September 10, 2002

3:03 PM

The word is out! The current chic in geek is clean-cut. So trim those beards (unless, of course, you practice the Muslim faith), drop the microbrews and drugs, and learn how to appreciate wine. Do it for the children, lest the terrorists win.
posted by WolfDaddy (51 comments total)

I thought part of being a geek meant not giving a flying fuck what is chic. I could be wrong, but I'll stay fuzzy and comfortable, thanks.

(After actually reading the article) ugh. Emo? Give me a large break to go, please.
posted by RylandDotNet at 3:07 PM on September 10, 2002

If you are a real geek, and don't want to cut your UNIX (tm) beard, you compromise and go the half beard route.
posted by phatboy at 3:08 PM on September 10, 2002

lest ye doubt my motives:

[/sarcasm]

Except for the appreciating wine part.

:)
posted by WolfDaddy at 3:09 PM on September 10, 2002

drop the . . . drugs

No.
posted by plexi at 3:10 PM on September 10, 2002

Does anyone know where I can buy a skinny black tie? I've seriously been looking everywhere, to no avail...
posted by ph00dz at 3:12 PM on September 10, 2002

As an stereotypical asian male, I am the very standard of looking like a geek, well, when I'm not fighting crime with acrobatic kung-fu and determining my how much I should tip for that scrumptious roast dog feast on my abacus.
posted by Stan Chin at 3:12 PM on September 10, 2002

I have no idea why I typed in that extra "my" or why I always notice these things after I checked it in preview.
posted by Stan Chin at 3:14 PM on September 10, 2002

Speaking of Emo, I thought I should say that I hate the genre, the music, the following, the concerts, the posturing, the crying, the horn-rims, the shoulder bags, the cameras, the hugging, and above all, the term itself, so much that it hurts me to get up in the morning.

Ian MacKaye knows not what he's wrought (if you were to indeed give him credit).
posted by dhoyt at 3:14 PM on September 10, 2002

Further, so many kids have plundered the vast emo repository of local thrift, they've (expensively) outsourced to ebay.
posted by plexi at 3:17 PM on September 10, 2002

I notice none of the articles mention assless leather pants, so certain unnamed persons will retain their chic (cheek?).
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:20 PM on September 10, 2002

spock-rock fashion (and to some extent the entire genre of "geek chic") is so spring/summer 2000.
posted by cadastral at 3:21 PM on September 10, 2002

ph00dz: It took me forever to find one, i got lucky at JC Pennys, there is a brand called City Streets (IIRC). They usually keep them separated from the other ties though because, you know, skinny ties are for freaks.
posted by quin at 3:23 PM on September 10, 2002

dhoyt: Fugazi never deserved the blame for emo, they do angry songs about politics, not songs about empty swingsets and broken hearted little boys. Direct your hate at Sunny Day Real Estate if you must pick a band to blame.
posted by malphigian at 3:25 PM on September 10, 2002

so much that it hurts me to get up in the morning.

Aw, man. I'm sorry. You need a hug? Perhaps I could write you a pretty song.
posted by Skot at 3:31 PM on September 10, 2002

Hey! I've got a skinny black tie. left over from the last time they were popular! SCORE!
posted by jazon at 3:34 PM on September 10, 2002

The Emo kids took over the rock scene in portland about a year ago. I thought it was a little wierd at first, children dressed in their grandmother's clothes, squinting through thick black glasses and clomping about in non-functional shoes. This, I told friends, would not last. I so hate being wrong, but these kids are the hippist shit around. It's scary. I used to beat kids up for dressing like that, but now I feel outnumbered. I half expect to be stopped by a pack of polyester clad freakshows chanting: "One of Us, One of Us, google gobble, One of US!"

on preview: Is my name alittle too Emo? Is it okay that I like wine?
posted by elwoodwiles at 3:40 PM on September 10, 2002

Ian MacKaye knows not what he's wrought (if you were to indeed give him credit).

I would give the crown to Rites Of Spring. You could give Ian Straight Edge if he would be willing to accept it. sXe!
posted by thirteen at 3:41 PM on September 10, 2002

Cant think of a name for your Emo band? Try the emo band name generator
posted by elwoodwiles at 3:45 PM on September 10, 2002

< nodding agreement with cadastral>

Just glad to see we aren't talking about Emo, 'cause that'd be wrong.

