I guess I’m neither…I tend to wait until the dust settles, and then decide what to do. For example:I’m thinking of updating from Windows 97 to the latest version…only it may take me several years to make the transition. I still have my 1992 TV, so HDTV is out for the moment. As far as clothes go, I’m content to be pretty retro…I like 50’s styles (like Kramer, on the old Seinfeld show).
Are you a “tendy” peson? How long does it take for you to get rid of all your old stuff, once you’ve committed to a new trend?
If you use Windows 97, you’re definitely a trendsetter 
You’ll be one of the very few people in the world that use it.
Me, I don’t care either way. If I like something new that comes out, I’ll get it; if not, I won’t. If it happens to start a trend, great; if I’m just following a very old one, that’s fine too.
Going by your user name, you’re definitely not a trend-setter.
I use windows 99 my self 
Seriously, I’m a GIS programmer and I have '98 on my home machine. I do have a sat dish for TV and internet, but that’s because that’s the only way I can get it.
My brother on the other hand, a truck driver, has to have every new toy that comes out.
My best friend from high school once said that the world was made up of sheep and wolves. I said, okay. . .and I’m a llama.
I evaluate new trends as they come along. Most of them I figure are dumb (for instance, this whole pink and black thing. . .::shudders:: I’m glad that’s on it’s way out, so I can buy clothes again). Sometimes, though, something new’ll come along that I like (or I’ll come across something old that I think is cool). When that happens, I will adopt the parts that I like and hang on to them forever.
I have, however, actually helped to start at least one trend–wearing skirts over jeans. Or, at the very least, I was doing it on my own about a year before a bunch of other people over here started doing it.
It’s a false dichotomy. You don’t have to be either a “trendsetter” or a “follower.” You can simply refuse to participate in the whole silly thing and buy things based on whether you need it or not, or whether it appeals to you, not on whether or not it’s “trendy” or may become trendy.
As for clothes, I wear clothes until they wear out or until my wife tells me to stop wearing them. For equipment, I buy as I need them. I didn’t get a cellphone or a laptop until I got my current job and they paid for them. When I move on from this job, I doubt I’ll keep either. Although they are nice, I simply don’t need them. I couldn’t tell you what type of TV, laptop, cell phone, stereo, etc., that I have. If it meets my needs I don’t care what else is out there.
The only “trendy” thing I can think that I own is an ipod. My wife got one for Christmas and I saw how useful it was and bought one myself. As I travel a fair amount for work, it’s quite nice to have all my CDs on the laptop and on the ipod. When something comes out that replaces the ipod, I doubt I’ll buy it unless it shows itself to be more useful.
I agree with Renob’s first paragraph.
In addition, the whole idea of being a ‘trendsetter’ implies that there is a following which is watching the trendsetter for style cues. Some of us just do our own things and exist beneath the radar, with no idea how to attract a following even if we wanted one.
Sort of a -setter and sort of a do my own thing. If I don’t get into a “trend” by the time it reaches a certain critical mass, I avoid it until it’s lost its cachet. So I’m either one of the first people into a “trendy” thing or I’m a couple years too late. Raves and emo were old news to me by the time everyone else heard about 'em, but I didn’t let myself listen to grunge until the mid-90s.
Neither trendsetter nor follower here. I’m the one who ignores trends and does my own thing, and gets pointed at and ridiculed by others, who most definitely don’t follow my lead.
That’s really hard to say because as far as clothing goes some might say that I dress like like any other guy my age but if I like something and it happens to stop being trendy then I will keep on wearing it.
I don’t go after trends but if I see something on someone else and think it’d look nice on me then I’ll be asking; “Where’d you buy that?”
The only time in my life I have ever been a trend setter was about two years ago in the first grade. Yes, at 34, I was a first grade trendsetter. I twirled my hair up on top of my head and secured it with a pencil while I was grading spelling tests with my red pen. Two days later, every little girl in first grade had pencils suck in their hair.
Other than that brief moment of glory, I have remained a relative unknown in the fashion and trendsetting world.
Do I follow? Yes and no. I like to buy and wear stylish clothes, but I work with a lot of old women. I’m usually out of place compared to them, and they wouldn’t be caught dead in what I wear.
My husband and I were just talking about this this morning. We decided we’re trendsetters after I read, one after another, the thread about how Carhartt is now cool (my husband loves Carhartt stuff, but his was all bought at Ace Hardware) and an E! article about knitting as a big trend (I’ve been knitting for 15+ years). Pretty cool that as we’re entering middle age, our dumpy, uncool selves have become cutting edge!
All right, am I this far out of the mainstream that I have no idea what “emo” is?
I’m only 28! I’m not that old!
All right. I googled it. I’m good.
Or does that make me even lamer that I had to google it?
I’m neither as well. I want my clothes to be comfortable, not stylish. Should the twain meet, great, but I’m not wearing something that’s constricting or otherwise uncomfortable to look fashionable.
I will say I’m extremely happy with fashion right now-- the stuff I’ve been wearing for years is now cool. You can wear pretty much anything these days and not elicit strange looks. The embroidered shirts with bell sleeves I bought at the Ren fair are apparently “in” now, because I see young girls wearing similar ones, and Mexican ponchos (which I always loved because I’m always cold) are also popular.
Hair styles are more casual as well. Christ, I hated the 80s with the big, poofy hair, especially that unspeakably ugly ball of puffed hair over the forehead that women wore (and some still do!) Now, you can wear your hair naturally-- and messy hair is “in!” Hell, you can get a haircut to make your hair look messy intentionally! It’s great!