The need to belong

[buzzy]

I went for a "surf", if squabbling over tiny little ephemeral aqua bumps is "surfing", at Bondi on Sunday. That's not an unusual thing btw, it's just that Sunday has some relevance to the observation that follows.

Now, after I go for a surf I've developed the habit of wandering into the Pavilion for a shower and to rinse off my board. I do that because the Council put in those annying water saving devices and, unless your name is Harry Houdini, it's near enough to imposssible to rinse salt water off your board while keeping your knee or back or whatever pressed against the little device you depress as a quid pro quo for half a millilitre of water to express from a tiny little hole while 6 Italian tourists try to push you out of the shower and Jody Packer's mutt licks your feet...bitter, angry...moi?

Anyway, I'm wandering over to the pavillion for a shower. I guess I could've skipped the preceding paragraph, but sometimes you just need to vent. So, there I am when this fit looking dude, grey well groomed hair and son it tow walks past wearing a windcheater with "LONGBOARDER" written on it. I'm guessing he was taking part in the Bondi Beach Longboarder's comp that was on, and good luck to him. But I thought it was a bit sad that a full grown man who was probably entitled to access his superannuation in retirement felt the need to "belong" to one tribe or another to the extent he felt it necessary to splurge his hard earned on a descriptive windcheater like that.

Now, I'm not so stupid that I can't recognise that pretty much all of us dress to belong to some extent, whether consciously or unconsciously. But surely this bloke at his age should know better? I mean, sure, a bikie dude might wear a t-shirt with "Harley Davidson" written on it, and you don't need to be a braniac to work out he's trying to tell the word he's a bikie, but would he wear a t-shirt saying "BIKIE"? It'd look pretty stupid, wouldn't it? So why did my mate, who I'm sure is an excellent bloke, great dad and tends a mean lawn, feel the need to tell the world he's a longboarder? And does anyone care?

There we go. I've vented. Over to you lot.

[Longboarder]

Since you asked for opinions, i think your being over critical. Sometimes clothing addresses a lack of identity. For the record i have no problem with him expressing himself. Bit similar to my realsurf forum name huh?

Cheers

[Longygrom]

Golden Breed make a jacket with 'longboarder'' printed on the back of it. They are quite frequently given away as 'competitors prizes' (i think otherwise) during competitions. Kmart sold them also.

[Clif]

kmart have good stuff.

[robbieg]

kmart have good stuff.

When clif is not here he is running the local Kmart!

Nice subtle plug there clif...

[snakes]

I blame advertising/marketing.

If anyone has studied marketing and seen firsthand the psychological levels that advertising/marketing works on, they will know what I mean.

snakes

[bondi]

buzzy seems like an angry man - at this day and age you shouldnt pay too much attention and pass judgements.

let it go man!

if a F1 fan wants to wear his Ferrari jacket to his event so be it, if a longboarder wants to wear his local t-shirt so be it.

no need to go reading into things too much

you may aswell stick to your bonds t-shirts, those people may have a stigma attached to them aswell....

who cares really!

;

[Nugger]

This topic reminds me of one of the big differences between Aussies and Yanks that I have noticed since living in San Diego for the past couple of years. The US is so huge with so many people and almost everyone takes pride in belonging to some sort of social group and is not afraid of advertising the fact on a T-shirt or elsewhere. Nobody looks at you funny or gives the slightest shit. I really like that. In Australian, I often feel that everyone is checking everyone else out and finding any manner of ways to look down upon somebody simply because of how they look or what they are wearing. It's like the whole country is a close minded private school where differences are heavily discouraged. Time for a lot of people to get a life.

[Longygrom]

This topic reminds me of one of the big differences between Aussies and Yanks that I have noticed since living in San Diego for the past couple of years. The US is so huge with so many people and almost everyone takes pride in belonging to some sort of social group and is not afraid of advertising the fact on a T-shirt or elsewhere. Nobody looks at you funny or gives the slightest shit. I really like that. In Australian, I often feel that everyone is checking everyone else out and finding any manner of ways to look down upon somebody simply because of how they look or what they are wearing. It's like the whole country is a close minded private school where differences are heavily discouraged. Time for a lot of people to get a life.

