I’m sick of a-holes that think they are too cool to practice proper shirt etiquette. If someone gives you props on your shirt, it’s because there is an affinity shared between you two about the particular band you are advertising.
You should expect, even look forward to those few and far between times when you are on the street and someone gives you a nod and says, “Fuck yeah! Motorhead!” or whatever your band of the day is.
I’m running into sourpuss buttfags who think they’re too-cool-for-school WAY TOO FRIGGIN’ OFTEN lately and it’s pissing me off. When someone gives me props (it happens often in Vegas, and rarely in LA) I always throw the horns proudly or give them an enthusiastic hey and “Right on, Brother!”, “Thanks, Man! Stay Twisted!” or something to show my appreciation and comraderie. I like those little moments. They are unexpected rays of sunshine in my day.
But far too often lately when I give someone props, they snub me! I find this unacceptable and it pisses me off because I also feel like it makes them unworthy of the shirts they are wearing. So I’ve made it a policy now to call them names or say bad words or threats to them when they don’t properly respond to my friendly shout outs.
My first case occurred last week as I was walking down the sidewalk on my way to meet my wife for dinner.
Some dude comes walking my way and he’s wearing an AC/DC “For Those About To Rock” shirt. So I say, “For those about to rock, we salute you!” and gave him a salute. He ignored me. Completely. No, this wasn’t a didn’t hear me, didn’t see me thing. This was a total complete and intentional ignoring. So I shouted at him, “DIRTY HIPPIE!!!” He didn’t turn around (probably a smart move) so I shouted again, “That’s right, Smelly! Just KEEP WALKING!!!”
I will continue to share stories from my crusade of justice on this topic and let you know how things go. Oh, and if you’re one of those a-holes who think it’s acceptable to snub friendly brothers in rock, just remember me when someone kicks you in the balls as part of my campaign.
The dude might’ve thought you were a deranged mental escapee if you totally full on saluted him… also how were you dressed? Were you in your asshole suit with your sleeves and tie or were you kicking it jeans and t shirt style?
Or maybe he thought you were making fun of him which was confirmed when you called him “smelly”… just the other side of the situation. I too like it when someone acknowledges my band t shirts. And I am always resectful no mater how rare it happens.
Late,
grmpysmrf
The dude might’ve thought you were a deranged mental escapee if you totally full on saluted him… also how were you dressed? Were you in your asshole suit with your sleeves and tie or were you kicking it jeans and t shirt style?
I had come from work and was well groomed and “business casual”. Decent black long sleeve button up shirt, belt, and dark grey trousers. If that looks like an escaped psychopath in his book, well, he should quit walking on sidewalks and go back to living in an underground bomb shelter.
Or maybe he thought you were making fun of him which was confirmed when you called him “smelly”… just the other side of the situation.
Other side of the situation? What? This guy grew up in an friggin’ laboratory incubator and never had someone greet him on a sidewalk before?
I understand your whole “playing Devil’s advocate” stuff, but I had already properly assessed the situation. He’s a dick! So I don’t really care what supposed thoughts or assumptions of me he might have had which may or may not have been confirmed when I called him a smelly hippie (I didn’t actually smell him, but he did have a beard and that often is an indicator that a person has a higher chance of being stinky).
I’m taking a zero tolerance position on this from now on. Unless some dude has a red-tipped cane or is looking the other way so I can assume he is deaf, if he sees and or hears me give him props and he snubs me, he is a prick and I will let him know promptly that his actions will not be tolerated.
I had come from work and was well groomed and “business casual”. Decent black long sleeve button up shirt, belt, and dark grey trousers.
Business Casual?! yeah, dude He probably felt like you were mocking him to begin with because anyone who would dress like that and compliment me on my t shirt is clearly a corporate douche bag who doesn’t know what it means to like music, to really like music. When I’m dressed like an asshole I don’t even try to relate to anyone who would dress like me on a normal day.
Late,
grmpysmrf
I ALWAYS get “t shirt respect” when I’m out and I always give it back.
Last weekend I was at a party and there was a guy in a Gorgoroth shirt and I’m like “Gorgoroth!! Yeah.” He looks t me and nods approvingly. Then I flash my Mayhem shirt and suddenly we’re knee deep in conversation, as if we were life long pals. Good stuff.
