The way we look isn't us?

[binini]

In modern day culture looking good is one of the main parts for people, our looks almost determine everything about us from another persons point of view we make split second judgments before vocal or written interaction
if you see a young person dressed in old clothing you immediately believe they arnt modern or fashionable and have little or no status in society and a someone in designer outfits are succeeding.
Have we become so vain, making judgments and stereotypes to people for the way they look be this skin colour, fashion or build.
has the way we look become the most important way of life the way we look has been influenced by someone or a group. Yes we have our own likes but most of the time it has originated from somewhere else.

Extra note there are people who say they rebel ( emo, goth....) but they are simply following a different group of people the only statement they are giving is they they want to move away from mainstreamers but still strive for belonging and love A key human need

[Trey]

It's funny how kids will talk about moving away from mainstream, but they end up trying to look exactly like everyone else.

I think there is nothing wrong with the way we judge. If some homeless dude comes up to me and wants to say hi to my baby, I'll fuckin' drop him. If some some random lady in the mall does it, I won't feel so inclined.

Kids (adults sometimes, too) make their entire life about how they look, but they forget one key thing; what the hell are they saying with their clothes?! If I'm walking down the street and I see some guy wearing a neon green hoodie with purple stripes, skinny jeans, Goku hair, and some yellow ray bans, I'm going to look at him like he's an idiot. He could be a nice guy who's very intelligent, but he looks like a fuckin' idiot!

If I see three large black men who are dressed nicely and are talking to each other as they walk past me on the street, I'm not going to judge them because they look like smart, professional people.

However, if I see three large black men who are dressed like hoodlums with a thug expression on their face, walking like they got shot in the leg, and talking about "fucking that nigga up", they acquire no respect from me. Who knows, maybe they're nice guys. Maybe the "nigga" they're talking about is a video game of some sort. I really don't care. They're dressed like thugs, end of story.

While it's important to be careful with how you judge people, image is just as important. Don't dress like an idiot for the sake of trying to look cool.

[Leo McGinnis]

I generally don't really think much about what I wear.

Usually I'll slap on some jeans, a white t-shirt and an unbuttoned shirt over said t-shirt. Fairly basic attire. I don't really care what I say with my clothes either. For instance, I like to wear sandals. Much more comfy than regular shoes for me. But unless it's summer, it's generally a tad too cold, so I wear socks. That's considered a fashion taboo (socks and sandals, especially when men do it).

Don't give a crap. There was a time, long ago, in high school when I sort of "rebelled" against the mainstream, and there was a time (also in high school) when I tried desperately to fit in with the mainstream. Neither worked out well for me.

People can take me for what I am, and if my sandals 'n socks put them off, too bad. I don't feel like wearing the latest fashion, and I never buy expensive clothes. If someone is going to make up their mind about me on account of my dress without knowing me, then I'm probably not interested in them. This is not to say that I don't keep myself clean and tidy. I shave, I make sure that what I wear is clean. But as for style? Don't care. At all. I'll wear "safe" and "neutral" clothing for things like job interviews and special occasions. Other than that, I've basically been wearing the same type of clothes for a number of years now, and I'll likely be wearing the same style of clothes ten or twenty years from now.

When I look in the mirror, only one thing matters to me: "Do I like what I see?" If yes, I'll wear it. If others like it, good. Always a plus to receive compliments. But I'm not going to fish for them.

I'll be the first to admit that you can only make one first impression. But I'm also the kind of person who always tries to look beyond what I see in others. Sure, you get some occasional bullshit, but I've also met some of the coolest people on earth, some of whom even thought my fashion taboo was cute.

I'm not immune to judgmental thoughts. When I see a:

May 17, 2010 7:00:17 GMT -5 Trey said:

guy wearing a neon green hoodie with purple stripes, skinny jeans, Goku hair, and some yellow ray bans, I'm going to look at him like he's an idiot. He could be a nice guy who's very intelligent, but he looks like a fuckin' idiot!

