# Fuck the fashion police. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 2, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462 "2018-05-02T14:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/61 "2018-05-03T08:42:48Z")
wait so my aunt who inherited a lot of Asian specific styled clothing from her relatives who was stationed in china and japan …shouldn’t wear it ? ( a lot of it is worth money so she dosent wear it much anyways) if this guy wants to bitch why dosent he notice Ariana grande ripped off the Asian loli style … ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/62 "2018-05-03T09:36:09Z")
This is dumb, and as an unapologetic SJW, it offends me, because it undercuts those occasions when _actual_ cultural appropriation can be a real issue, or when the issue is really racist shit like yellowface. _This_ isn’t yellowface, and even using gassho/añjali mudrā/wai/whatever-the-Chinese-call-it doesn’t make it so. > [@nightshadea](#): > > if this guy wants to bitch why dosent he notice Ariana grande ripped off the Asian loli style … Hey, now, they ripped off Nabokov first 🙂 And it’s a l_ittle_ tone deaf to say “Asian” when you mean “Japanese” in a discussion like this. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/63 "2018-05-03T10:27:42Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > [Wai.](http://www.rapidresultsretreat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Wai-Smile.jpg) Yeah, it coincidentally looked like that, but what the girls were doing was “Poppa Bless” and what the boys were doing was “Vape Nation”, which are memes from h3h3productions skits, one involving Poppa John’s pizza and one involving teen “vaping” culture. (No, I had never heard of them before, either.) [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPRrauM4aao) is a short video from January of 2017 demonstrating both. I’m sure that it was a long-standing inside joke amongst the group of friends. > [@Sine\_Nomine](#): > > I’m on the fence about things like in the OP. I don’t want to be dismissive because, well, I \*don’t \*know what it’s like to be part of a non-dominant culture. The problem with this is that is in immigrants thinking that they “own” the culture of their original country. As in: native culture | | immigrant | | America When what it actually is is people drawing elements from the native culture directly native culture | | America Ideas learned about from directly observing what the native culture does and not through what the immigrants do doesn’t have a damn thing to do with the immigrant. This is no different than if an American moved to Japan and started insisting that they had no right to have [weird portrayals of Catholicism](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimeCatholicism). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/64 "2018-05-03T10:34:04Z")
Ah, [here](http://allthemoms.com/2018/05/01/chinese-dress-cheongsam-to-prom-teen-controversy/) is an in-depth piece on the memes. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/65 "2018-05-03T10:48:23Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > This is no different than if an American moved to Japan and started insisting that they had no right to have [weird portrayals of Catholicism](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimeCatholicism). I know several people, mainly Spaniards well over retirement age, who would happily yell Madonna’s ears off over her use of Catholic imagery (because she does know exactly what every symbol means), but who feel kind of flattered by Japanese artists thinking nuns are totally badass (although with a side commentary of “you know, I’m reasonably sure habits aren’t supposed to go over thong panties with more lace than cloth”). Thing is… those are understood to be fantasy, and they same rules the anime artists apply when using Catholic imagery are also applied to religions most Japanese do know well. We’re reasonably sure that Buddhist and Shinto monks don’t go around life blowing shit up; your average martial artist doesn’t turn into a panda when wet. The anime artists are equal-opportunity followers of the Rule of Badass, the Rule of How Can Those Hold Up, etc. I think often the problem is one of respect differential: if generic-you are careful to treat your own cultural references with a certain degree of respect but throw it out of the window for other cultures, people get mad, not at the ignorance, or the arrogance, or the appropriation, but at this idea that “my culture must be respected; yours, I can use to wipe my ass”. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/66 "2018-05-03T13:29:46Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > All this talk I hear of these days of “cultural appropriation” just seems like another form of racist oppression to me. no, it’s just a bunch of fairly-well-off younger people (usually white) who literally have NOTHING better to do with their time than being offended on behalf of other groups. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/67 "2018-05-03T16:48:17Z")
Sorry I’m late to the party. [OP, what have these guys ever done to you?](https://thebiglead.com/2017/05/03/this-wwe-fashion-police-sketch-is-a-lot-of-fun/) ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/68 "2018-05-03T19:31:38Z")
Meanwhile in China, nobody understands what the fuss is about [Teenager’s Prom Dress Stirs Furor in U.S. — but Not in China](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/world/asia/chinese-prom-dress.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark) > [@](#): > > “To Chinese, it’s not sacred and it’s not that meaningful,” said Hung Huang, a Beijing-based writer and fashion blogger, in an interview. “Nowadays, if you see a woman wearing a qipao, she’s probably a waitress in a restaurant or a bride.” ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/69 "2018-05-03T20:28:36Z")
