-shirt. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that so long as the clothes are clean I used to spend my time shopping at the Gap, Banana Republic, Macy's, and etc for my clothes, but I grew out of that after high school, and yes, shopping at Walmart and Target for my clothes saved me bundle and lasts me twice as long. Frankly, metro sexual dressers don't impress me. I actually laugh at them for over spending on their clothes just to look a tad on the gay side. I much prefer a guy who is just fine tossing on a pair of clean jeans and t-shirt. That shows me that he's cool, laid back, relaxed, and knows how to have fun. Guys who insists on their belts matching their shoes, and wear button down shirts even on weekends have proven to me in the past that they're tight a$$es that gets all anal and upset should a spot get on their Hugo Boss shirt from their venti latte from Starbucks. I'm high maintenance enough, I don't need a guy like that. I want a guy I can take a roll in the mud with, and jump in puddles with in the rain without out having to worry about his Kenneth Coles. When I used to hit the clubs when I was single, the guys who got my attention were the ones who didn't have anything to prove by dressing flashy in dress shirts and slacks. Those got my "giving you a fake number and having you call me on it is much easier in getting rid of you than telling you, "no."' Those guys usually can't even dance in their clothes, much less have fun. Those who were in clean, nicely put together t-shirt and jeans (shirt tucked in his pants usually) got my real number.

I dated a guy back in high school aptly nicknamed "Mr GQ." He was the most attractive guy I've ever dated in my life, and I used to think, oh wow a man who can take care of himself, but every time we went out, he drove me bat sh*ts with how anal he was about making sure his clothes looked right all the damn time. He looked great, he made a great arm ornament, but that's all he was good for. I'm much more at ease and have more fun with my t-shirt and jeans guy right now.

I'm not saying all women are like me, some women like the flashy type. Just not the real ones you can have fun with. All that matters to me (as far as this specific topic is concerned) is that he hits the shower before rollin' with me in bed. Edited by: Nyssa Rainwhisper at: 12/19/03 7:20 am

[Kaielen]

Damn, Nyssa, you got any single friends?

I go to the club dressed in the "I don't give a fig" style and usually get shot down at least 3 times before I give up and get drunk.

[EZ_Swipey]

"Ive been dressing myself on my own dime since my first year of college, and not for too much. Sure I occasionally buy something from a store, for full price, and I pay for it by not buying anything unnecessary for awhile. Im as poor as the next guy, but I just buy my clothes on the internet and from thrift stores."


Ok, so your hobbies that you're willing to spend your time and money on are clothes and shopping. Good for you. Calling other people "dumbass" because their hobbies arent the same as yours seems pretty stuck up/arrogant/snotty.


I worked with a guy in college who made the same money as me, but had a much nicer wardrobe. He was constantly bad mouthing people (including his "friends" when they were out of earshot) as poor dressers with no sense of style who were too stupid to find good deals on nice clothes. When his friends were in earshot, though, he was always bumming things off of them (like food, a couch to sleep on for a week, rides (if they had cars) or bus fare (if they didnt)) But, as I said, he had nice clothes. I guess that makes him a superior f*cking human being in your eyes, eh?

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

Look, wearing bad clothes doesnt make anyone less of a person in my eyes.

But since Im arguing with people who are defending bad taste, Im gonna give up. I just want to reiterate that you can dress well with a small budget (or almost no budget), its just up to the person how they want to go about it.

[EZ_Swipey]

No, but not being into shopping for clothing/wearing it in the TE approved manner does make them a "dumbass" in your estimation.

And, time, like money, is a limited commodity. Spending your time ransacking second hand stores in order to find the cheap used clothing gems leaves one less time to do other things.

I'm not defending bad taste so much as attacking arrogant snobbery.

[Kaielen]

Taste is all in a person's opinion.

Personally, when I see a guy wearing shiny dress shoes and anything other than jeans or a pair of well-worn khakis in the club, I always want to beat the crap out of him.

There is a time to dress up, and time to clean up, and a time to cut loose. I have an AD&D game tonight, and I'll be damned if I sit with a constricted sack just because dress pants are more "classy".

