# Dr. Martens makes an oops **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902 "2017-11-17T20:27:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/1 "2017-11-17T20:27:44Z")
> **[Dr. Martens ads feature red laces, a symbol of white supremacist movement](https://katu.com/news/local/dr-martens-ads-skinhead-red-laces-white-supremacy-billboard-ads-boots-portland-pdx)** > > Several billboard advertisements in Portland for Dr. Martens boots feature red laces, a symbol adopted by the white supremacist movement.Boots with red laces indicate the wearer has shed blood for the skinhead movement, according to the Southern... > [@](#): > > Several billboard advertisements in Portland for Dr. Martens boots feature red laces, a symbol adopted by the white supremacist movement. That’s not going to go over well in Portland. Not well at all. ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/2 "2017-11-17T20:32:29Z")
I have told my daughters that I have to expend way too much mental energy remember which one likes what food cooked in what manner. My point is, I am glad I am not in Marketing and having to research every decision to ensure that it will not offend or tick off, or end up with us being sued. And now, because of some evil humans, no one can wear red shoes laces in their Dr. Marten boots. (which I am also glad that I do not produce any products that evil people can take on as a part of their identity and therefore have to worry about being associated with them). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/3 "2017-11-17T20:36:51Z")
Dang, I been seeing Maggie on ‘walking dead’ wearing them. I thought it was cute. Now I can’t do something. Makes me mad! ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/4 "2017-11-17T20:39:23Z")
Seriously? I did not know this. Who did know this? Furthermore, if everybody starts wearing red shoelaces, it will negate the effect of only white supremacists wearing them. I know, nobody thinks like that. But it would. How about if we call them “dark pink”? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/5 "2017-11-17T20:40:51Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Seriously? I did not know this. Who did know this? Apparently no one in the Portland-area marketing department for Dr. Martens knew it either. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/6 "2017-11-17T20:51:48Z")
I would have no idea, perhaps because I move in very different circles, although Doc Martens were part of the uniform for the skinhead movement ( not that I’ve ever seen one, sort of '70s thing ). _Boots with red laces “indicate the wearer has shed blood for the skinhead movement,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s glossary._ Doesn’t say _whose_ blood. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/7 "2017-11-17T20:52:46Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Dang, I been seeing Maggie on ‘walking dead’ wearing them. I thought it was cute. Now I can’t do something. Makes me mad! Maggie had race laces in them? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/8 "2017-11-17T21:08:07Z")
[Apparently](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3c/c7/80/3cc780e272fbf329ffbe684595bb7bfe--maggie-greene-lauren-cohan.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/9 "2017-11-17T21:12:15Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > That’s not going to go over well in Portland. Not well at all. That article has been up for a day now. Have the SJW types rioted yet? Is Portland on fire as we speak? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/10 "2017-11-17T21:17:05Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Apparently](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3c/c7/80/3cc780e272fbf329ffbe684595bb7bfe--maggie-greene-lauren-cohan.jpg) Damn. Now I have to start hating her! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/11 "2017-11-17T21:19:04Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > That article has been up for a day now. Have the SJW types rioted yet? Is Portland on fire as we speak? I don’t know. I’m, thankfully, many miles away from there. Did you think “not going to go over well” was a claim by me that they would riot? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/12 "2017-11-17T21:20:20Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Damn. Now I have to start hating her! I’m sure there’s some catchy “no hate” slogan that could apply here, but I’m not up to speed enough on the hashtags the kids these days are using to know what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/13 "2017-11-17T22:39:21Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > _Boots with red laces “indicate the wearer has shed blood for the skinhead movement,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s glossary._ I cut myself shaving. Does that make me a Nazi? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/14 "2017-11-17T23:01:10Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Maggie had race laces in them? Aside from the fact those aren’t Docs , but they do indeed have red laces…🙂 Those are hiking boots with a Goodyear welt and, likely, Vibram soles which look superficially similar. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/15 "2017-11-18T00:41:02Z")
I am from the deep south. You think I would have heard of this. All I ever see is the white-girl uniform, miss me jeans, a big scarf, and uggs. Lots of boys wear those Timberline boots. And let’s not forget the red-neck boys with camo tees and cowboy boots.( I think the boots are called ropers, nowadays) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/16 "2017-11-18T00:54:05Z")
I am guessing it is a skinhead thing which is usually a working class Britain or non-south America thing. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/17 "2017-11-18T03:44:44Z")
The buried lede is that skinheads figured out how laces work. Russian meddling is worse than we thought. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/18 "2017-11-18T04:05:04Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > I would have no idea, perhaps because I move in very different circles, although Doc Martens were part of the uniform for the skinhead movement ( not that I’ve ever seen one, sort of '70s thing ). Huh. I always associate Doc Martens with grunge fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/19 "2017-11-18T04:15:43Z")
I thought all skinheads like the South because of the KKK and rebel flag and bigotry. There is plenty of that crap way down here in the land of cotton. I must have missed something. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902/20 "2017-11-18T04:27:51Z")
Apparently, there’s a whole [Doc Martens](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/psa-skinhead-shoelace-code) color code. Who knew? Although [this site](http://10thingszine.blogspot.com/2007/09/doc-martens.html) from 2007 claims red laces can also be used to identify as Left Wing or Socialist. The [Toronto Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice](http://torontosharp.blogspot.com/2008/11/red-laces-white-laces-yellow-laces-oh.html) agree that it could mean you’re a white surpremicist. Or a communist/socialst. Or an anti-racist. These color codes are not working well at all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-martens-makes-an-oops/801902.md?page=2)