Metrosexuals

[Pete]

I'm taking offense to this post.
Alejandro... I know many gay men who have horrible style/taste/grooming habits and many straight men who take great pride in style. I'm not trying to steal some aspect of gay culture. I'm not quite sure what this has to do with sexual preference at all!!!

I am straight. I do like looking nice. There is a difference between narcicism and caring. I style my hair for 2 minutes tops... 2 hours that's crazy. Who cares. I don't check myself out in the mirror all day either. I do however appreciate RESPECT. I think it's a sign of respect to my peers. If I dress well, it means that I consider you to be important and value our time together. If I rolled out of bed and went along with my day, I would hardly be treated the same way as I do. To the ladies who don't like a guy to look put together... It's not like I'm wearing make up and Frankie B. jeans so you can see my bottom. I'm wearing clothes that fit... I haven't had any complaints with me. If I spent all day applying bronzer, eyeliner, and primping myself... then coming across that I'm so into myself your not worth my time is one thing. I surely do not!
I feel that girls like men who are clean and present themselves well. Maybe I've got alot to learn, but I've never seen such a crazy argument for guys who like to dress nicely.

Thank you for your time,
Pete

 

[PrinceOfCats]

What is gay culture then? (If it's not gay sex there's nothing that gay men have done for longer than straight men)

 

[Pete]

I'm sorry I don't quite understand what you mean. I guess I should have re-worded this to... culture. I was referring to a previous post in the thread. I just think this is crazy. I thought tFS was a place for great discussion about designers and collections, etc. Maybe i'm taking this too personally, but I know there are exceptions to every rule.

 

[lele]

I dont want to argue... i was simply stating that straight men can borrow from atypical gay culture (ie the opera, cooking, fashion) this is silly! I love gay men and straight men and all men! do what makes you feel good!

Pete there is nothing wrong with taking good care of yourself... like I said before there are a lot of women who like there men like that... i prefer a man who doesnt care quite that much but that does not have body odor hehe

 

[PrinceOfCats]

Sorry I should have quoted...I was replying to the last post because like you I feel slightly hurt that it has been implied that straight men shouldn't wear stylish clothes.

Damn! Soon as I post another one appears...

Lele: I don't want to argue either it's simply that Opera, Cooking and Fashion are not parts of gay culture. Opera is an Italian musical tradition liked by those of refined taste world-wide. The English aristocracy have been wearing makeup and plucking their eyebrows for centuries and their continued survival is a testimony to the fact that they are straight. All of Britain's top chefs are straight, I don't know about America's.

 

[Pete]

I hear ya LeLe,
I'm just a bit past the BO stage , but I'm not on the other extreme!

Pete

 

[CaptainJackSparrow]

i have to agree with pete and holland multimedia

i dont see what art, sensitivity and fashion have to do with being gay...its a false causality...those things are not what makes someone gay...in fact, as many of you know, there are plenty of insensitive inartistic slobby gay men...so, why isnt there a word for them? like doesnttakecareofhimselfsexual or something...that way he can be a slob and still be gay? pffft....its sickening...the reason there isn't is because the idea of being straight does not have a negative connotation in society... therefore, being mistaken for straight is completely acceptable....being mistaken for gay, on the other hand, isn't...that is why society is so quick to make sure a mistaken gay identity does not occur....the term "metrosexual" is the epitome of this

its hard to explain, but basically, i think having men that take on roles outside their gender expectations is healthy to society because it challenges societies construction of identity...But, labeling these men as straight undermines this effect to a certain extent...creating labels simply continues to reinforce segregation and takes us back a couple steps in my opinion

sorry thats so long

 

[lele]

Originally posted by PrinceOfCats@Nov 19th, 2003 - 5:01 pm
Sorry I should have quoted...I was replying to the last post because like you I feel slightly hurt that it has been implied that straight men shouldn't wear stylish clothes.

maybe I should PM the two of you ... this is getting long and seemingly petty....
I dont think anyone should feel hurt.... i dont think anyone really thinks there is anything wrong with hetero men caring about their looks.... I just think there are different people who like different things and people who are attracted to different people... you know???