Also, personally, I think women in a nice tight pair of jeans and a nice t-shirt are incredibly attractive. If that means I have bad taste, then more power to the Al Bundys of the world.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Quote:Look, wearing bad clothes doesnt make anyone less of a person in my eyes.

Who are you to judge what's bad clothing and what isn't? Since when did you become the fashion eye for the gaming guy? T-shirts are classic articles of clothing and so are jeans. Clothes are a personal taste and personal style. What looks fabulous to you sucks to another.

I can spend $50 on a t-shirt that says Sean John, or I can spend $30 on a pair of Bass leather shoes. Money has little to do with it.

Quote:I go to the club dressed in the "I don't give a fig" style and usually get shot down at least 3 times before I give up and get drunk.

If you're gonna pick up chicks, do at least try to look neat though. Tucking your shirt in, even if it's a t-shirt helps. I'm after cleanliness, and an attempt to care for oneself. I like guys who knows how to have fun and can have fun without worrying about losing a button no their dress shirt while they're boogying on the dance floor. Most women don't usually like men who looks like they spend more time in the bathroom than they do. Pick up any issue of Cosmo, it'll tell ya the same thing.

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

Look Swipe, you can get as self righteous as you want with me, but Im not a snob. Im just venting about how these gamers are 'treating themselves'. If they dont want to look good, then more power to them. If you think the time you could spend in a thrift store or on the internet shopping for clothes would be better spent in Sears shopping for clothes, more power to you.

My gf runs a small label called Abhor. I spend a great deal of my time designing graphics for the shirts. I deal with a lot of people in the fashion industry, and they all agree that it doesnt come down to how much money you have or what labels you wear, its whether or not you have the sense to put together an outfit. Thats all there is to it.

[Kaielen]

Hmm...I'm guessing the "Don't Sweat the Petty, Pet the Sweaty" t-shirt is out then? Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of the "dirty kids" but I'm certainly not James Bond either.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Small world indeed, Ten. My mother has over 30 years of experience in the fashion industry in places from Hong Kong to NYC in various positions ranging from seamstress to designer. As a matter of fact, she designed and made every single suit I've worn to interviews, made 3 of my school dance dresses, and will be working on my wedding dress, all of which are obviously under the stereotypical budget of attire in its rank. I myself have worked for her in the fashion industry for a few years during high school ranging from sports wear, business attire, to formal wear. Yet, I still feel my best in t-shirt and jeans, and even SHE usually wears a comfy shirt, and jeans. None of our belts and shoes match either btw, and no she's not a gamer.

[Koru]

I wear what I want when I want how I want. If someone has a consistent problem with it I recommend anti-anxiety medication for the obsessive streak. Works wonders, and I know that from personal experience and am not afraid to admit it. I wear the stuff I wear because it's comfy and because I like it. And really, that is the most important thing to me, not whether it meets other people's approval but whether it meets my approval. After all, I'm the one who has to pay for it and wear it so why the hell dress for other people? (unless they're like reallly personally important to you and it's a special occasion - although no power on this earth can get me into a dress of any kind) Plus a lot of female clothing seems designed for looks and discomfort. I'm no lady and I hate discomfort, so @#%$ that idea up the ass.

I'd rather get a "hey, cool tshirt" from a geek than a "Love your blouse, is that a ?" from a snasy dresser. I am a geek, I take pride in it and I am consistently geeky. I mean for @#%$'s sake, I wear my 'lucky moo socks' on special occasions. But geeky doesn't automatically mean horrible taste. Some things are simply absolute no-nos, like orange or yellow with black. Bumblebee is a very hard color scheme to make work nicely, best to avoid it altogether. [i]

[Meddik]

Quote:so @#%$ that idea up the ass

I knew we'd get the "do her in the pooper" comment in this thread somewhere.

[EZ_Evilmagus]

Lets get this pony back on track...we're not talking about clothes here people, we're talking about gamers....fat sweaty, shower-and-brush-your-teeth-only-on-New-Year's gamers. Coincidentally we're in luck since New Year's is right around the corner.

