Comments on: Silly Sunday Quiz: Are You A Metrosexual?

Silly Sunday Quiz: Are You A Metrosexual?

MiguelCardoso — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:15:26 -0800

Are You A Metrosexual? Don't worry if, despite scholars in Michigan voting it one of 2003's most over-used and useless words, you don't know what it is - you might still be! (For men only, unfortunately. What would the female equivalent be?)

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:21:37 -0800

I wrote this on my blog a while back, but if I don't link it it's not a self-link, so there ;)

I propose another new word: Mezzosexual. The dictionary.com definition of mezzo says: \Mez"zo\, a. [It., from L. medius middle, half. See Mid, a.] (Mus.) Mean; not extreme. I figured since that other similar-sounding word was recently banned, the language was in need of some new confusing term to scare white protestants with.

Also a mezzo-soprano being halfway between a contralto and a soprano, I like the idea that it suggests ambiguity.

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:33:37 -0800

Heh. Mezzo is the most popular classical/jazz/world music 24/7 cable TV channel in Portugal and it definitely has its own "demographic", so you may be on to something, Space Coyote. (You do know self-links are allowed in comments, dontcha?) On the same, er, note, sexy Etro eyewear must also be in line for a fashionable noun of its own: etrosexual.

By: benjh

benjh — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:48:33 -0800

Apparently, I'm not a metrosexual, I'm a homosexual. According to the quiz at least. Well, the quiz and my weekend activities.

By: Steve_at_Linnwood

Steve_at_Linnwood — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:51:24 -0800

Can anyone please explain what "Do you love the movie American Psycho?" has to do with being a so-called "Metrosexual" ?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:52:23 -0800

Five out of fifty here. I am probably the furthest thing from a metrosexual on the planet. Is there such a thing as a ruro-sexual? outerborosexual?

By: joedan

joedan — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:56:09 -0800

i don't know if there is such a thing, but i like the idea of being an outerborosexual. hurry, someone make a quiz!

By: Steve_at_Linnwood

Steve_at_Linnwood — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:57:46 -0800

Your Score: 6 / 50 6 points is in the 0 through 9 points range Stud! You're a manly man! May I suggest some more contact sports like football? You can watch big, strong athletes sweat away as they tap each other's ass. hmmm

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:00:07 -0800

Steve: Yeah, I didn't get that one either. Brett Easton Ellis's novel, which I enjoyed (and Kurt Andersen sort of ripped off in his unreadable "Turn Of The Century") has twenty designer/logo namechecks per page. In the film (very crappy, I thought) this doesn't come across. So I suppose it's proto-metrosexual in its brand-mania and fashion consciousness. Also, the protagonist kills a lot of women, perhaps providing a disagreeable sub-text to the question.

By: Steve_at_Linnwood

Steve_at_Linnwood — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:02:05 -0800

Harold, you're my lawyer, so I think you should know... I've killed quite a few people.

By: tomorama

tomorama — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:02:12 -0800

6 points is in the 0 through 9 points range Stud! You're a manly man! May I suggest some more contact sports like football? Damn straight.

By: einarorn

einarorn — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:09:21 -0800

25 out of 50 Yeah, but I'm watching the Patriots on TV. Don't I get a point reduction for that?

By: Hildago

Hildago — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:18:22 -0800

I think the point of the question is that a lot of so-called metrosexuals enjoy the movie American Psycho

By: malpractice

malpractice — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:18:37 -0800

American Psycho also has Christian Bale wandering around in his briefs - not an unpleasant sight for some of us (chainsaw or not).

By: sfenders

sfenders — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:19:10 -0800

4 out of 50. How nice to have an internet quiz confirm that I'm a real man. I had to hit google to find out what a "man bag" is.

By: MidasMulligan

MidasMulligan — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:22:47 -0800

I propose another new word: Mezzosexual. How's about MeFisexual? Sorry, just couldn't resist. Though I can't imagine precisely what a mefisexual would actually be ...