The obvious answer to “My culture is NOT your …. prom dress” is, “My prom dress is not your culture.” Forbidding every bit of cross-culturalism as illegitimate appropriation is leading to a sort of cultural apartheid. What was originally intended as an effort to increase respect is now being used to put people into little boxes. People’s personal choices shouldn’t be restricted by their ethnicities, as long as there is no insensitivity or disrespect. It would be one thing for a kid to go to prom dressed in a Native American war bonnet and to whoop while dancing in a circle. It’s another for a high school girl to wear a dress that carries no special meaning and is available to anyone with the money to buy it. This stick-to-your-own-kindism used to be the province of racists and xenophobes. Now it seems to have been adopted by people who claim to believe in multiculturalism. I guess the idea is to mix cultures and not mix them at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/70 "2018-05-03T22:22:08Z")
Yeah, that’s pretty stupid. Men’s dress suits are European. How dare he appropriate our culture and wear them! ---
**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:** [May 3, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/71 "2018-05-03T23:39:58Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Now it seems to have been adopted by people who claim to believe in multiculturalism. I guess the idea is to mix cultures and not mix them at the same time. Actually, it seems that a lot of these people do NOT believe in multiculturalism anymore. I’ve seen it called “cultural erasure”. Or whatever. The whole thing is getting out of hand. There are so many real problems in this world, it’s just disgusting to witness. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/72 "2018-05-04T00:27:44Z")
Let’s point out to all the people in the friggen world wearing Levi’s that they are stealing our culture. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/73 "2018-05-04T02:51:14Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > The obvious answer to “My culture is NOT your …. prom dress” is, “My prom dress is not your culture.” I like this line. I hope it’s not too subtle. > [@](#): > > This stick-to-your-own-kindism used to be the province of racists and xenophobes. Now it seems to have been adopted by people who claim to believe in multiculturalism. I guess the idea is to mix cultures and not mix them at the same time. I think it still comes from racism and xenophobia as psychological tendencies. But it’s not seen as such because it’s not coming from a “white power racist,” and it’s packaged in a way to appeal to modern folks with just the right mix of ignorance and white guilt. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/74 "2018-05-04T03:58:46Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > The fashion police are not about cultural appropriation BTW. They are about socks with sandals and white shoes after labor day. They will also cite you for wearing Crocs, any pants silhouette not currently trendy, etc. The fashion police offense code is hard to keep up with because it’s so constantly rewritten. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/75 "2018-05-04T04:24:37Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > The obvious answer to “My culture is NOT your …. prom dress” is, “My prom dress is not your culture.” That was my \*second \*guess, after “You’re a fucking moron.” By the way, re: fashion police. Many women who wear shorts with Uggs are downright adorable. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/76 "2018-05-04T05:03:46Z")
Aren’t Uggs those suede snowboot things? A clue, **Bryan** : Those women are adorable despite their footwear. ---
**Author:** ![Warm\_blood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Warm\_blood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Warm_blood)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/77 "2018-05-04T05:34:12Z")
So no one else has brought up that Jeremy Lam was discovered to be a racist in his own right and a proponent of appropriating Mexican culture based on old tweets that were dug up from his account? ---
**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:** [May 4, 2018, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/78 "2018-05-04T05:34:43Z")
All Prom Dresses are equal when balled-up and shoved behind the car seat, as they were intended. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/79 "2018-05-04T07:23:56Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Aren’t Uggs those suede snowboot things? A clue, **Bryan** : Those women are adorable despite their footwear. As an Australian I deeply resent your cavalier treatment of our cultural property and demand that the Ugg be treated with all the respect it… Oh no wait. The fake offence thread is down the hall thataway isn’t it? [EL] Nevermind! [/EL] ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462/80 "2018-05-04T20:13:26Z")
I think it’s perfectly fine to adopt something from another culture, if you think it is cool. That last part is important. If it being used to mock the culture, that’s bad. But that clearly isn’t happening in this case. The one dude on twitter is entitled to believe that, but I think the vast majority of people can see that is not the case. Also, as was pointed out, Chinese people from China give it neutral to positive reviews. I am curious though, how this would have panned out if she decided to wear a burqa, because she legitimately thought it was beautiful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-fashion-police/813462.md?page=5)