~Evil

[Kaielen]

Hey!

Who are you calling fat!?

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

I don't sweat, I glow and glisten.

[Yalum]

I enjoy looking like a slob, it really stuns people when you lay out serious cash. I settled a veterinary bill earlier this week, and the woman looked like she half expected me to have to call my parents for a loan. She was absolutely floored when I handed her a business card to call me after the surgery.

One of the few bright spots from that day, and come to think of it I was wearing shorts for Nordstrom at the time. They have a deal with Amazon, you know.

[Dragynphyre]

Oh, that reminds me of the time that I was looking at expensive watches while wearing a cut-off college sweatshirt and sweatpants... the salesperson hardly gave me the time of day (no pun intended), so I walked out without buying the watch I wanted.

I suppose I should have called her manager over and let them know that she just lost a sale due to her ignoring me and attending to customers who walked up after me, based on the fact that they were better dressed.

[Lenilya]

<-- Kmart jeans, Payless shoes, standard anime/gaming Tshirt.

I'm unfashonable!!!!!! Lenilya Venomcraft - Deciever
Ohall Rapeseed - Templar
<Clan Autumnwood>

[EZ_Pedric Cuf]

I'm a step below most gamers dress wise. I don't even wear jeans and a gaming/anime/curious george/Star Wars/whatever T-shirt. I wear sweatpants and the said T-shirt. Like Koru, I dress for comfort. I wear what feels good and what I don't mind going out in public wearing.

I shop at Kohls and Target and the brands on my clothes wouldn't be recognized by anyone, especially me.

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

Hey, I rock the Icelandic tee. Theres nothing wrong with a teeshirt like that, as long as its not... yknow, DBZ or The Punisher.

[notwen]

I'm confused about how this strayed from being dirty and practicing poor hygene and went into "dressing well."

[EZ_minoltasrt101b]

First of all, I spent a lot of money on clothes (more than I'm comfortable admitting). My wardrobe still runs mostly towards the tshirt and jeans end of the spectrum. I just wear really expensive outerwear and accessories. And button up shirts are lazy, ugly and boring. If you're going to criticize people for not knowing how to dress, you should really recommend better than a_random_hipster outfit. If you want to dress well, you should at least buy a miu miu shearling jacket, I mean, everyone is wearing them. (<- note sarcasm).

Anyways, poor hygeine is by no means gamer specific. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people, removed from considerations like the comfort of those forced to interact with them and the approval of those who get close enough to smell them, are more than happy to stop purchasing soap altogether. There are perhaps a few who would remain relatively clean even if the closest they came to a fellow human being was 500 kms, but as Pedric notes, you get used to not being clean shockingly quickly, and laziness always wins.

Good hygeine, therefore, is a result of a far reaching social covenant. People who are regularly put in close contact with adherents of the covenant tend to become adherents themselves. To do otherwise would invite the collapse of the system, and expose them to legions of foul smelling dirt mongers. If you don't maintain a minimum level of cleanliness, others might let their own standards slip. I mean, if you're not the worst smelling person in the room, there's little incentive to improve your standing. The stinkiest is going to take the blame anyways. If you're not regularly in contact with other people who value their hygeine, there's no pressure to value your own.

(This, paradoxically, is why large groupings of people, something you'd expect to enhance the power of the covenant, sometimes works to undermine it. If you're not the guy who hasn't showered in 16 days and has worn the same shirt to class 23 consecutive times, you're not going to get much notice, even if you smell like a wet alsatian. Large groupings, unfortunately, tend to include those sociopaths who have given up on what others think. A noble, if misguided, ethos).

[EZ_Swipey]

TE decided to attack gamers for not living up to his fashion expectations (a matter of taste) rather than attacking them for not showering more than once a month (a matter of hygene)

[Aidden]

Len is lieing.. He only wears dungarees and P Coats.. Even on leave!!

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

Cleanliness and fashion are two relative things.

