how do you deal with the inevitable hecklings?

[Mr. Boltneck]

Since modern mainstream fashion has no real direction, and is endlessly cannibalizing the past on an increasingly short time-scale, the whole point is that you are either part of the whole arcane business or you are "doing it wrong." There is little difference between fashion connoisseurship and the 4chan Cosplay board, when you come right down to it. I suspect that Ms. Holmes is running into the "fanboys." When you dress so far out of the mainstream that they have no basis for comparison, they have no basis for actual critique, which requires real knowledge and judgement, so they are forced to be silent. It's as if the kind of Trekkie who will sneer at anyone whose TOS outfit has the wrong depth of velour on the shirt got dropped into a gun show.

[Sgt.Major Thistlewaite]

She shut up when she saw that I was wearing fangs.

Just flash 'em a big friendly smile...it always works for me!



~T

[helios]

O_O


...Aye, that'd about do it.

[LadyAsprin]

This threads' title isn't very welcoming to steampunks new to the subculture. It kind of subjests that in order to be a steampunk you have to face abuse from the further public. That goes on to mean that steampunks are social rejects. Of course, that's often not the case; but it is the impression people get, and can be off putting to new steampunks.

To me its no different from being insulted for dressing goth.

I have been told "its not Halloween" - when it actually was and I have been yelled across the street at.  But it seems the fact I walk looking like I know where I'm going (even if I don't) seems to help avoid the heckling.

[Grumfoss]

I feel really sorry for people who have been heckled in the street, I for one am very lucky that I have never experienced this at all, even when walking through 'Chav' populated streets. again it could be because I am 6'3" and quite 'stocky' that I have never had anything except compliments given to me. The usual thing that I have found is people start rummaging for their camera phones and start snapping away - I don't mind and its much better than any insults. The hardest thing is trying to describe what a Steampunk is when asked!
I have found that the older people I have met seem to always compliment myself and my fellow Steamies on how well we all look dressed as we do. It does give me a buzz when I hear compliments like that.

On my last trip to Oxford, to see the Steampunk exhibition, we were all surrounded by 100's of Oxford students all dressed in caps and gowns,  I felt that I fitted in really well in my tophat. It was great to hear the bus driver say that I looked 'dapper'

[Llrael]

On my last trip to Oxford, to see the Steampunk exhibition, we were all surrounded by 100's of Oxford students all dressed in caps and gowns,  I felt that I fitted in really well in my tophat. It was great to hear the bus driver say that I looked 'dapper'

Hah, the worst bit was the students that were laughing at us! You can't laugh at anyone's dress sense if you're wearing an Oxford gown, those things are hideous.

Clearly I need to invest in some more interesting clothes, I haven't been heckled in months!

[Utini420]

While I seldom get heckled, I do get far more than my share of bemused looks.  Rednecks just don't fancy a man in a kilt, it seems.  Well, ok, their wives are just fine with it, but not so much with the men folk. 

This is about the only circumstance when I feel a truly condescending look is merited.  Once they've already passed judgement on my cloths and grooming habits, it can be quite hard not to return that judgement...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[LadyAsprin]

Seeing men in kilts in edinburgh is normal.

[tophatdan]

While I seldom get heckled, I do get far more than my share of bemused looks.  Rednecks just don't fancy a man in a kilt, it seems.  Well, ok, their wives are just fine with it, but not so much with the men folk. 

This is about the only circumstance when I feel a truly condescending look is merited.  Once they've already passed judgement on my cloths and grooming habits, it can be quite hard not to return that judgement...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

hey bro that guy is clearly a winner... you can tell by the 'i dont care' sunglasses, and the fact that his toddler is clearly pre-enlisted...


that aside, i live in a small town and i have been dressing this way for nai on 15 years, that said... its a small enough town that i got all the heckling over with here about 10 years ago, everyone has sort of solidified an opinion, be it good or bad about me, based on how i look and who my grandmother is and what relation i am to the mayor and how well my yard is groomed...

the only heckling i still get is when i go out of town, and boy are there heaps a plenty...

people in cars feel the need to yell things, i feel the need to flip them the bird, the constant bar room question "HEY... can you pull a rabbit out of that hat?" followed by self assuring laughter, is always met with "no but i can pull a bird out of it wanna see?" at which time i remove my hat, put my fist into it and then remove it quickly, flipping them the bird...

this has gotten me into many a barfight... fortunately I'm 6'4 350 and can throw most men across a parkinglot with ease...

i find that often amongst strangers 'pecking order' is not the issue at all, its simply that they see something different... your personal level of badassery does not matter to drunks because they are willing to get their asses kicked for no reason, and 3 pints full of liquid courage... the stares, the glances and the whispers are often the worst, they leave you wondering if there is something on your face, looking in a mirror or brushing yourself off, sure that you must have mud on your chest, only to remember that you are infact a fatman in a tophat and westcut...

when a stranger says something to you they give you the opportunity to either prove them wrong or push them down in return, its when they say nothing but you can 'feel their eyes upon you as you are shaking off the cold' those moments are far worse than the words of any heckler, any jack hole in a bar, any drunk, any old class mate... its when the people of the diner, people who you have never met and never will meet again... when they have  judged you the second you walk in the door... i imagine its the closest a white man can come to knowing what racism feels like...

[Sgt.Major Thistlewaite]

I suppose I am an elitist, Dan...I never experience those feelings. When I walk into a place, I walk in with the attitude that "the best man in the room has just arrived, you peasants may now regard me with a proper attitude of awe."

