24 April 2013

"Whats wrong with this country..."


Ah, the back biting world of Ye Olde Internet Fora (fora is plural for forum, its Latin, dontcha know)

Recently, I was told by an anonymous commenter that my sitting in a folding chair at my boy's soccer game was "whats wrong with this country". Then some guy who calls himself Popeye Doyle had this to say, from behind a computer, no doubt seated, at Film Noir Buff, a place where you can "find your sartorial chi", if you like:

Our old friend Giacomo over at "A Laughable Wardrobe", giddy with spring fever, posts an inane visual essay about all his favorite fings--fries, no socks, steamed mussels, craft beer, another man's shoes, and his endearingly adorable children--a typical post of a tired blogger with nothing to say. One picture shows the common collapsible chair he hauls to his son's soccer game to sit in for a few minutes when he's not taking pictures of his feet.  You've seen them around, the nylon chairs with the 38-inch wide seat to accommodate the normal American ass, and the cupholder for the ubiquitous 75,000 calorie "beverage" that must be nursed 24 hours a day.  I'm sure a few of you have furnished your room with them.  Some coward hiding behind an anonymous post commented that Giacomo does not need such a thing as who the fuck can't stand up the entire length of a kid's soccer game?

Giacomo's dogs must have been killing him when he read it,  as he angrily responded with intimate details of his personal life:

1) I am giddy with Spring fever, because its been damn cold where I live
2) My children are indeed adorable
3)I am tired, but not so tired as to waste my time berating strangers on the Internet. The web may be an
unseemly place, especially for gentlemen. That's largely because of this sort of thing . I may have little to say
just at the moment, but you, apparently, have nothing to say.
4) I like to sit down sometimes, that's who the f*ck
5) My home city saw a terrorist bombing at an international event, and a hectic police chase last week,
resulting in the deaths of innocent people and the serious injury of numerous others. Do not dare tell me that
my chair is whats wrong with this country.
6) Popeye Doyle is a fictional character from a movie. Nothing like an anonymous coward.
7) This blog is part of my personal life, because, ya know, its my blog
8) My wardrobe is laughable, as is anyone's. The very fact that we attach so much weight and meaning to
any of this is proof that we are from being as evolved was we would like to believe. I'm just trying to enjoy
myself through clothing.
9) Clearly, you stop by here regularly. Thanks for the traffic.
10) See here


Love, Giuseppe

39 comments:

Joshua Hart said...

Peace, brother.

Anonymous said...

I liked your post. Your chair is fine. I've noticed that an awful lot of insufferable idiots are blogging about style these days.

You are not one of them.

Scott Alexander said...

Giuseppe, you're my hero and that guy's a total idiot. Best wishes to you, your family and your lawn chair.

Garry said...

I am not usually moved to comment on blogs, but must add my support to you Giussepe against the anonymous horde. It seems that some people have no manners. I understand that your blog is a public space, of a kind, but that doesn't mean people should act like complete yahoos under the cover of anonymity.

If you wouldn't make a snide comment to a complete stranger in the street what makes you think you should do it online.

Thank you Giussepe for a thoughtful, well composed, and always entertaining blog.

Ian said...

Leave 'em G, they're not worth it.

Good post though. Raised a chuckle.

Unknown said...

We are the same age and i where bowties with a handlebar moustache? Friends make fun of me for wearing salmon chinos yrt they still wear runners with t shirts and jeans yet when they do dress up, they cant match and look like their clothes are from a curtain...but dressing nice is whats wrong? You keep writing and scoring deals

Santo

Well-Dressed Mongrel said...

It's incredibly weird to me how one man with an Italian name thrifting nice clothes has attracted so much vitriol from... from, jeez, I don't know, some sort of desperately inbred Aryan-supremacist fossil relic class?

What's wrong with America might be racism, misogyny, imperialistic tendencies, a brutal disregard for the weak and the poor, or our antiquated adherence to a self-destructive free-market fundamentalism, but it certainly isn't a lawn chair at a kid's soccer game.

Sigh.

Related: Does Gene Hackman have a terribly large head, or does he simply prefer smaller hats?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Ferd has opened a new location with a new name. Pity that he must steal a character from one of my favorite movies.

Nick said...

Garry puts it most eloquently.

I was going to say "Justignore the wankers", but that would have been plain rude.

DT said...

Some people will say 'don't feed the trolls.' I think that's a good rule, 95% of the time. However, sometimes it does some good to vent and rally the troops.

This commenter is quite obviously a total piece of shit. Anyone who feels the need to lob ad hominems against a blogger is a very sad individual. Their sadness and low sense of self expresses itself as anger. Of course, this poor excuse for a human can instantly respond that they have a great sense of self-worth and a life worth living, but we all know that's just not true.

I can simultaneously feel disdain and pity for such an despicable person, while dismissing any potential worth to the contents of their comments.

Eff the haters and KEEP IT UP, Giuseppe.

Anonymous said...

FIlm Noir Buff says it all. Great blog and I enjoy reading it. Thanks for your time and effort.

Eric

Francis said...

Of all the men's fashion blogs that I follow, your's is perhaps the most enjoyable to read and certainly the most genuine. Keep it coming.

Anonymous said...

Im not sure how anyone could be pissed off from anything that is posted here.

txcon said...

Giuseppe, keep up the good work. I am sitting here responding to you wearing a blue Brooks Brothers OCBD that I got for $3 at the Salvation Army. I'll be heading to a meeting at lunch in BB suit I got at another thrift store for $27.