By: MidasMulligan

MidasMulligan — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:25:08 -0800

... though I imagine it would involve a lot of yelling.

By: Grangousier

Grangousier — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:25:25 -0800

Liberal rather than conservative, I hope.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:30:27 -0800

Your Score: 2 / 50 Huh. I wonder where the 2 came from?

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:33:53 -0800

What would the female equivalent be Stereotypical. Anyway, I much prefer the term "psudofag"

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:37:29 -0800

Five out of fifty here. I am probably the furthest thing from a metrosexual on the planet. Is there such a thing as a ruro-sexual? outerborosexual? I much prefer the term bushman-sexual myself. About as far away from the metro as you can get, and it Clarifies that you like the bush.

By: rhyax

rhyax — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:37:49 -0800

I'm only a "possible future metrosexual", but in fact i am a homosexual. stereotypes are fun!

By: 11235813

11235813 — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:38:44 -0800

i personally feel the labelling of 'metrosexual' is just about the most retarded idea ever. but the backslash or reaction to it is perhaps the perfect show of evidence of how totally confused and absolutely screwed up and insecure so many men _and_ women really are. that said, same shite, different day ....... Interview with Hugh Hefner in Adweek Magazine AW: What do you think of the metrosexual trend? Hugh Hefner: I remember when there was a big brouhaha because guys were starting to use cologne. Anything that makes a guy think about looking good, living life with a little style, trying to be attractive to the opposite sex rather than just hanging out and having a beer with the guys is progress. Part of the reason I started Playboy was that the men's magazines were all outdoor-adventure buddy books. The result of World War II. For me, life was not about that -- it was about the romantic pursuit.

By: WolfDaddy

WolfDaddy — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:41:15 -0800

I'm so tired of this term ... its origins, I believe, are from the east coast, yet west coast queers have appropriated the term to mean "cute boy I saw at the rave who refused to more than swap spit with me, so he must be a screwed up internalized homophobe".

By: WolfDaddy

WolfDaddy — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:42:45 -0800

Gah, that should be "who refused to do more than swap spit" Anyway, I much prefer the term "psudofag" I like "fauxmosexual" myself, in fact, I think I heard it here on Mefi first.

By: shagoth

shagoth — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:48:46 -0800

Weren't these people previously called narcissists?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 15:53:54 -0800

If a straight guy who acts gay is a "metrosexual" what do you call a gay guy who acts straight?

By: jare2003

jare2003 — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 16:03:23 -0800

closeted?

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 16:05:22 -0800

I wonder where the 2 came from? Oh Crash, how can I break it to you gently? I've often thought you were slightly too seductive and suave when dealing with your fellow male members, you great big pansy, you! ;) I know. I got 42. *smooch*

By: dhoyt

dhoyt — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 16:06:54 -0800

Can anyone please explain what "Do you love the movie American Psycho?" has to do with being a so-called "Metrosexual" ? Hmm, it seems pretty obvious to me, but maybe I'm missing something. Patrick Bateman, the central character in American Psycho, primped and preened and emphasized physical perfection and namebrands special business cards and even had a special facial moisturizing routine--not unlike you'd see Kyan recommending on Queer Eye. As a man obsessed with material objects and the "finer" things in life (like killing, apparently), it doesn't seem unusual to link him with the dopey non-phenomenon that is "metrosexuality". its origins, I believe, are from the east coast, I'd always heard it originated in England and was characterized by men in love with their urban surroundings, lifestyle, and with their own physical appearance (See: Dedicated Follower of Fashion, by the Kinks). 'Narcissism' seems a little harsh, though. Some men who simply want to exploit their fullest potential (which may include tuning up their physical appearance, depending on the guy) might be mistaken for Metrosexuals or Narcissists when really they're just folks looking to idealize their perception of themselves. I can't knock that. If a straight guy who acts gay is a "metrosexual" what do you call a gay guy who acts straight? A 'Clay Aiken'?

