Alternative lifestyles
Discussion
Why is it wherever I go there seems to be a pushing of the boundaries of acceptability?
In the past week I have seen so many people with eyebrow rings that that is becoming normal, earrings like sail eyelets are going the same way, back tattoos also the same way, and three piercings per ear now seems to be the norm for girls.
In addition to this at my local Borders on Sunday as I went to browse through Autocar a lesbian couple started groping and generally making out in the middle of the store. Neither were beauty pageant contenders. :vomit:
On the television there is the constant blending of genders, talk of 'man bags', men with make up, plastic surgery, I see Beckham has worn skirts etc?
So anyway this has got me wondering - am I representing the bulk of the population or an ultra Conservative section that's just a product of my public school & University upbringing?
In the past week I have seen so many people with eyebrow rings that that is becoming normal, earrings like sail eyelets are going the same way, back tattoos also the same way, and three piercings per ear now seems to be the norm for girls.
In addition to this at my local Borders on Sunday as I went to browse through Autocar a lesbian couple started groping and generally making out in the middle of the store. Neither were beauty pageant contenders. :vomit:
On the television there is the constant blending of genders, talk of 'man bags', men with make up, plastic surgery, I see Beckham has worn skirts etc?
So anyway this has got me wondering - am I representing the bulk of the population or an ultra Conservative section that's just a product of my public school & University upbringing?
GavinPearson said:
Why is it wherever I go there seems to be a pushing of the boundaries of acceptability?
In the past week I have seen so many people with eyebrow rings that that is becoming normal, earrings like sail eyelets are going the same way, back tattoos also the same way, and three piercings per ear now seems to be the norm for girls.
In addition to this at my local Borders on Sunday as I went to browse through Autocar a lesbian couple started groping and generally making out in the middle of the store. Neither were beauty pageant contenders.
On the television there is the constant blending of genders, talk of 'man bags', men with make up, plastic surgery, I see Beckham has worn skirts etc?
So anyway this has got me wondering - am I representing the bulk of the population or an ultra Conservative section that's just a product of my public school & University upbringing?
Just wondered at what point does current Altnerative lifestyle become the norm and the norm the become the Altnerative lifestyle.
john75 said:
Why is it wherever I go there seems to be a pushing of the boundaries of acceptability?
In the past week I have seen so many people with eyebrow rings that that is becoming normal, earrings like sail eyelets are going the same way, back tattoos also the same way, and three piercings per ear now seems to be the norm for girls.
In addition to this at my local Borders on Sunday as I went to browse through Autocar a lesbian couple started groping and generally making out in the middle of the store. Neither were beauty pageant contenders.
On the television there is the constant blending of genders, talk of 'man bags', men with make up, plastic surgery, I see Beckham has worn skirts etc?
So anyway this has got me wondering - am I representing the bulk of the population or an ultra Conservative section that's just a product of my public school & University upbringing?
Just wondered at what point does current Altnerative lifestyle become the norm and the norm the become the Altnerative lifestyle.
Getting married before having children
Working hard rather than expecting it all to be provided
Taking personal responsibility
Enjoying cars and driving
These are now alternative lifestyles, enjoy your edgy new image
GavinPearson said:
So anyway this has got me wondering - am I representing the bulk of the population or an ultra Conservative section that's just a product of my public school & University upbringing?
I would say that public school and university breed more 'alternative lifestylers'/weirdos / rebels than most other institutions.
There have always been alternative lifestiles; they are the fashion... And regarding the lesbian couple groping each other; if they had been beauty pageants I'm sure most men would have bought the video... 
There are alternative lifestiles that seem shocking, unless it is a beautiful, fashionable, famous or respected person that chooses is, enhancing thus the value of the lifestile and making it a fashion. Mind you, I am still looking for who the heck did start the Burberry cap fashion with I consider the worst of the alternative
There are alternative lifestiles that seem shocking, unless it is a beautiful, fashionable, famous or respected person that chooses is, enhancing thus the value of the lifestile and making it a fashion. Mind you, I am still looking for who the heck did start the Burberry cap fashion with I consider the worst of the alternativeI'm all for it. Let people do what they like as long as they don't physically harm or inconvenience others.
As for people being "offended" by the action of others purely due to some nurtured prejuduce or idea, well they can go stuff themselves.