Would never have found either without your inspiration.

I hope that your lawn chair is also second hand!

Drew said...

Nonsense! This is total nonsense. Such stupid hyperbole that a person sitting in a chair is what's wrong with America.

I can think of no worse a target for this rage. A father who works two jobs, buys everything secondhand (from charity shops!!!), and ATTENDS his children's games?

If you don't like the post, click the X and move on.

Beakywitch said...

I don't like it when you shout.

Anonymous said...

I think your anonymous poster is the brute Well Dress Mongrel talks about.

Obviously, you are much respected.

I should add that I am female and find your blog inspirational!

Joe said...

Beakywitch is right. I should learn to keep quiet about these things. As an American of Italian descent, keeping my mouth shut is not my strong suit, especially when someone accuses me of laziness.

On to the usual stuff soon.

Michael said...

Perhaps this gentleman was in a foul mood that day. Or perhaps his meds need adjustment. Or maybe he's just a dick.

The good thing about the internet is that it tends to connect us to people and ideas we might not otherwise experience; the bad thing about the internet is that it tends to connect us to people and ideas we might not otherwise experience.

Skip Castaneda said...

Giuseppe,
I have been reading your blog for a few years now. You have inspired me to thrift. I always get compliments on the treasures I find. I have you to thank for that. Keep blogging along and bollocks too your critics!

Anonymous said...

Keep Calm and Carry On.

In response to Popeye Doyle: As my mother (and Thumper from "Bambi") always said: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". Especially using the name of a fictional movie character on the Internet.

J ustin. said...

Please see this to help you understand. The greater Internet fuckwad theory. http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19

David V said...

Film Noir Buff.

A board started by a guy who was kicked off the other boards and loaded with the self-inflated trolls from those same boards.

Anonymous said...

Is Clint Eastwood speaking to your chair? If not, no comment required.

Let's return to our normally scheduled sartorial programming...

Gordo said...

Mr. G, Classy result. Or to put it more casually a real good morning, good afternoon, and good night.

Anonymous said...

Yours is the best men's style blog there is. Now, if you only remember to provide us with your steam iron review...

Anonymous said...

May I suggest that inane comments (such as the ones you reference, like this Popeye clown) in response to your blog posts aren't worth the energy it takes to write a blog response? Rather, use that energy to find another great item at a thrift store.

Anonymous said...

I also hate Springtime and chairs!!! Just kidding, that's insane.

Chenners said...

Joe, did you see this piece I did on some of the FNB nasties?

http://www.ivy-style.com/what-a-pain-anatomy-of-the-angry-internet-user.html

I guess we shouldn't have been surprised to learn these people are miserable.

Anonymous said...

If you are finding your dogs getting tired try eating raw sprouts and weeds, Guiseppe. Love your shoos...

Northmoon said...

It says more about him than it does about you. Hope you feel better after your vent, but next time feel free to delete comments like that and forget them immediately.

Like New Communications I'm female and enjoy following your excellent blog.

And your kids are absolutely adorable, and very lucky to have a dad like you.

stefano44 said...

love your blog, been following it for a while now and indeed it is one of the best as it encourages the three R's(reduce, reuse, recycle) and that I can afford but some blogs talk of the need to spend oodles on 'fashion' yours is affordable style...keep up the good work.

The Confather said...

I think one should follow blogs one likes and leave the rest be. Why do some many people seem to feel the need to troll?

Redcoat said...

I thought the guy's comments were quite amusing and accurate, though possibly a bit unkind; I can see that you might disagree. As an older parent, I suggest that you might be more accurate to characterise your wonderful children as adored rather than adorable.

B Arnold said...

Londoners are only too aware of what it's like to be bombed; latterly by the Irish marxist terrorists. My thoughts are with you.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy your blog! There are many more of us than them (the haters that is). Unfortunately, sometimes the squeaky wheel does get the grease.

Anyway - carry on!

bob said...

Well the lonely dorks in fedora club might not approve of what you do, but that conglomerate complex does.

http://www.complex.com/style/2013/05/the-10-best-mens-style-blogs-in-the-us/an-affordable-wardrobe

Unashamed Capitalist said...

"What's wrong with America might be racism, misogyny, imperialistic tendencies, a brutal disregard for the weak and the poor..."

HAHAHAHAHA!!! You're kidding, right?

America bends over backwards to provide opportunity above and beyond ability to minorities and women (you may know it as "Affirmative Action"). Women are now more than half of all college students, yet are less than half of the population. We're so racist that we have a black president, who got re-elected, for heaven's sake.

If we're imperialists, we must be the worst ones ever. We could have occupied the oil fields of Iraq and let US companies exploit the resources; instead, we left them under Iraqi control. When the Philippines told us they wanted us out, we left.

"Disregard for the weak and poor"? Only a blinkered ideologue could spout such Marxist claptrap with a straight face. We have welfare programs out the wazoo for the weak and the poor. If you're poor in America, you're poor by choice: anyone, by dint of hard work, or exploitation of government largess, can live comfortably here. "Poor" people in America have smart phones, flat-screen TVs, Blu-ray players, and other luxuries, not to mention "necessities" like stoves, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and the like.

If America is so awful, why do so many people from all over the world do anything they can to come here? Why do so few Americans leave permanently for greener pastures abroad?

What's wrong with America has more to do with your ideology than with any defects of the country and the everyday folks who are the bulk of the citizenry.

Joe said...

Its a clothing blog.