And yes, I do own a Prada jacket. Plus, two Diesel Style Labs, D&G underwear, at least fifteen pairs of Diesel jeans, Ben Shermans, Paul Frank, G-Star, Gucci watch, and at one Armani suit. My teeshirts go from Pleasure Principle and Yoko Devaroux down to thirft store. All the expensive stuff was bought off the internet of course, but dont think I want to see everyone in just hipster sh*t, Mino. I just want to help these gamers get laid

[Kaielen]

I'd prefer to search 4 times as long to find a woman who digs me when I'm in my gamer clothes, than have to settle for a chick who goes for a guy because he's wearing clothes with a certain name on them.

I have a friend who gets women like that, and I'll pass on dating jizz dumpsters, thanks.

[EZ_minoltasrt101b]

So you buy overpriced, ill fitting sweatshop junk with flashy labels rather than decent clothing? Aces. That's not hipsterish at all.

Dressing well isn't about labels or designers or price, it's about taste and the ability to recognize how to accentuate your good features and nullify your bad. All the Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Armani in the world can't make you look good if you buy it blind from a catalogue. And Diesel jeans don't look good on anyone. You can't look good just by buying the right labels. You have to buy the right clothes, and in the right combinations. That's why saying 'dude, go to Neiman Marcus and get ________' is assinine.

If you want to dress well, find someone who dresses well, and ask them to take you shopping. And listen to what they say.

[Glip the Gnome]

Quote:Prada jacket. Plus, two Diesel Style Labs, D&G underwear, at least fifteen pairs of Diesel jeans, Ben Shermans, Paul Frank, G-Star, Gucci watch, and at one Armani suit

I've heard of exactly three of those things.

Standard Glip wear:

- pair of jeans I've had for a few years, no idea who made them
- pair of sneakers I got for 20 bucks that I've had for 3 years
- Safehouse T-shirt
- Sigil jacket


One thing stands out to me, and that is that you have no Safehouse gear -- and I do. Clearly the style crown belongs to me!

[EZ_Swipey]

I think I have t-shirts older than Glip....

[EZ_Grinkle]

Quote:I have a friend who gets women like that, and I'll pass on dating jizz dumpsters, thanks.

I take from the above that any woman who has aspirations for a man with what she might consider a more refined sense of style than she feels you possess is, in your view, undoubtedly a woman of undisciplined sexual behavior?

oh boy

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

So you do realize that Miu Miu is a Prada label, right? It isnt about overpriced label junk, its about what looks good on me (or anyone). I happen to love Diesel jeans (and look good in Fankers and X-Rotucks), so I buy them. You like whatever looks good on you, so you buy it. Thats the way it works with everyone.

I own a bunch of overpriced, snotty stuff... but that doesnt mean that would work for everyone. My point is, not many people dig people who smell like gym socks, and the same goes for people who look like they just rolled out from under a park bench. No woman I know would be able to 'look past' a pair of sweatpants, an all your base teeshirt, and a pair of Reeboks. Its obscene, sometimes. Not saying they all dress like that, but you know what I mean.

[Meddik]

About 75% of my clothing is from Kohl's, primarily their in-house labels, bought after they go on clearance. Another 10-15% is Walmart, and the rest is just random from all over.

And it works just fine with me, without a brand name label in sight. Am I a fashion model? No. Don't feel like wasting the time and money to be one either. I have more important things to do with my life.

[EZ_minoltasrt101b]

Quote:(<- note sarcasm)

(<- note sarcasm)

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

Must not have read that. Yap, yap, yap, anyway.

[Kaielen]

Any woman that dates my friend because of his clothes is a jizz dumpster, yes.

Wait...but I correct myself.

Any woman that dates my friend is a jizz dumpster.

Much better.

[EZ_Peebs]

If you stink, I don't want to be around you. I really don't care what clothes you wear as long as they fit you correctly (I'm not interested in your plumber's crack, really).

Still, I don't really care if people get used to being unclean or whatever, the fact is that if you stink I won't want to be around you (and many other people too). I'm no snob, but if I gag everytime I'm downwind of you I won't enjoy being anywhere near you. It doesn't take much to shower daily, and showering can be a very nice thing in and of itself.