I get a lot of respect when I wear my Melvins Houdini shirt.
“Cool shirt man!!”
“Dude. Melvins. Awesome”
“Hey that shirt looks so cool! Melvins? are they a band??”
That kind of thing. It rules. Maybe people aren’t as friendly in the States as they are in Australia. I’ve never been snubbed.
But Gunnar I do know what you mean and I do sympathise. I generally size a person up before I make a comment. You can usually tell if the person will reciprocate.
I used to get snubbed in night clubs trying to start conversations. Obviously these dicks were too “good looking” to start up a chat with little old ordinary me.
Fuck em. I just stopped going to clubs in the end.
What? Businessmen aren’t allowed to rock? It was a damn black shirt and slacks, not a Gestapo uniform (which might actually be MORE rock and roll, so nevermind). Just because I wasn’t dressed like a dirty hippy doesn’t mean my life revolves around discussing golf handicaps and mutual funds while drinking Blue Moon on my sun deck, listening to Michael Bolton. What? He thought he was too rock and roll for my so-called yuppie ass? We’ll see about that. I hope I see him again. I’m going to wear my boots, my black tight denim jeans, my giant pewter Iron Maiden belt buckle and my patched out vest along and then run up and punch him in his bearded neck and ask him, “Is that rock and roll enough for you, BITCH??”
I ALWAYS get “t shirt respect” when I’m out and I always give it back.
Last weekend I was at a party and there was a guy in a Gorgoroth shirt and I’m like “Gorgoroth!! Yeah.” He looks t me and nods approvingly. Then I flash my Mayhem shirt and suddenly we’re knee deep in conversation, as if we were life long pals. Good stuff.
I get a lot of respect when I wear my Melvins Houdini shirt.
“Cool shirt man!!”
“Dude. Melvins. Awesome”
“Hey that shirt looks so cool! Melvins? are they a band??”
That kind of thing. It rules. Maybe people aren’t as friendly in the States as they are in Australia. I’ve never been snubbed.
But Gunnar I do know what you mean and I do sympathise. I generally size a person up before I make a comment. You can usually tell if the person will reciprocate.
I used to get snubbed in night clubs trying to start conversations. Obviously these dicks were too “good looking” to start up a chat with little old ordinary me.
Fuck em. I just stopped going to clubs in the end.
See!!! Peligro gets it!
Thank you!
And yeah . . . the Gorgoroth story . . . that’s how things are SUPPOSED TO work.
A friend of mine stayed in both Milwaukee and Pittsburgh for a couple of months and tried the “Bro! Awesome…shirt! Mad props” thing on a number of occasions and said that people in both cities were VERY rude about it.
One day he was walking through a mall (in Pittsburgh I think) while wearing a Godflesh t shirt (the one with the white face) and some well dressed businessman and his wife walked past him. They both snarled and the guy growled “Get out, motherfucker”, leaving my friend completely and utterly mystified.
I love Australia. I’ll try to get back there.
People in Los Angeles can be a bit uppity. I really prefer Las Vegas. In Vegas people are always giving me props on my Twisted Sister shirt, and I even got props for my Ministry shirt on this last trip.
LA people are a little too obsessed with being cool and hip and perhaps (this is playing the oh-so-typical anti-hipster card) the guy that shunned me thought he was making some radical or ironic statement with his AC/DC shirt and when a regular bloke gave him recognition he felt his hipster street cred was compromised.
But that’s where I feel like metalheads are supposed to live by a different standard. By default we’re already uncool and should be proud of that fact because it will never be my intention to be admired by people who think Skrillix or the Lumineers are the epitome of cultural integrity. When we cross the path of one of our own we should be happy and supportive.
But . . . I guess I’ll have to say that those fags aren’t real metalheads anyway.
It’s not only an American thing, by the way. The worst case of mine will still be that prick in Dublin (at a “metal bar” of all places) that tried to act all Tuff McGruff when I gave him props for his Maiden shirt. Dude, you’re in a metal bar, with other metalheads, listening to heavy metal, and you’re gonna be a little bitch when someone respects your t-shirt? Just go straight to Hell.