So don't.
posted by geekyguy at 3:57 PM on September 10, 2002

(unless, of course, you practice the Muslim faith)

Jeez. What's your subtext?
posted by donkeyschlong at 3:59 PM on September 10, 2002

donkeyschlong, it appears to be 180 degrees away from your subtext, apparently.
posted by WolfDaddy at 4:09 PM on September 10, 2002

Your "of course" was completely gratuitous, ignorant and offensive.
posted by donkeyschlong at 4:24 PM on September 10, 2002

ph00dz, Resevoir Dogs?
posted by hobbes at 4:26 PM on September 10, 2002

Last emo show I went to, I wore khaki pants and a hawaiian shirt. The trendy emo kids were busy trying to look cool, but most of em were just afraid of the panhandlers. There are scenesters in every genre, it's unavoidable, but there is always a small cadre of people who are just there for the music, clothing trends be damned!

Also, two tangentially related links: emo girls, and a record store disaster.
posted by insomnyuk at 4:32 PM on September 10, 2002

Does anyone know where I can buy a skinny black tie? I've seriously been looking everywhere, to no avail...

I just supplimented my skinny black tie collection with one from Wal-Mart about two months ago (they only had one.) Most of mine are left over from back in the day...

...I also refuse to shave off my goatee, cut my hair (it takes forever to get it over the 24" mark), stop wearing sandals in the winter (although I do not wear socks with them making it somewhat non-geek), wear contacts instead of glasses, remove any of my 9 earrings, etc. My first computer experience was programming Fortran on punchcards though, so I suspect I'm allowed to be a bit retro-geek!
posted by RevGreg at 4:36 PM on September 10, 2002

(unless, of course, you practice the Muslim faith)

Also, aren't you forgetting Orthodox Jews?
posted by insomnyuk at 4:44 PM on September 10, 2002

Geek chic: The Gates look is hot

By Hae Choi
The Wall Street Journal Online
January 3, 2001, 4:00 PM PT



So, um, is this suposed to be news?
posted by Ayn Marx at 4:50 PM on September 10, 2002

Here's a tip for the kiddies: If a certain look is being written about in local newspapers (that your parents read), and you can buy the look at JC Penneys--it's not in style anymore! try something else! please!

And for the rest of us: If we were old enough to have the look way back when--don't try to have it now! please!

This has been a public service announcement. Thank you for your attention.
posted by amberglow at 4:52 PM on September 10, 2002

insomnyuk, I "forgot" a number of groups whose members can go bearded...geeks, rednecks, hippies, Santa Claus, certain historical monarchs, etc.

The choice of a useful link regarding one religion and beards is, apparently, lost on some people.

As is [/sarcasm], Ayn Marx.

Or maybe I'm just not very good at it. Or too subtle for you folks.

Jeezus, next thing you know, I'll say I shave my balls and people will think I'm ignorant of ancient Roman legal customs. Nevertheless, I soldier onwards.
posted by WolfDaddy at 4:56 PM on September 10, 2002

I got the joke WolfDaddy, but you forget, this is MetaFilter. Next time you mention ball-shaving and ancient Rome in the same culture, you fucking better include something akin to this. Yes, I'm pedantic, give me a break, I'm practicing for debate
posted by insomnyuk at 5:04 PM on September 10, 2002

Or maybe I'm just not very good at it. Or too subtle for you folks.

next time, also traffic in stereotypes about buck-toothed "slants" with chopsticks in their hair, just so we're clear.
posted by donkeyschlong at 5:08 PM on September 10, 2002

insomnyuk, so noted for future reference. Thanks for the tip, and didn't you mean "ball-shaving and ancient Rome in the same sentence"? ;-P

This will be my testimony.

donkeyschlong, go traffic in play.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:15 PM on September 10, 2002

go traffic in play.

See, now that's subtle and funny. :)
posted by donkeyschlong at 5:32 PM on September 10, 2002

donkeyschlong, don't make me lose my mad-on for you dammit!

Sigh. Too late. I'm so emo.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:41 PM on September 10, 2002

Who elected donkeyschlong the PC police in every thread?

Ahem. Also, I was definitely not implying that Ian MacKaye was the forefather of all things emo, but the article pointed him out as a reference. He is indeed too political, and not maudlin enough (Rites of Spring, Rainier Maria, Braid and Promise Ring, I'm looking in your direction!).
posted by Karl at 5:49 PM on September 10, 2002

Heh...my military-style haircut is always tres-chic.
posted by davidmsc at 6:19 PM on September 10, 2002

Why would a geek not have a beard? HOW CAN YOU PROGRAM WITHOUT A BEARD?

Also:

donkeyschlong, it appears to be 180 degrees away from your subtext, apparently.