Besides, good personal hygiene is healthy. The benefits (healthy, not repulsive to be around, lookin' good) far outweigh the cons (lose some time every day) in my opinion.


Oh and watch your breath for goodness sakes. This isn't a gamer specific thing, this is a general populace thing. It's hard to enjoy being around somebody whose breath smells like they just ate a @#%$ sandwich.

[Greldek]

I went to GameStop yesterday, to look around while my sister went to some store right next to it, to buy good smelling lotions and shampoo and what not. And gamestop had a definate funk, that was different than all the other stores in the mall, 'cept the arcade. The GameStop wasn't horrible, just alot different than the other stores. The arcade @#%$ sucked, but I'm guessing it's because in addition to gamer funk, you have gamer funk + sweaty gamer funk from the DDR machine...

[EZ_slyfingerreborn]

I had to move (not throw away mind you) 4 Pepsi cans to read this tonight.

Is this sterotypical? ______________________
Never Fear Sly is he.....LOADING, PLEASE WAIT...

[Nocte]

I know more married men that wear sweatpants and t-shirts than I know single diesel-jeans-wearing men that go home alone every night and fap away.

Hygeine is one thing, but pretentious prickery in the fashion department is usually scoffed at by most women I know. Edited by: Nocte at: 12/23/03 7:17 am

[EZ_Peebs]

Bah, once you're married the rules change.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Quote:Bah, once you're married the rules change.

And men wonder why the sex stops after marriage...

[EZ_Matheren]

Quote:And men wonder why the sex stops after marriage...

no no, we know. it's cause the women are too busy in the kitchen fixing our meals!

#$^& bring me a beer! Edited by: Matheren at: 12/23/03 8:27 pm

[EZ_AsturiasAurora]

I'm certainly not "hip" in casual, everyday wear. A pair of slacks, or occasionally jeans, some button up shirt or pullover and a pair of comfortable shoes. Now my DJ nights at the industiral clubs are a tiny bit different; You kindof need to stand out a bit there at the clubs. Usually that only means I put some sort of blatant off-the-wall color on my body somewhere and just stick with the usual black motif I always wear, cept a bit more hairspray to tease the hair up. Fashion is a state of mind, not a lifestyle. I look better, I feel better.

No matter what I wear or when I wear it, I MUST be clean I won't ever leave the house unless I'm clean bodily-wise and wearing clean clothes. My only excuse for not showering at least once a day is if I'm stuck out in the styx recovering from a 3 day hangover/relapse drug binge.....but I won't go into that....some of you are too young~

In one of my past jobs, I was in charge of hiring and firing the representatives at a seasonal-based customer service call center; usually dealing with 300-600 employees over a year's time. Now I can tell you, in that time, I have had to "let go" more than one person for bad hygiene. Mind you, we were only a telephone call center, and no actual customer person-to-person contact, but there's something to be said about distraction to the fellow employees you're near with your bad funk~

I don't just limit bad hygiene to Gamers. Quite honestly, my old gaming crowd I used to hang with, doing D&D, LARPs, etc. were all VERY clean folks, except for the same occasions we would stray under other pretenses (see second paragraph above )

Oh, and on a side note, maybe I'm just starting to get old, but I have heard of absolutely NONE of those brand names that have been mentioned. lol
Click the pic for my Magelo

[Meddik]

Quote:And men wonder why the sex stops after marriage...

Like hell it does.

Lets put it this way, If what they say about a woman peaking around 35 is true, I'm gonna be dead in the next few years.

[EZ_Jassy of Povar]

^
^
^


Quote:I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy. -- JFK

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Quote:no no, we know. it's cause the women are too busy in the kitchen fixing our meals!

If you think a high school tweaker spitting in your food is bad, you haven't seen a woman pissed because you think this way. Although if you think this way, chances are you're single, and fapping your nights away...