And I'm a "normal" guy with nowt a piercing or a tatoo on my temple.
As for people being "offended" by the action of others purely due to some nurtured prejuduce or idea, well they can go stuff themselves.
And I'm a "normal" guy with nowt a piercing or a tatoo on my temple.
GavinPearson said:
Why is it wherever I go there seems to be a pushing of the boundaries of acceptability?
...
So anyway this has got me wondering - am I representing the bulk of the population or an ultra Conservative section that's just a product of my public school & University upbringing?
Sounds to me like you might be a product of your upbringing - just like the rest of us. You seem to have a bit of a problem with people who aren't "ultra conservative". Maybe you should worry why they bother you so much? Lesbians who aren't glamourous actually offend you? Tatoos on complete strangers are unacceptable? Why are these things threats to you?
Increasingly you are probably in the minority as far as the fashionable 'alternative' styles are concerned, and being worried by other people's sexuality. That's not to say society is magically more tolerant - just that we've got more used to these things in the last couple of decades.
wolves_wanderer said:
Getting married before having children
Working hard rather than expecting it all to be provided
Taking personal responsibility
Enjoying cars and driving
These are now alternative lifestyles, enjoy your edgy new image
Looks like i live an alternate lifestyle....
BliarOut said:
Mods, rockers, new romantics, it's just teenagers forging their identity. The whole point is to shock. Don't worry, they'll grow out of it
Grow out of most of it..... But now that every 18-23 yo girl has a tattoo across their lower back can you imagine the old peoples homes in 70 years time..... Tattoo's everywhere!
Munter said:
Mods, rockers, new romantics, it's just teenagers forging their identity. The whole point is to shock. Don't worry, they'll grow out of it
Grow out of most of it..... But now that every 18-23 yo girl has a tattoo across their lower back can you imagine the old peoples homes in 70 years time..... Tattoo's everywhere!
And every one of them grey, just like my grandad's were as the ink fades over time.I have absolutely no problem with any of the 'alternative lifestyles' you've mentioned. If that's what people want to do, let 'em, what's your problem?
People said the same things about punks and their unusual hair and piercings in the '70s and '80s. They said the same things about mods and their customised scooters and scruffy hair in the '60s. They said the same thing about the sexual ambiguity of glam rock and new romantics. They said that goths and grungers all did heroin and killed themselves.
There have always been alternative lifestyles and stale Daily Mail curtain-twitchers who've rolled their eyes at them.
However, I do have a problem with people trying to hard. People pushing boundaries for the sake of it. That is anything but being comfortable with yourself. I know people at university who 'decided', consciously, that they were going to be the world's biggest stoners, try every drug on the planet, dress in the most shocking clothes, listen to the heaviest, loudest death metal etc.
But they're not happy. They're insecure, grasping at straws as to what they really like, more interested in being different than being themselves, and the drugs only serve to exaggerate these feelings and make them worse.
I have no problems with lesbians or even gay men kissing each other in the street as I'm not homophobic. However, I do have a problem with teenage girls dressing like hookers with 'slut' plastered across their tops 'because it's fashion'. At that age they really aren't that comfortable with their sexuality, and the extremities of fashion often cause people to try too hard and be something they're not.
People said the same things about punks and their unusual hair and piercings in the '70s and '80s. They said the same things about mods and their customised scooters and scruffy hair in the '60s. They said the same thing about the sexual ambiguity of glam rock and new romantics. They said that goths and grungers all did heroin and killed themselves.
There have always been alternative lifestyles and stale Daily Mail curtain-twitchers who've rolled their eyes at them.
However, I do have a problem with people trying to hard. People pushing boundaries for the sake of it. That is anything but being comfortable with yourself. I know people at university who 'decided', consciously, that they were going to be the world's biggest stoners, try every drug on the planet, dress in the most shocking clothes, listen to the heaviest, loudest death metal etc.
But they're not happy. They're insecure, grasping at straws as to what they really like, more interested in being different than being themselves, and the drugs only serve to exaggerate these feelings and make them worse.
I have no problems with lesbians or even gay men kissing each other in the street as I'm not homophobic. However, I do have a problem with teenage girls dressing like hookers with 'slut' plastered across their tops 'because it's fashion'. At that age they really aren't that comfortable with their sexuality, and the extremities of fashion often cause people to try too hard and be something they're not.
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