 

Thistlewaite

[Vagabond GentleMan]

Actually, I agree with you both, Thistlewaite and Dan...When I walk into a room, I reckon I can out-fight, out-f**k, and out-spit any sunuvabitch in the place (and still maintain my status as a Gentleman).  And yet, there are definitely situations where I can feel the hostility of the hive-mind of a crowd of rowdies who greatly outnumber me, and regardless of whether or not they say anything, it sucks.

[tophatdan]

no one is immune to what others are thinking of them and saying behind their back, especially in a road side diner or a small town cafe, those places breed that pulse swallowing disapproval feeling...

the only way to be immune to it is to be ignorant of it...

badassery wont save you from whispering old women...

[Count Alexander]

I suppose I am an elitist, Dan...I never experience those feelings. When I walk into a place, I walk in with the attitude that "the best man in the room has just arrived, you peasants may now regard me with a proper attitude of awe."

 

Thistlewaite

Is.....that a challenge Sgt. Major? =)

[Mad Miss Holmes]

badassery wont save you from whispering old women...

No, but infuriatingly good manners and a plummy affected accent will.

[Sgt.Major Thistlewaite]

I suppose I am an elitist, Dan...I never experience those feelings. When I walk into a place, I walk in with the attitude that "the best man in the room has just arrived, you peasants may now regard me with a proper attitude of awe."

 

Thistlewaite

Is.....that a challenge Sgt. Major? =)

Certainly not...I do not issue challenges, other than for matters of honour. Additionally, since you, Sir, are apparently a Count, and I a mere Baron (see Brass Goggles Roll of Honour,) it would be presumptuous on my part to do so. Merely an observation, and admittedly an assumption on my part. I have yet to turn down a formal challenge, however....I prefer to be the challenged party, as that affords me the choice of weapons...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I generally choose sledgehammers at half-a-pace.....

Since I very seldom travel anymore beyond the environs of the Barony of Lux, the situation doesn't present itself.

However, my dear Count, should you wish to issue such, please contact my majordomo, Willoughby, here;



....and he will make the arrangements.

Yours,
The Rt. Hon. Thos. Elihue Thistlewaite, Baron Luxborough, Sgt. Maj. HMRHM, ret.

[Count Alexander]

Damn your good...... -_- *Straightens tie* Another time perhaps, I would hate to derail this thread with titanic clashes....

The Count

[Burr]

Clearly the simplest solution is to wear nothing at all. That way you can't be heckled for what you are wearing.

[LadyAsprin]

You might be heckled for what your not wearing though.

[elShoggotho]

Strange: Since I adopted my air force greatcoat, there's no heckling at all. Damn thing looks like straight out of the parade grounds, which might help a bit.

[Lady Fleur Mapledurham]

Probably by myself here, but over the years I've become so utterly damned oblivious to whatever I happen to be wearing at any given time, that if comment arises, absent minded realisation is the first reaction on my part.  I'm an academic and dress and textile historian by profession, and have, as a consequence, worked at dozens of historic properties and lecture rooms all around Britain.  I don't often have transport so tend to get dressed before I leave so as not to carry my bodyweight in gown and corsets on the bus/ train/ bicycle that is my means of getting to work.  Also due to mishaps and disorganisation I have wasted countless hours in A&E and supermarkets in top to toe, detail perfect historic costume.  Most stare open-mouthed, some giggle behind their hands, obviously longing to say something but lacking the wherewithall, others ask questions, which I see no alternative that to answer civilly and graciously.  I suppose the 'heckling' is less because the clothes are work related, so that provides some kind of justification in the eyes of others, but even on my own time, when they aren't, my reactions are so ingrained that the same thing happens.  I suppose my manners and 'affected' (though I prefer 'well spoken' or 'cultured') accent maybe add to the air of eccentricity.......who knows?

All that said, it does probably help that the part of England I live in is quite Bohemian and very very old (900 years, I think, and terribly proud of it!).  We have little clique of 'chavs' but they tend not to stray out of their little estate, to anywhere where they are the minority (poor dears!!) as I guess it takes them out of their comfort zone.  I personally have little to no reason to ever set foot there, thankfully, so the issue rarely arises.  I experienced the same when living in London, although maybe it's just more indicative of the parts of London I grew up in (Mayfair and Hampstead, then Camden in my early twenties).

I remember, funnily enough, years ago out Christmas shopping on Regent Street, seeing a man dressed as Christ, complete with Crown of Thorns and Cross, dragging said cross down a major London shopping street on December 23rd.  No-one, I repeat NO-ONE, would so much as meet his eyes.  All they could do was look at their shoes.  Vive la Difference, eh?

Fleur

[Burr]

You might be heckled for what your not wearing though.

I refuse to believe it.

[Vagabond GentleMan]

Forgive me, my UK friends, for my American ignorance, but please would someone define a 'chav' for me!

[Utini420]

This is so non-PC it ain't funny, but an American might translate Chav as "wigger," but think more petty crime and less suburban kid at the mall.

[Vagabond GentleMan]

They have those in the UK?  That's kinda hilarious!  Or ridiculous?  I guess it's a confusing mixed-emotion I'm experiencing...I imagine seeing one would be like looking in a cultural fun-house mirror.

[Utini420]

Don't take my translation too literally, the cultural baggage is different.  A native Brit could give illustrating details far better than I, but that translation is good enough to make sense of comments folks make about chavs, in a short-hand kind of way.