By: WolfDaddy

WolfDaddy — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 16:30:20 -0800

You are keerect, dhoyt, and I stand corrected. Shoulda read all of Migs' wordspy link. This guy did it (possibly nsfw, didn't delve too deeply into the site). And he's a Brit. So there you are. Narcissist doesn't fit for me when thinking on this topic; "hedonist" or even "sybarite" works better.

By: matteo

matteo — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 16:36:25 -0800

By: wendell

wendell — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 17:09:47 -0800

13 out of 50; I'm more of a klutzo-sexual myself. Metrosexual was recognized on both the Banished Words list and the American Dialect Society's Words of the Year, both previously seen on MetaFilter (exactly 300 posts apart). Has anybody seen Matt Groening's Forbidden Words for 2004 (in his "Life in Hell" comic, unavailable on the web)? If a straight guy who acts gay is a "metrosexual" what do you call a gay guy who acts straight? A 'Clay Aiken'? No, we were thinking of someone who does it conviningly... [rimshot]

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 17:14:18 -0800

By: Steve_at_Linnwood

Steve_at_Linnwood — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 17:14:18 -0800

Patrick Bateman, the central character in American Psycho, primped and preened and emphasized physical perfection and namebrands special business cards and even had a special facial moisturizing routine... So metrosexual is the new yuppie?

By: orange swan

orange swan — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 17:16:35 -0800

13 points is in the 10 through 20 points range Possible future metrosexual? You're still masculine, but I will question it if you start wearing shirts with diagonal stripes. I got this result, and I'm a woman. Maybe I should be worried.

By: sfenders

sfenders — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 17:54:14 -0800

So metrosexual is the new yuppie? Yeah, that sounds pretty close. "Narcissist" is to narrowly defined, and too insulting. "Hedonist" is nowhere near precise enough, and brings to mind hippie culture which is almost the antithesis of metrosexual. "Playboy" is maybe a little closer, but still way off. Nobody uses "yuppie" in anything other than an ironic sense these days though, so if y'all want to banish "metrosexual", come up with something better to replace it.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 18:26:29 -0800

Being gay doesn't disqualify one from being a metrosexual. Metrosexual's definition has no relationship with any sexuality. Personally, I'm still hoping for the mainstreaming of heteroflexible, first committed to Usenet way back in 1999. Descriptive, easily grasped, and fun to say.

By: stryder

stryder — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 18:31:56 -0800

Every definition I've seen for metrosexual says it only applies to straight men, and that's the only way I've seen it used in print. Including the link to the CBC: The term....generally applies to straight men living in urban centres who feel comfortable indulging in feminine pursuits, such as extensive personal grooming.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 18:58:18 -0800

"The typical metrosexual is a young man with money to spend, living in or within easy reach of a metropolis -- because that's where all the best shops, clubs, gyms and hairdressers are. He might be officially gay, straight or bisexual, but this is utterly immaterial because he has clearly taken himself as his own love object and pleasure as his sexual preference. Particular professions, such as modelling, waiting tables, media, pop music and, nowadays, sport, seem to attract them but, truth be told, like male vanity products and herpes, they're pretty much everywhere." --Mark Simpson, inventor of the word metrosexual.

By: Grod

Grod — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 19:03:55 -0800

11/50 "Possible future metrosexual", huh?

By: Scoo

Scoo — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 19:04:28 -0800

I got 14 out of 50, i.e. ALL MAN. Goddam prissy clothes horses make me wanna puke. Oh well, time for bed, I've got forklift duty at 6 AM.

By: boredomjockey

boredomjockey — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 19:12:09 -0800

I had to hit google to find out what a "man bag" is. That's why I don't use terms like "man bag" to describe my purse. :) Personally I think that if the culture requires a term like "metrosexual" to permit or make sense of a more diverse array of options for men in terms of fashion or gender expression then I'm all for it, silly the term may be. I just wish the term loaded more on the girly-appearance factor and less on the materialism factor -- it's a shame because the former really needn't imply the latter. (Can't I wear nail polish without being a mall zombie?)

