Making a statement.

Maxmosbey

Maxmosbey

Final Approach
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San Juan, PR/Ames, IA
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I need to get serious.
This spring I was cleaning out my dresser, and I found a dozen t-shirts with stuff on them. I found one that said something about OshKosh on it, and I actually found a Harley Davidson shirt that someone gave me for Christmas. I ride a Suzuki. Why would they give me a Harley Davidson t-shirt? I found a couple from some 5k runs that I did last summer.

I clean out my dresser every year, and I pack all of those shirts in a garbage bag and take them to Goodwill. When I was a cop, I used to keep the white ones to wear under my uniform shirt, as we had to wear white t-shirts, but now I don't have much use for any of them. So I'm wondering where this "making a statement with my t-shirt" started? I have had several of my probationers come in looking like a walking Harley Davidson ad. Just go somewhere and sit down to watch people walk by. I swear, I'll bet twenty-five percent of them are wearing something that says Harley Davidson on it. Did it start with HD? I can't remember when it started. We go to church most every Sunday, and last summer I noticed that a guy acouple of rows ahead was wearing this t-shirt with an F-22 Raptor screen printed all across the back of it. I wondered why he got up and decided to pull that particular shirt out of the drawer and wear it to church. What is he saying, I like Raptors, I fly Raptors, if I had a chance I would get my picture taken in front of a Raptor and buy a twenty-five dollar t-shirt to commemorate the experience? I had a guy come in the other day for an appointment, his girl friend was sitting in the waiting room, and she was wearing a shirt that said, "I'm with Stupid", and it had an arrow pointing toward the wall. I'm assuming that it is her boyfriend that is stupid, and he is so stupid that he doesn't know which side of her to sit on to make her shirt work for her. Also there are the younger people coming in with shirts that have, "Old Navy" or "Aeropostale" in four inch letters across the front of them. What is the deal with that? It seems that every store you go into has their logo plastered all over their clothes. There is a brand called Tommy Bahama, and they have very nice shirts. I saw one at a men's store that I really liked, and there on the back of it was embroidered "Tommy Bahama" and a big mermaid. I'm not paying a hundred bucks for a shirt with "Tommy Bahama" and a mermaid embroidered on the back of it, but evidently there are people who do.

I don't know why all of a sudden I'm taking notice of this, but I am. I think that it started at the State Fair last year. You can see a lot of weird things on t-shirts at the State Fair. So I guess that I'm wondering what people think they are doing with wearing them? Not a big deal, I'm just bored today and thought that I would start a discussion on it.
 
It goes back the protests of the 1960s.

Dem hippies started wearing T-Shirts with psychedelic designs and messages and such and it didn't take long for business and Madison Avenue to jump in.
 
MOST of my shirts are polo's so no logos.

I do have many t-shirts with designs, and some with sayings, but not many. I find it silly personally.
 
Maxmosbey said:
So I'm wondering where this "making a statement with my t-shirt" started?
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It's been around at least since the late 1970s. I can recall a t-shirt I had back then that said "A Woman's Place is On Top - Annapurna" (which is a mountain in the Himalayas). They were selling them as a fundraiser for a mountain climbing expedition.
 
My personal favorite was when a friend (not a close one, hubby of one of my wife's co-workers) shows up for a $100.00 burger run with me- first time flying, etc. I had told him we were going to a restaurant just across the border in Oklahoma.

His T-shirt? "F*** YOU, I'M FROM TEXAS!" in big red letters (and the word was spelled-out).

Sigh.

---

Of course, he also has a sticker on his truck which reads, "Bad Cop, No Donut."

Gene pool and all that....
 
SCCutler said:
My personal favorite was when a friend (not a close one, hubby of one of my wife's co-workers) shows up for a $100.00 burger run with me- first time flying, etc. I had told him we were going to a restaurant just across the border in Oklahoma.

His T-shirt? "F*** YOU, I'M FROM TEXAS!" in big red letters (and the word was spelled-out).

Sigh.

---

Of course, he also has a sticker on his truck which reads, "Bad Cop, No Donut."

Gene pool and all that....
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That is one you would see at the fair.
 
