Old_Hat said:I agree with Tom Wolfe that dandyism is "a mild form of agression". By deliberately distancing oneself from the people that one is with, one is implicitly stating that they do not want to be wholly associated with them. Remember that the purpose of etiquette (manners) is to put others at ease, not to establish moral superiority. One does not deliberately overdress in order to make others more comfortable, if one does so, it is to make a statement.
Nothing wrong with that, it's a free choice, and one I would fight to preserve... but if you do choose to exercise Wolfe's "mild form of agression", I'm not sure you can realistically complain if you get a little of it back from time to time. You are, after all, not only "making a statement", but you're making it rather loudly.
The Wingnut said:"I'd like to see you pull this off!" and went my merry way.
Old_Hat said:Remember that Tom Wolfe was a leading exponent of the "man from Mars" school of journalism, that school of thought that the journalist should be completely separate and removed from the events he's reporting, present but in no way taking part... sort of the exact opposite of the "gonzo" or immersion school of thought advocated by contemporary Hunter Thompson.
Since his technique is a form of deliberate alienation, I'm sure the ice cream suit helps.