By: stryder

stryder — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 19:16:10 -0800

Valid point Norton, but even though Mark simpson may have coined the word with a different intent, its meaning has skewed in popular usage at least in the US.

By: KirkJobSluder

KirkJobSluder — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 19:41:10 -0800

The typical metrosexual is a young man with money to spend, living in or within easy reach of a metropolis -- Which makes me wonder how the heck I scored metrosexual. Unless it's the bisexuality. Hrm. Also I suspect that the author of the quiz mistook "urban" for "metropolitan." Terre Haute, IN, to use an example of a city that most have considered to be a cultural backwater since the 1900s (*), is urban. Chicago, New York and San Francisco are metropolitan. (*) Terre Haute did have a decade of cool as a center of Ragtime music publishing. But that was a long-lost era ago.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 20:04:44 -0800

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget consider Terre Haute, IN to be a metropolitan statistical area. More about the definition here.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 20:11:37 -0800

Or, rather, the agencies believes there to be such a thing as a Terre Haute, IN metro area. And the MSA is at 150,000 or so population, whereas the municipality itself is around 59,000. It ain't no town, even if ain't no big-time happenin' major city.

By: Poagao

Poagao — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 20:44:08 -0800

Being gay doesn't disqualify one from being a metrosexual. Metrosexual's definition has no relationship with any sexuality. So the stupidest, most inappropriate thing about this "word" is the inclusion of "-sexual". I can see why: it plays to stereotypes. No matter how much the guy who coined the term protests or apologizes, what he's basically saying is "Homosexual men all act this way, so we need a term for those abnormal heterosexual men who act like (the stereotype for) homosexual men but aren't actually homosexual." I'm sure this is a source of great relief to those guys. Heaven forbid anyone would think they're gay! The Horror! Thank god I don't live in a country where this term is widely used, or I'd be in jail for punching every single person I met who took it seriously.

By: KirkJobSluder

KirkJobSluder — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 20:44:44 -0800

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget consider Terre Haute, IN to be a metropolitan statistical area. More about the definition here. Oh dear, looks like the OMB has created a new definition on me. I was thinking more in terms of the colloquial terms. The OMB definition seems to be overly-technical, overly-general (in that any city with economic satilites becomes a "metropolitan center"), and not intended for general use. Perhaps most importantly, I don't think that Mr. Simpson had Terre Haute in mind when he coined the definition "metrosexual". At any rate, while I live in an urban area, I don't think of the city that I live in to be a metropolis, much less the kind of major city that is central to the concept of "metrosexual". Or, rather, the agencies believes there to be such a thing as a Terre Haute, IN metro area. And the MSA is at 150,000 or so population, whereas the municipality itself is around 59,000. It ain't no town, even if ain't no big-time happenin' major city. Well, I didn't say it was a town. What bothered me about the quiz is that "urban" includes a wide range of evironments from Manhattan Island down to the communities of less than 10,000 people that these rumored "metrosexuals" would find horrifying for the lack of a good resturaunt in which to be seen. However a blind spot in American culture is to think of the city in terms of its most extreme manifestations. In spite of the distain of "flyover territory", I would argue that the thousands of cities the size of Terre Haute are probably more representative of the United States experience the super-cities.

By: KirkJobSluder

KirkJobSluder — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 20:51:26 -0800

No matter how much the guy who coined the term protests or apologizes, what he's basically saying is "Homosexual men all act this way, so we need a term for those abnormal heterosexual men who act like (the stereotype for) homosexual men but aren't actually homosexual." I don't know. I heard much worse from gay men generalizing about gay men who fit the "metrosexual" stereotype. "Twink" was popular among bears as a way of poking fun at the young gay men who were a bit over-obsessed with their own appearance. This was, I think the most polite term I remember. I think the line "...like male vanity products and herpes, they're pretty much everywhere" is priceless, but then again, I've had the misfortune of dating a few.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 21:27:18 -0800