Wait 'til you start seeing those t-shirts in court. We had a guy show for trial with a shirt saying "don't snitch." NBA jerseys are also a favorite for court hearings.

Anyway, my favorite logo t-shirt might be one from backcountry.com - "Hummers in the bedroom, not the backcountry."

I have one that says "You're Handsome," written backwards. But, when I look in the mirror.... :)
 
mikea said:
It goes back the protests of the 1960s.

Dem hippies started wearing T-Shirts with psychedelic designs and messages and such and it didn't take long for business and Madison Avenue to jump in.
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I did a paper on this back in HS and it goes back to the 1950's. James Dean started with the plain t-shirt indicating rebelliousness. Saying started to appear in late to early sixties to clarify the message and continued to become ubiquitous in western fashion.
 
Obi Heed Kenobi said:
Wait 'til you start seeing those t-shirts in court. We had a guy show for trial with a shirt saying "don't snitch." NBA jerseys are also a favorite for court hearings..... :)
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The Smoking Gun usually has a mug shot with good ones, often "It's all fun and games until the cops arrive."
 
Obi Heed Kenobi said:
Wait 'til you start seeing those t-shirts in court. We had a guy show for trial with a shirt saying "don't snitch." NBA jerseys are also a favorite for court hearings.
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At work we can get away with jeans and a polo, provided that the polo does not have any advertising on it, but we have to wear dress pants, a button down, and a tie if we go to court.
 
I'm wearing one that says Team ComBat on it.

I won it in a raffle, it was clean. That is my statement: "This is a clean shirt"
 
I just found one in my drawer that I missed. It says "My Lungs Hurt", and it is from Winter Park, CO. I'm going to put it on this afternoon and go for a run. So there you go. I'm making a statement.
 
I've got tons of them. I often use them for souvenirs. One of my favorites says Gaston's IV on it! :) I also have some polo shirts that I can wear to work. Some of my favorites say "AOPA Airport Support Network", "Angel Flight Central", "Pilots of America", and "FAA Potomac".

How do you know there's a pilot in the room? Don't worry, s/he'll tell you! :)
 
gprellwitz said:
...
How do you know there's a pilot in the room? Don't worry, s/he'll tell you! :)
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Is that really a shirt? I thought I semi-made that up.

How about?

attachment.php


He only thinks he's a pilot.


​
 

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mikea said:
Is that really a shirt? I thought I semi-made that up.
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I'm sure it is, but I had that just as an observation that those are all proclaiming that I'm a pilot!

Heck, the neckstrap I use to hold my work ID says "Angel Flight!"
 
Max,

If popular culture brings you to despair, avoid State fairs!

I think T-shirts and the like are a self-branding mechnism. For many people, things or people do not "exist" until they are captured and branded: "Look! I'm on TV!"

"Hey! This is the very spot where they filmed xyz...!"

The move from Team suport to brand support has been slow and steady. The label speaks wealth and hip-ness: "See me? I'm smart/rich/cool enough to wear brand x..."

My theory is that the current tatoo rage is a continuation of the self-branding compulsion.

(I'm glad the fad of words across the short-short backsides is done -- I'm a compulsive reader -- signs, labels,anything. It takes self discipline to avoid reading what that says! Of course the marketing types know this...)

Nearly every printed t-shirt I own is either a bike race giveaway or has ARMY on the front (PT gear).
 
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since we're on the topic.....

Todays T is the dark blue "Just wing It" purchased at Dover AFB museum. The "wing it" logo is on the front with a list of the following on the back

Engines on fire, Hydraulic is gone, Gear won't budge, What do you do ?
JUST WING IT

It's usually contractor free give aways or something little leage baseball related with a few flying T's tossed in.

Wow it looks much better on the model then on me!!
 

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dmccormack said:
(I'm glad the fad of words across the short-short backsides is done -- I'm a compulsive reader -- signs, labels,anything. It takes self discipline to avoid reading what that says! Of course the marketing types know this...)
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Pink "JUICY" sweats in 4XL...lovely...:vomit:


Trapper John
 
dmccormack said:
Max,

If popular culture brings you to despair, avoid State fairs!

I think T-shirts and the like are a self-branding mechnism. For many people, things or people do not "exist" until they are captured and branded: "Look! I'm on TV!"