Right with you on that one.

[phantom]

So what if the guy had longboarder on his jacket . longboarders as we all know are the best people compared with the shortboarder agro surfers.hooray for the malz.

[Longboarder]

With a comment like the above i don't think it will be long before you get flamed by some shortboarder who comes in here to read the thread.

[sandtrax]

Buzzy – I think you could spin that excellent first paragraph into a new topic or poll “best, outside beach side shower”. I’ll nominate my local at Dutch inn (WA) – concrete platform with good drainage, a foot shower, regular shower with long lasting tap, all adjacent to elevated grassy area to watch over the break as you’re drying off. And separate dog bowl !

I presume you’re not particularly aggrieved at why he would want to be part of a tribe, given we all belong to some “tribe” or another, be that a family or the “Realsurf forum contributors” club, etc. But rather, why advertise the fact ? I can only suggest the following:

• (i) He IS an Italian tourist. Same as if I stroll down the street with a t-shirt imprinted with “Jacuzzi” or something equally inane.
  
  (ii) He was privy to the launch of the new Longboard fashion magazine – “Longboarder” and scored the free windcheater. Hey – my favorite, comfy t-shirt is the one from the Tracks Christmas 2004 pack.
  
  (iii) He did buy it – joining all those people who pay top dollar for branded clothing and are sucked in to advertising it to boot.
  
  (iv) Other surfers weren’t the intended audience. It was aimed at his fellow superannuants who keep asking him to join them for a game of golf or bowls. His subliminal message is “get f**cked – I’m a virile dude who has better things to do with my time…”.
  
  (v) His wife bought if for him as a birthday present – you missed the rest of the slogan printed on the back “Longboarder – curls your toes”….

[Beanpole]

Personally I think people can look pretty stupid wearing gear like that as they get older. I'm sure I do when I get decked out in some of the dubious surf attire I've accumulated over the years. But that suits me fine
I don't mind looking like a dork on the weekend and the kids think its funny.
I would probably look more distinguished with some golf, resort or fishing
wear but I don't play golf or fish or go to resorts.
I prefer not to take myself too seriously when I can avoid it
What about football or motor racing team colours?
Lighten up a bit buzzy.
Watch out for Japanese tourists at any shower. They will take 15 minutes to wash their feet. Look out if they have actually entered the water Then the soap will come out and they will take an hour

[Longygrom]

So what if the guy had longboarder on his jacket . longboarders as we all know are the best people compared with the shortboarder agro surfers.hooray for the malz.

Thats the type of attitude that makes it harder for longboarders to be accepted.

[snakes]

While we're at it: whaddabout shirts that have "slut" or "skank" or "porn star"? Why stop there? Why not "slag" or "poof" or "geek" or "mummy's boy"? Why not "flat on her back in a new york minute" ?

How about "wanker" or "tool" or "redneck 'roid rager" or"shithouse driver" or "moron" or "scab" or "backstabber"

Or "top bloke" or"down-to-earth" or any faaarken thing that a person may be labelled with...

My favourite T-Shirt is the following (from tshirthell, no less)

"Could you come back in a couple of beers"

snakes

[buzzy]

Just so it's absolutely clear, my personal essence is abolutely unaffected by the need for people to belong by wearing a branded t-shirt. I just think it looks stupid, and (possibly; I don't know them personally so it's impossible to say in the specific but in the general I'll be right more than I'm wrong) reflects poorly on the sense of self worth of the person who so feels the need to belong.

As for the assertion the wild and whacky assortment of "belonging" t-shirts in the US is a good thing, well what can I say? Is it a good thing that people are so disconnected from a sense of community that the feel the need to wear a t-shirt, or dress in a particular way to belong? My answer: No. No bloody way. We need less of this belonging by conforming to subcultural norms and more connecting as individuals and in real communties, not contrived sub cultural communties.

Wear what you want. I'll judge, and you'll judge me judging.