Wouldn't that make one of them a supertext?
posted by moss at 6:20 PM on September 10, 2002

Is it just me, or does this guy look like he's constipated?
posted by debralee at 6:24 PM on September 10, 2002

*unnnnggghhh... ahhhhhhhhhh*
posted by spidre at 6:44 PM on September 10, 2002

gah, the pictures of naked romans muddled my speech, what can I say... touche WolfDaddy :)
posted by insomnyuk at 6:45 PM on September 10, 2002

go traffic in play.

* Sends WolfDaddy a whole truckload of Luckys, as soon as the spasmodic coughing stops *
posted by yhbc at 7:20 PM on September 10, 2002

i listen to a lot of emo (however broad the genre has become).. hell, i even love dashboard... but i don't involve myself in the community or culture.

it's a shame some people hate it so much, as they bias themselves to the point where they miss out on some really good music. and i'm sure that even some of the people they scoff at are pretty nice, sometimes..... yup.

heh.. i'm emo eric... emotion eric's brother.
posted by lotsofno at 7:37 PM on September 10, 2002

I for one welcome our new emo overseers.

no matter how pitifully commercialized the culture may be.
posted by spidre at 7:57 PM on September 10, 2002

Jeez, my style finally becomes cool for a brief moment in time, and then Metafilter comes along and tells me it's not cool anymore. And just when I was getting past my anxiety over not being a Real Programmer because I only have a goatee, rather than a full beard.

I hate you all.
posted by Acetylene at 8:23 PM on September 10, 2002

Sounds like somebody needs a hug.

So, any volunteers?
posted by yhbc at 8:40 PM on September 10, 2002

I don't have a beard, and never have. I'm not very 'chic' though. I don't listen to emo, never have, but I do own a messenger bag (Timbuk2 baby, rocking it since the old school). I suppose my usual style is sort of a slightly more clean cut version of the SF bike messenger thing. I don't have any tattoos though (yet). I either wear sandals or trail running shoes. I have a belt made out of nylon webbing of the sort used for climbing harnesses.

Um, I don't know what style I am. Is that a good thing? Or does it put me in the style of having no style? Is it stylish to have no style? AH, I'm losing my mind!!!!

I do appreciate wine though. In fact, I'm rather soused on a fine bottle of Chianti as we speak. Or as I type, or whatever. Its a miracle I can spell.
posted by phidauex at 9:57 PM on September 10, 2002

Sounds like somebody needs a hug.

So, any volunteers?

I'm also a bit of a hippy. So yes, I would like to both give out and receive hugs. Group Metafilter Hug!! Awe!!!
posted by phidauex at 9:59 PM on September 10, 2002

Crap. I'm a month ahead of the curve again. I got a haircut and trimmed my beard 30 days ago for a TV interview. Now everyone will think I'm just a follower. Fuckin' fashion cycles.
posted by mccreath at 10:41 PM on September 10, 2002

Ah, phideaux, I see you have joined my ever-expanding cult of the faux rock-jock.

Favored by 4 out of the 7 currently employed system administrators in the US, the FRJ style became popular with the increased use of wireless networks, and their attendant cabling problems due to water intrusion, usually during torrential downpours when it's 35 degrees outside.

Gramicci, Mountain Hardwear, polypropylene, trail shoes, and blessed beloved Gore-Tex are favored by FRJ's. Goatees still allowed, but trimmed, hair shorter. FRJ's mock people that pay full price for The North Face jackets, bemoan the decline of Marmot, denounce Patagonia wear as outrageously overpriced(yet secretly desire certain pieces), and have Campmor among the Graybar and BlackBox catalogs.

Please note that the principle behind the FRJ look is deploying high tech materials for the purpose of comfort, not for leading a rugged outdoor existence. Smoking outside the office in snow squalls is a more typical use of these high altitude materials. Additional points are awarded for this style of clothing's ability to swallow prodigious amounts of geek paraphernalia(cell phones, PDA's, NOC keys). Latest trend is using backpacks as luggage for "traveling light", living up to a week out of one carry-on pack, which also includes the stripped down notebook computer.

I don't know if it's chic or not, but it's definitely geek, that's for certain.
posted by dglynn at 2:52 AM on September 11, 2002 [1 favorite]

snort,laugh,snort
posted by hoopyfrood at 5:13 AM on September 11, 2002

insomnyuk, that Emo Girls link made me laaaugh. It's funny because it's true. When I moved to Vancouver and was finally able to actually see bands I liked, I was dumbfounded by all the girls there that had the 'zelda' haircut. Not only is it a bad haircut, but so many of them had it. I mean, in that scene, I assume the goal is to try and look different, to be unique. One would think they'd change their haircuts, at least a little, after seeing about twenty other young women with the exact same style. I dunno, I just don't get people sometimes. And who is Zelda anyhow?
posted by picea at 8:10 AM on September 11, 2002