 

[Pete]

I just wanted to add... I'm coming from a weird perspective. Midwest, smaller town where wearing a scarf that matches your jacket or anything but jeans and a T unless you have an interview is considered "gay". I do spend alot of time in NYC and Chicago and have noted this is def. not the norm there... it's quite refreshing.
Pete

 

[Acid]

speaking from experience..........'metrosexual's' seem to be closet homosexual's with insecure personalities.

there's nothing wrong with men wearing nice clothes etc.......its just they are very ignorant towards gay people dispite the fact they are copying them

 

[lele]

Originally posted by PrinceOfCats@Nov 19th, 2003 - 5:01 pm
Sorry I should have quoted...I was replying to the last post because like you I feel slightly hurt that it has been implied that straight men shouldn't wear stylish clothes.

Damn! Soon as I post another one appears...

Lele: I don't want to argue either it's simply that Opera, Cooking and Fashion are not parts of gay culture. Opera is an Italian musical tradition liked by those of refined taste world-wide. The English aristocracy have been wearing makeup and plucking their eyebrows for centuries and their continued survival is a testimony to the fact that they are straight. All of Britain's top chefs are straight, I don't know about America's.

... I am speaking stereotypically.... aka queer eye for the straight guy which is what I thought we were talking about here... that gay men are being borrowed from by the heterosexual community and it is being marketed ....

 

[Holland_MULTIMEDIA*]

Maybe I was stupid for even posting this topic. there are always going to be exceptions to the rule. Im a graphic designer working in the area and happen to love fashion, cooking, etc... And Ive been noticing lately this whole movement towards being more cultured. I mean ive grown up having my own hobbies, and interest and now because some tv producers think its cool every guy at the local mall is now wearing seven jeans, exfolitaing his skin, and ordering "Fillet Mignon" instead of tenderloin because it sounds impressive. I mean c'mon. I guess it isnt such a big deal. I only feel that this was my identity and 6 years from now as society moves on im going to be left behind. I guess by then ill will have moved on as well.

 

[Acid]

the difference is.............for gay people these things is a part of life...........but metrosexual's are trying to be cool

its like victoria beckham trying to be fashionable......she trys so hard it just looks gross

tell these guys they can forget their mignon fillet or whatever......its so pathetic

 

[PrinceOfCats]

I've got too much work to do to decipher all of this but I will say:

I'm not having a go at anyone here (especially you lele who has been very patient with us ranting people) I'm just saying what I think.

Makeup etc. and acting camp is probably gay. If I started doing that while remaining straight I would be copying gay culture and it would be as sad as the youths in Britain who copy Black American culture speaking with American slang and pretending they live in a 'ghetto'/

But...fashion, opera, cooking whatever are not gay even in the stereotypical sense. They do not belong to gay men and women in any way and straight men have license to use them and enjoy them without being aware of gay culture because gay culture is not the culture that spawned them.

 

[lele]

I think each of you seem like great guys ... so I hope no one feels hurt.

 

[Pete]

Lele,
Thank you. No offense here!
Take care,
Pete

 

[Holland_MULTIMEDIA*]

I think we all agree. I do however enjoy the movement towards gay acceptence. I have plenty of gay friends and im happy that now the lines are being blurred.

 

[xclusive]

OMG!!!!!!!!!! HOW CAN U HATE METROSEXUALS I absolutely adore guys who take care of themselves and don't care that what other straight guys who stick to tried and true think of this..com'on society is CHANGING hello-o?

 

[PrinceOfCats]

Calm, calm xclusive...the initial confusion is over now.

I've thought about this more carefully now:

To enjoy something fully you must understand the culture that spawned it.

In the case of Fillet Mignon you must understand a millenium of the French cooking tradition. Go to France, learn some French and try the French resteraunt experience - then you can say 'Fillet Mignon'.

Go to Italy, watch the entire works of Ferderico Fellini, read Il Gattopardo, get out that old Italian history textbook and then you can wear Dolce & Gabbana.

BUT...even if you don't understand the culture that gave birth to something you can still enjoy it.

 

[Acid]

the whole culture started when men realised........'if women can do it......then so can we'

iconic figures such as david beckham and magazines like mens health and GQ have slowly persuaded men that there is nothing wrong with doing stereotypically 'gay' things