"Hey! This is the very spot where they filmed xyz...!"

The move from Team suport to brand support has been slow and steady. The label speaks wealth and hip-ness: "See me? I'm smart/rich/cool enough to wear brand x..."

My theory is that the current tatoo rage is a continuation of the self-branding compulsion.

(I'm glad the fad of words across the short-short backsides is done -- I'm a compulsive reader -- signs, labels,anything. It takes self discipline to avoid reading what that says! Of course the marketing types know this...)

Nearly every printed t-shirt I own is either a bike race giveaway or has ARMY on the front (PT gear).
Click to expand...

Actually, it doesn't bother me in the least. That is why I wrote the tread. I find it very interesting. One of my favorite things to do at the mall is sit around and read people's t-shirts as they walk by, while my wife shops.
 
One of my favorites is a shirt my bro-in-law wears sometimes:


JESUS LOVES YOU

but then again, he loves everybody.



​
 
CJones said:
One of my favorites is a shirt my bro-in-law wears sometimes:


JESUS LOVES YOU​

but then again, he loves everybody.​
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heh. i've met your BIL, and that would be darn funny.
 
Maxmosbey said:
Actually, it doesn't bother me in the least. That is why I wrote the tread. I find it very interesting. One of my favorite things to do at the mall is sit around and read people's t-shirts when they walk by, while my wife shops.
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Well, I'm past being "bothered" by alot -- including pronouncements of various inane or banal details in block lettering....

But I'm with you -- a non-Harley rider that just doesn't get it (I ride an Yamaha FZ-1: 0-60 sub 3.0, 160+ and infrequent repairs).

Have all the "outlaws" noticed the brand has been kept alive by legions of 50-something dentists and dry cleaners?
 
dmccormack said:
But I'm with you -- a non-Harley rider that just doesn't get it (I ride an Yamaha FZ-1: 0-60 sub 3.0, 160+ and infrequent repairs).

Have all the "outlaws" noticed the brand has been kept alive by legions of 50-something dentists and dry cleaners?
Click to expand...

Well, that is another thread there, but it is interesting that Harley Davidson has legions of people walking around advertising for them. I can kind of see that one though, "I'm cool, and I like Harley Davidson Motorcycles." I think that the "outlaw biker" thing is long gone. It isn't the "I'm bad" image any more. I think that the statement is that they have enough money to buy a Harley. I see a guy in a Harley Shirt, wearing a Harley leather jacket, a Harley belt with a Harley belt buckle, and Harley boots, and I think, Lexus in the three car garage. If I see a guy in just a Harley shirt, I see a guy who can't afford a Harley. If I see a guy on a Harley with a leather jacket that has crossed pistons on the back of it and says "Outlaw MC", I think bad @ss. But what about the Old Navy stuff. What statement is that. I asked my kids why they like Old Navy, and they said that it is cheap. So what does that say? I appreciate that Old Navy is selling me neat clothes for a cheap price, so I'm going to be a walking advertisement for them? How about Abercrombie and Fitch? I see a lot of shirts with that emblazoned across the front of them.
 
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Maxmosbey said:
Well, that is another thread there, but it is interesting that Harley Davidson has legions of people walking around advertising for them. I can kind of see that one though, "I'm cool, and I like Harley Davidson Motorcycles." I think that the "outlaw biker" thing is long gone. It isn't the "I'm bad" image any more. I think that the statement is that they have enough money to buy a Harley. I see a guy in a Harley Shirt, wearing a Harley leather jacket, a Harley belt with a Harley belt buckle, and Harley boots, and I think, Lexus in the three car garage. If I see a guy in just a Harley shirt, I see a guy who can't afford a Harley. If I see a guy on a Harley with a leather jacket that has crossed pistons on the back of it and says "Outlaw MC", I think bad @ss. But what about the Old Navy stuff. What statement is that. I asked my kids why they like Old Navy, and they said that it is cheap. So what does that say? I appreciate that Old Navy is selling me neat clothes for a cheap price, so I'm going to be a walking advertisement for them? How about Abercrombie and Fitch? I see a lot of shirts with that emblazoned across the front of them.
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I look at the whole HD thing as people saying; "look what an outlaw and individual I am....I am wearing the same clothes as all the other outlaws and individuals"
 
