[PA Comic] Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - Decor, Part One

Geth

Decor, Part One
http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/08/28

KalTorak

bwahaha, outstanding

just like in the Weddings episode of PATV, where Tycho insists that his cargos constitute a perfectly suitable "wedding pant."

Henroid

Me several years ago.

Rhesus Positive

Makeover montage time!

Jacques L'Homme

Me today.

KalTorak

also Gabe's classy look is pretty great

i bet he has polo shirts with little Pac-men instead of alligators.

Darkewolfe

Kinda weird to me. As the informed reader who usually espouses more interest in interpersonal interaction and philosophy, I'd figure Tycho would immediately latch on to the power dynamics inherent in dressing well. Yeah, you're dressing up the decaying husk you're haunting, but it immediately gives you a psychological advantage over the peasants around you.

Boler

Darkewolfe wrote: »

Kinda weird to me. As the informed reader who usually espouses more interest in interpersonal interaction and philosophy, I'd figure Tycho would immediately latch on to the power dynamics inherent in dressing well. Yeah, you're dressing up the decaying husk you're haunting, but it immediately gives you a psychological advantage over the peasants around you.

Perhaps he simply does not want to show his cards early, to let him decide who is worth his time trying to manipulate and who is just sort of "there".

If you are a well dressed man they will expect more highbrow things of you. Why give them the hint?

mnihil

I can't heal your (like) emotional scars.

There's a t-shirt in that.

Ironically.

Snowbeat

What people take for relentless minimalism is a side effect of too much exposure to the reactor-cores of fashion. This has resulted in a remorseless paring-down of what she can and will wear. She is, literally, allergic to fashion. She can only tolerate things that could have been worn, to a general lack of comment, during any year between 1945 and 2000. She’s a design-free zone, a one-woman school of anti whose very austerity periodically threatens to spawn its own cult.

L_Mariachi

It’s a common thing not just among “geeks” but the population in general. “Why shouldn’t I dress in whatever I feel like whenever?” And then you wind up stuck on a transatlantic flight next to some slob in a half-shirt, sweatpants, and flip-flops. That’s somewhat different than the outfit optimized for efficiency Tycho describes, but they’re on the same spectrum.

Here’s the thing: How you dress is not just about you, it’s also about a degree of courtesy to those around you. Wearing something too casual to a formal event (weddings, funerals, etc.) conveys disrespect to the honorees and everyone else there. If you can’t be bothered to at least look like you’re making an effort, you may as well not go at all.

(This does not apply to stupid jobs that make you wear a tie even though no client ever sees you since you’re in a basement in front of a computer all day. That’s stupid.)

Gaslight

I am enthusiastic about the fact this is Part One, I want a whole series of Gabe putting Tycho through What Not To Wear.

Darkewolfe

Look, I'm just saying. Put on a damn suit once in awhile. You look good.

Mixlplix

Not to do the whole 'things you cant un-see' thing, but is it just me or does Gabe have an erection in the first panel.

Cambiata

Mixlplix wrote: »

Not to do the whole 'things you cant un-see' thing, but is it just me or does Gabe have an erection in the first panel.

Well I congratulate you on getting me to closely examine Gabe's crotch for longer than is healthy but no, there isn't the slightest sign of an erection.

Evermourn

Actually sweat pants (or tracksuit bottoms as I'd call them) on a long plane flight just makes sense, it's what I wear if possible. A half-shirt (crop top) is a bit much though

Rehab

Cambiata wrote: »

Mixlplix wrote: »

Not to do the whole 'things you cant un-see' thing, but is it just me or does Gabe have an erection in the first panel.

Well I congratulate you on getting me to closely examine Gabe's crotch for longer than is healthy but no, there isn't the slightest sign of an erection.

Yeah, I'm not seeing it either.

His head does fluctuate in size and shape though.

Quid

Evermourn wrote: »

Actually sweat pants (or tracksuit bottoms as I'd call them) on a long plane flight just makes sense, it's what I wear if possible. A half-shirt (crop top) is a bit much though

Seriously. If I'm getting on a plane for any amount of time I'm dressing for comfort and ease of movement through security.

Dhalphir

Thirded. There is no way you'd see me get on a plane in anything less than my most comfortable clothes for any flight over a couple hours.

Spaffy

What I love about working in the Creative industries is that "Dress for Comfort" is practically the uniform. The higher up you are, the weirder you get to dress. If I went to a creative presentation is a suit and tie, ironically I would not be taken seriously. I have to look like a creative person.

I remember in my earlier days, and one of my first pitch meetings, my boss turned to me and actually said "Your hair's a little too neat." And this was a sales meeting. He actually went and brought some product so I could muss-up a bit.

Rottonapple

What do you think the chances are that the discussion that lead to this comic will be on the DLC?

Dragkonias

I've never been a suit person myself.

I feel that unless you get suits tailored specifically to your body type they look kind of weird.

Spaffy

Dragkonias wrote: »

I've never been a suit person myself.

I feel that unless you get suits tailored specifically to your body type they look kind of weird.

But when you get one that fits right... holy shit you never want to take it off.

MichaelLC

Spaffy wrote: »

Dragkonias wrote: »

I've never been a suit person myself.

I feel that unless you get suits tailored specifically to your body type they look kind of weird.

But when you get one that fits right... holy shit you never want to take it off.

I need to do this. Gotten them adjusted, but nothing that really felt right.

L_Mariachi

If sweatpants/“track bottoms” are the only comfortable thing you can find to wear on a flight, you are shopping at the wrong places. I’m not talking about some starched woolen things with ironed creases, just, I mean, christ, khakis from the Gap would suffice and they’re plenty comfortable after a wash. Broken-in jeans. Whatever. Sweatpants are in no event “going out in public” clothes unless you’re out exercising.

Quid

Man I ain't even going to bother with sweat pants. Shorts or nothing.

I've seen other people go the pajama route and more power to 'em.

Air travel is an intensely uncomfortable experience for a lot of people and I'm not going to hold it against anyone for trying to make it less awful for themselves.

OrangeButton

Quid wrote: »

Man I ain't even going to bother with sweat pants. Shorts or nothing.

I've seen other people go the pajama route and more power to 'em.

Air travel is an intensely uncomfortable experience for a lot of people and I'm not going to hold it against anyone for trying to make it less awful for themselves.

Yeah I think it's pretty much understood that for flights people dress as comfortably as they like. Kick off the shoes, wear pajamas, whatever. For a long haul 12-hour flight I would expect nothing less. People are sleeping, bringing pillows and slippers, etc.

As for the 'pointless decorating of vile husks'? Well, there is a point...it's fun. In the same way that it's fun to dress up a game avatar so he looks cool, coordinated, and badass, it's fun to do it to yourself. Just remember to add some personal touches - it's a form of self-expression.

Also agree with the previous poster who said it's also about a degree of courtesy to those around you/hosts of an event, etc.