I'd probably be prone to making the same judgment call, but the instant I feel myself thinking that I immediately put a stop to my train of thought and realize that I really don't care how he dresses, and I'll "retract" my earlier mental statement, if you will.

BTW, Trey, I only used this example because I thought it was funny, not because I'm berating you or anything. I intend no offense.

[RabbitWho]

I don't see how not following fashion means not caring about how you look.. so I can't really vote.

I judged people on how they dressed and what music they listened to when I was a teenager. It was idiotic of me. I'm now completely allergic to the music question, and just wear anything stripy. (stripe-y)

[romanoff]

I care how i look, it's not important to me at all, but i still care. For an example, each morning, i'll wake up, do the usual, and then put on some clothes i think look good, that'll usually be some nice jeans and a t-shirt ( i f'ing love t-shirts ). I'll sometimes even go as "gay" as to look myself in the mirror and think to myself it looks bad and then change to something else. I think it's nice to look good, it gives a boost to your confidence, and I'm a teenage boy so ofcourse, i want to look attractive.
BUT and this is the big but. But when it comes down to it, i couldn't give less of a F***, I would gladly put on a santa suit and go to the beach just for shits'n'giggles. If a mate called me up in the morning asking if him and i should go to school just wearing underwear, then he could count me in. I Once wore a pink fur hat to school for a week ( in 6th grade) because i could. How you look really doesn't matter AT ALL when it all comes together. But it CAN be a big + in many shapes and forms.

I'm also beginning to stop my own thoughts when i look at people. I tend to judge people, often very badly, i can look at someone and go WOW you look like S*** in my head, but that's usually follow by a: hold up, you don't know the person, they might be nice, DON'T JUDGE.

As mentioned, the way you look sends a signal, and i for one, wants to send a positive one, i don't care if i look mainstream or if i look like a hipster or whatnot. It's my look, i bought/got the clothing or whatever because i liked it. But i have a tendency to wear clothes with light colours(black too, but that's to cause contrast). I think it's the same way you look at a cloudy day and go "oh f*** .." and look at a sunny, clear blue sky day and go "ahhh"..

That's my 2 cents.

[Trey]

I saw a girl at the mall today. She was wicked pretty, but she had so much eyeliner and eyeshadow, she looked like a raccoon. I don't know her, but she still looked like a raccoon.

[jokerdevakijinx]

I do tertiary art ad Central Tafe (similar to college). Ohhh the eccentricity #D
there is such a range of fashion when in a house of artists. I'm somewhere in between.

And that guy with the gothic long coat >.< I wants it!
*is taking over all the forum posts by stalking*

[stephen5000]

May 17, 2010 7:00:17 GMT -5 Trey said:

If I'm walking down the street and I see some guy wearing a neon green hoodie with purple stripes, skinny jeans, Goku hair, and some yellow ray bans, I'm going to look at him like he's an idiot. He could be a nice guy who's very intelligent, but he looks like a fuckin' idiot!

You mean he looks fucking awesome!

I tend to think fashionable people look good. (Though MOST people (including me) AREN'T fashionable.) I don't like the idea of judging people based on their appearance, but it is very difficult not to. Although how we individually respond to various style could differ quite a lot (see quote above).

[icarus]

I don't wear the clothes everyone else where, I don't try to look too nice or anything. Trying to look fancy or whatever based on the clothes you wear is just a mask of who you really are.

As other posters have said, many first judgments are made on clothes, and while this is a commonplace practice, it is entirely wrong. Clothes aren't you, they aren't your personality.

[Trey]

How are your retinas doing so far?

[thequirkyduo]

i think that people should dress in whichever way makes them the most comfortable. and if they are most comforted by dressing like every else and following fashion trends, then so be it. but if someone would like to run around in a speed-skating suit and tutu (which i have seen done before btw) then i have no problem with it. i certainly wouldn't dress that way myself, but i also don't think that i have the right to tell people how they should dress and act.