That small red truck is a truck of a man who truly is masculine. Doesn’t give a shit what other people think, needs it to carry supplies, and didn’t want to waste any money.
Giant lifted trucks are the opposite of masculine. They’re for showing off, desperately trying to get people to notice them, they arely if ever haul anything (if they even can anymore with the lift), and they wasted huge amounts of money.
My point is that the same people who bemoan the lack of expressiveness in men’s clothing are at the same time defining masculine coding as being utilitarian in the context of trucks.
I think cars should be more individualistic, which is part of Slate’s pitch. So should men’s fashion expectations.
That being said, a lot of truck lifting is very similar and more “I’m signicaling I’m part of this culture,” than doing it for the sake of being cool. Some people do it as a form of expression, but that’s the exception in my experience.
I’m confused. Most self expression in fashion is about identifying with some kind of culture. Hence why a conservative will wear cowboy boots, a punk will wear a band t shirt, and a gay man will wear a neon pink mesh tank top. Sure, runway fashion designers and people for whom fashion is a hobby will look at a piece with a discerning eye and try to unravel its intrinsic appeal based purely on immediate understanding of the impact of the piece on the human eye. But most people, male or female, intuitively use fashion in the most utilitarian of senses - they want to look good, and tell others who they are in a way that others will understand. And the most important thing that most strangers will want to know about us is what communities we are part of.
I mean, sure, but I were forced to pick I’d rather bring both to the scrapyard and get a bike instead. Or a van, but yeah. Choosing the lesser evil over time will lead to the actually good options getting eliminated.
If it were a nice person inside and they just liked the ‘lifted’ style though, that’s one thing. I think there’s something to be said for auto personalization culture, like people do with jeeps and the Slate is trying to start up. I actually knew a really short girl who drove a lifted truck and simply thought it was neat, heh.
But usually, I wince in anticipation of what flavor of ‘macho’ is going to step out. Like you said perfectly, it’s usually not Hank Hill.
That’s neat you found a girl like that, but it is not the norm from my experience, as it looks like it’s yours too. I usually see a lot of angry men who are too eager to swerve lanes and show off how cool their truck (and by extension they) are.
That small red truck is a truck of a man who truly is masculine. Doesn’t give a shit what other people think, needs it to carry supplies, and didn’t want to waste any money.
Giant lifted trucks are the opposite of masculine. They’re for showing off, desperately trying to get people to notice them, they arely if ever haul anything (if they even can anymore with the lift), and they wasted huge amounts of money.
Funny that everyone agrees with this take when it comes to trucks, but if you apply it to clothing it is “toxic masculinity”.
I’m not even sure what you mean precisely, but men’s expressiveness through fashion is a bit squelched, yeah.
My point is that the same people who bemoan the lack of expressiveness in men’s clothing are at the same time defining masculine coding as being utilitarian in the context of trucks.
This incongruity is frustrating to me.
Agreed.
I think cars should be more individualistic, which is part of Slate’s pitch. So should men’s fashion expectations.
That being said, a lot of truck lifting is very similar and more “I’m signicaling I’m part of this culture,” than doing it for the sake of being cool. Some people do it as a form of expression, but that’s the exception in my experience.
I’m confused. Most self expression in fashion is about identifying with some kind of culture. Hence why a conservative will wear cowboy boots, a punk will wear a band t shirt, and a gay man will wear a neon pink mesh tank top. Sure, runway fashion designers and people for whom fashion is a hobby will look at a piece with a discerning eye and try to unravel its intrinsic appeal based purely on immediate understanding of the impact of the piece on the human eye. But most people, male or female, intuitively use fashion in the most utilitarian of senses - they want to look good, and tell others who they are in a way that others will understand. And the most important thing that most strangers will want to know about us is what communities we are part of.
I dunno, chief. That “small” red truck is big as well. And the stuff in there will still get wet. Much more practical to have a van.
Oh completely agree - but if forced to choose between those two types of trucks I know which one I’d say is more reasonable.
I mean, sure, but I were forced to pick I’d rather bring both to the scrapyard and get a bike instead. Or a van, but yeah. Choosing the lesser evil over time will lead to the actually good options getting eliminated.
If it were a nice person inside and they just liked the ‘lifted’ style though, that’s one thing. I think there’s something to be said for auto personalization culture, like people do with jeeps and the Slate is trying to start up. I actually knew a really short girl who drove a lifted truck and simply thought it was neat, heh.
But usually, I wince in anticipation of what flavor of ‘macho’ is going to step out. Like you said perfectly, it’s usually not Hank Hill.
That’s neat you found a girl like that, but it is not the norm from my experience, as it looks like it’s yours too. I usually see a lot of angry men who are too eager to swerve lanes and show off how cool their truck (and by extension they) are.