Meddik please stop. Thinking about your wife (or any other fellow geek's wives) is like thinking about Glip's librarian...

[EZ_Matheren]

Quote:If you think a high school tweaker spitting in your food is bad, you haven't seen a woman pissed because you think this way. Although if you think this way, chances are you're single, and fapping your nights away...

no, I've seen plenty pissed because of it. that's usually why it's said, actually. on the other hand, I know plenty of women who make the joke themselves, so apparently they can handle silly stereotypes like that.

but I figure it's a fair tradeup to the "sex stops at marriage" myth

[EZ_Tweil]

Sex doesn't really stop after marriage...it's when you start getting lttle ones around that cuts down on good quality time. I know once we had our first she was once and a while referred to as the little cockblocker =) (in a very joking manner). It seems my wife only wants luvin when she wants to get pregnant (which she is for a second time now).

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

Quote: It seems my wife only wants luvin when she wants to get pregnant

Ouch, dude. Id try to work that out.

[EZ_Tweil]

Of course that's not how it actually is...just how it seems to me ;-)

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

Oh, hehe... I thought you were serious. Ahhh well, get it where you can ^_^

[EZ_Jedana]

As a mother of 3 (gasp! 14, 10 and 3 months), and the wife of a gamer (me EQ; him: a Triad guy for the Las Vegas region), I can tell you that I just don't have the energy for sex. Once a week or so, yep, no stopping me..but on a regular basis, forget it. Luckily, it's just a phase, and in a few months we'll be back to normal. I have a very understanding husband (who can count the number of times in the past year on 10 fingers that he has been made happy...bad pregnancy). I stay at home and cook and clean now...but if he EVER seriously told me to get in the kitchen and cook....he'd be wearing a frying pan upside his head! (sometimes he pops up with a Cartman voice saying 'get in the kitchen and make me some pie!')

As far as gamer funk, some of his buddies crash at our house once a month (when they come up from AZ to game) and I have never had to drop a bar of soap on their sleeping faces. The whole gamer funk image is caused by a few who do fit the profile; they just happen to be the ones near the cameras whenever pictures are taken....

Oh, and if that women peaking at 35 comment is true, I'll be looking for a pool boy in the next couple of years.....anyone want to apply?
Remember... Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.

[EZ_SincroFashad]

As an alternative method to getting funky smelling gamers to bathing, you could always go the other way and destroy your sense of smell. Take up smoking, and in a few years you really won't be able to tell if the person next to you had a shower this week.

-Sinc

[Dragynphyre]

10 years of smoking has never desensitized my nose to the point where B.O. hasn't bothered me.

Though, I might be able to deal with B.O. over strong smelling or heavy cologne, due to the fact that the cologne gives me sinus problems.

Next con tho, I'll be rounding up all those guys and gals that think they don't need to take a shower break at some point during their 24 hour gaming sessions, getting my strong-armed friends to dump them in the hotel pool, and with a few squirts of dishwashing liquid, make them all take their yearly bath.

[EZ_Tweil]

Quote:Oh, and if that women peaking at 35 comment is true,

That's just a lie to make men look forward to getting older

[Dragynphyre]

Quote:That's just a lie to make men look forward to getting older

Well, maybe not so much looking forward to themselves getting older, but to ignore the fact that at 35 women are starting to get a few wrinkles, a few grey hairs, and maybe a little bit extra on the hips...

But remember that the human animal is still geared towards furthering the species... and the 30's are prime childbearing years.

[EZ_Tweil]

True enough. I know my mother had my baby sister when she was 37...16 years difference between her and I. It's quite cute to see a little 7 year old as an aunt to my daughter.

I still am under the believe that women don't have a sex drive, it's just an act to get you married and her pregnant

[Yalum]

Fifteen is a prime childbearing year, by the 30s you should already be dead. There's a reason our teeth don't last that long without remarkable care.

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Quote:I still am under the believe that women don't have a sex drive, it's just an act to get you married and her pregnant

It's part of nature's desire to breed. Quite similar to men who really enjoy sleeping around, or dogs who like to hump people's legs.