^No need to overthink it. Someone gives you t-shirt props, you just say, “Thanks, Man.”. Or “Right on.”. And if you feel like pursuing a conversation, you just say:
“Did you check out the new CD?”
“Did you see the show last week?”
“Did you know they’re going to make a new album?”
I love Australia. I’ll try to get back there.
People in Los Angeles can be a bit uppity.
Dave Grohl said in an interview once, something like:
Ï hate L.A. Hate it. With a passion. I’ll give you an example as to why I hate it so much. I’m in a gas station in L.A…buying gas (who would have thought?!?). Obviously. I’m dressed like a bum - because, hell, I’m just buying gas for crissakes. People at the gas station are looking me up and looking me down, like I’m an insect crawling along the floor. It’s a Sunday morning at a gas station and these fuckers are dressed like they’re attending the Oscars. I’m thinking Äre you doing this to impress me or…what the fuck is the deal with these people??
And I thought: Yeah, Dave. You’ve convinced me to stay the fuck away from L.A.
But . . . I guess I’ll have to say that those fags aren’t real metalheads anyway.
Nope. “Metal” is a brotherhood. At least it was when I was growing up as a metalhead in the pristine suburbs of Melbourne during the late 80’s. We had to look out for each other. I’m not kidding when I say you’d risk life and limb straying into the wrong area with the wrong t shirt on. I had some narrow escapes let me tell you, dressed in either a W.A.S.P or Metallica shirt and accidentally crossed the street into a different suburb where you just did not do such things.
I’ve had people spit on me and even threaten to kill me.
It’s not only an American thing, by the way. The worst case of mine will still be that prick in Dublin (at a “metal bar” of all places) that tried to act all Tuff McGruff when I gave him props for his Maiden shirt.
Yeah I remember you saying that. I felt for you I really did. If that happened to me, my entire night would be ruined. But I’m the sort of person who lets shit like that get to him. I get really down and depressed and lose all self confidence.
No. cause otherwise they wouldn’t have ended up businessmen… or so the idea runs. YOU’RE THE MAN!! and chances are you aren’t the top man which makes you even worse cause you’re TRYING TO BE THE MAN!! Rock is all about fighting against the man in the business casual getup.
Just because I wasn’t dressed like a dirty hippy doesn’t mean my life revolves around discussing golf handicaps and mutual funds while drinking Blue Moon on my sun deck, listening to Michael Bolton.
if you’re a dirty hippie that’s exactly what “business casual” means. the fact that you don’t get that means that the rock scene has already started to lose you.
What? He thought he was too rock and roll for my so-called yuppie ass?
exactly.
We’ll see about that. I hope I see him again. I’m going to wear my boots, my black tight denim jeans, my giant pewter Iron Maiden belt buckle and my patched out vest along and then run up and punch him in his bearded neck and ask him, “Is that rock and roll enough for you, BITCH??”
Where the hell does Dave Grohl buy his gas? Beverly Hills, Century City? I’ve never seen a gas station with attendants dressed to the nines, ready for the Oscars. I doubt there is any place in the actual city of Los Angeles that doesn’t have attendants dressed like bums. He would’ve fit right in. Los Angeles is great…tons of live music to pick from, good weather, surfing-skiing-hiking-whatever-the-fuck within an hour drive, and I find people here to be nicer and more tolerable than what I deal with in other states. Fucking expensive though.
If you ignore someone giving you t-shirt dap, you suck. I’m not the most outgoing person in the world but I’ll always give a “Thanks, bro” or whatever if someone likes the shirt I’m wearing. I complemented some kid on his Arise era Sepultura shirt the other day, he seemed shocked.
Gunnar, what if someone is wearing a Beiber t-shirt or something? What is the etiquette there?
Where the hell does Dave Grohl buy his gas? Beverly Hills, Century City? I’ve never seen a gas station with attendants dressed to the nines, ready for the Oscars.
That is what I get for farting around on Prongs at work. Re-read, that is what he meant. I haven’t experienced what he is talking about either but that sounds way more realistic than attendants dressed up all nice. [:)]