smigaldi said:
I look at the whole HD thing as people saying; "look what an outlaw and individual I am....I am wearing the same clothes as all the other outlaws and individuals"
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I do a lot of supper rides and poker runs, and most of the Harley riders that I know are not trying to be tough guys. They are all old guys with plenty of money. I think that at one time it was middle aged guys trying to look tough, but now I think it is a fashion statement. It is a reason for them to get together on Wednesday nights or Saturday afternoons, and go to some bar and grill to eat. When I see a big line of Harleys going down the road, I try to figure out where they are going to eat, then I go somewhere else. I don't want to have to wait behind thirty Harley riders to get seated.
 
Over on Facebook there's an advertisement for a T-shirt company that rotates through various offerings. My favorite is a young, almost nerdy looking, woman wearing a shirt with various graphs on it with the logo, "Don't Drink and Derive".

OK, I admit it, I'm a nerd. My son has one my wife bought for him at the MIT museum a few years ago. The front shows the component side of a PWB, and the back shows the solder side. It is the same board. And when we wore it in the lab here at Intel people recognized that it was a real board, a PC motherboard. They even recognized what one. Nerds are us! :D Mine just says, "Engineers Moto. If it isn't broken, take it apart and fix it!"
 
Ghery said:
Over on Facebook there's an advertisement for a T-shirt company that rotates through various offerings. My favorite is a young, almost nerdy looking, woman wearing a shirt with various graphs on it with the logo, "Don't Drink and Derive".

OK, I admit it, I'm a nerd. My son has one my wife bought for him at the MIT museum a few years ago. The front shows the component side of a PWB, and the back shows the solder side. It is the same board. And when we wore it in the lab here at Intel people recognized that it was a real board, a PC motherboard. They even recognized what one. Nerds are us! :D Mine just says, "Engineers Moto. If it isn't broken, take it apart and fix it!"
Click to expand...

Comic Book Guy on the Simpsons had a t-shirt (I think it was in the Mensa episode) that said:

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN\DOS\RUN
 
Maxmosbey said:
I do a lot of supper rides and poker runs, and most of the Harley riders that I know are not trying to be tough guys. They are all old guys with plenty of money. I think that at one time it was middle aged guys trying to look tough, but now I think it is a fashion statement. It is a reason for them to get together on Wednesday nights or Saturday afternoons, and go to some bar and grill to eat. When I see a big line of Harleys going down the road, I try to figure out where they are going to eat, then I go somewhere else. I don't want to have to wait behind thirty Harley riders to get seated.
Click to expand...

Max -- some of the nicest guys I've ever met were Harley guys -- beard, ponytail, vest with patches -- the works.

I bought my FZ from a Harley guy. His son talked him into buying the sport bike for fun rides. Said the bike scared the snot out of him so he was selling. Gave me a great deal the cool little road demon bell.

I just get annoyed when they won't return the biker's wave because I'm not riding a Harley.
 
Ghery said:
Over on Facebook there's an advertisement for a T-shirt company that rotates through various offerings. My favorite is a young, almost nerdy looking, woman wearing a shirt with various graphs on it with the logo, "Don't Drink and Derive".

OK, I admit it, I'm a nerd. My son has one my wife bought for him at the MIT museum a few years ago. The front shows the component side of a PWB, and the back shows the solder side. It is the same board. And when we wore it in the lab here at Intel people recognized that it was a real board, a PC motherboard. They even recognized what one. Nerds are us! :D Mine just says, "Engineers Moto. If it isn't broken, take it apart and fix it!"
Click to expand...

My favorite:
"What part of [definition of LaPlace transform] don't you understand?"

http://computergear.com/whatparofmat.html
 
gprellwitz said:
I'm sure it is, but I had that just as an observation that those are all proclaiming that I'm a pilot!

Heck, the neckstrap I use to hold my work ID says "Angel Flight!"
Click to expand...

Two of my current favorite tees:

"I visited the mothership" (Apple) and

"Bryce Canyon Airport, Elevation 7586." :D

The one I'm currently wearing, though, says "Shark Valley, Everglades."
 
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