KirkJobSluder: I was referencing Bo Diddley there. In any case, the term "metropolitan" in "metrosexual" almost surely means major city. But the term was created by a Brit, already, who probably doesn't grasp how Americans live and how "metropolitan" fits. The word "metropolitan" is a merging of words for "mother" and "city." It refers to a tightly connected area of a specified activity. More specifically, it means an area that is more or less a tightly interconnected trade and residential area that has one larger municipality as a nucleus and surrounding suburbs. Most Americans don't live in large cities. They do, however, live in metro areas, regardless of the details of the Census Bureau's technical definition.

By: cell

cell — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 02:49:50 -0800

4. And I'm of the opinion that 'metrosexuality' is a phenomenon cynically incited by fashion and cosmetics companies in order to massively increase male consumerism.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 05:29:01 -0800

33/50 here. I've never really seen the need for the term, since every single man I know fits the criteria. And it's hardly new, is it? There's a reasonable case for, say, '80s football casuals being classed as metrosexual. Or Mods in the '60s. Or, more obviously, 18th Century dandies. Men have always been vain, sartorially exacting creatures - it's just that, post-WWII, a greater number of them have the disposable cash and free-time to indulge themselves.

By: bwg

bwg — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 06:33:52 -0800

Metrosexual is possibly the dumbest coined word I've ever heard. Here's hoping it dies a fast and ugly death.

By: sonofsamiam

sonofsamiam — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 08:17:36 -0800

What's wrong with 'fop', 'dandy', or 'fancy boy'?

By: orange swan

orange swan — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 08:22:24 -0800

We used to have another word for a man who took pains with his appearance, the decor of his home and his food and attended cultural events. It was "gentleman". It's really too bad that we need to label men who are just attentive to the finer points of civilized life, although at least the "metrosexual" label is not intrinsically derogatory.

By: cell

cell — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 08:32:34 -0800

"The finer points of civilized life?" You must be joking. Let's take a look at some of the bits from that questionnaire - aspects that supposedly define "metrosexuality":

Do you use a stylist or barber? Has anyone ever called you materialistic? Have you ever received a manicure? Do you like Banana Republic clothing? When you go out, do you often check out what other guys are wearing? Do you sometimes get jealous when another guy has a nice outfit on? Have you ever waxed your body hair, or used Nair products? Have you ever worn nail polish? Do you drink Evian water?

This is nothing to do with being a "gentleman" and everything to do with consumerism, narcisissm and fitting in with a peer group.

By: me3dia

me3dia — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 08:41:52 -0800

21/50, firmly in metrosexual territory. Although I prefer "ambiguously straight."

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 09:05:04 -0800

The best part for me is that I took the quiz 15 minutes after I washed my hair with a bar of soap. I scored a nine or something, and the attached comment was something about watching sports and a homoerotic subtext. I don't get it.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 10:11:32 -0800

The word "metropolitan" is a merging of words for "mother" and "city." Exactly. So "metrosexual" = mother + sex. *tiptoes quietly out of room*

By: badstone

badstone — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 10:27:09 -0800

What would the female equivalent be? Butch?

By: inpHilltr8r

inpHilltr8r — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 14:34:13 -0800

So "metrosexual" = mother + sex. So a better word would be "motherfuckers"?

By: afx114

afx114 — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:55:08 -0800

Man Bag? I've always called it Man Sack.

By: Devils Slide

Devils Slide — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 21:16:19 -0800

Hey, when you're cursed with the unibrow, you have to tweeze it or else remain a virgin for the rest of your life. Ditto for the Nair. If you don't do anything about your shoulder hair (aww, come on don't cringe), your girlfriend will have a "headache" for the entirety of your relationship. And Beckham may be a himbo, but I can't call anyone who plays professional soccer a "pussy".

By: bwg

bwg — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 23:13:37 -0800

Although I prefer "ambiguously straight." I can see the SNL skit now: The Ambiguously Straight Duo!