# I pit you, highschool letterman wearer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 10, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864 "2006-02-10T14:53:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/81 "2006-02-10T22:33:11Z")
> [@bluethree](#): > > So, is a class ring more or less lame than a tattoo? Just wondering. Is it a white person with a tattoo containing any sort of tribal motif or [Chinese characters](http://www.hanzismatter.com/)? Because that’s lamer than a class ring. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/82 "2006-02-10T22:39:59Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > A long time ago, I needed a free email address. I chose this spelling - which I’ve seen somewhere, though I long ago forgot where - because I figured it was unlikely to be taken. Good call. EcksKalliper was even less likely, though, and nobody can remember where they’ve seen that, either. Maybe Nekkst Ttheimme. > [@Excalibur/Excalibre/XXXKllYBRRR](#): > > Your next stage of growth is understanding that the world is not composed of absolutes. Sure. First, though, I need to get a handle on people who claim/Klame/QhLayMe to not care about appearances but still be sensitive to the “messages” sent by folks who dress in a certain way. I’m certain it has something to do with some stage of evolution, yet to be attained by me, that purports to be uninterested in fashion but is highly attuned to what strangers express through an odd fashion choice. > [@Excalibre](#): > > You can be uninterested in fashion without condemning those who _are_ interested. That position _might_ imply a bias toward silence on the subject. > [@Excalibre](#): > > I am fortunate that I don’t have to resort to asking little children for advice. You are unfortunate that you don’t do it anyway. They’re frequently wise, if only because they lack the certainty of sartorial superiority. > [@Excalibre](#): > > Yep, you’re a bit smug. I’ll charitably assume you’re just very confident, and not as arrogant as you’re acting. What if I were? I’d be a smug son-of-a-bitch that defends old people who wear old clothes and unreasonably chastises those who condemn them. So? Let’s cut across, **Excalibre**. I don’t think you’re committed to the position that wearing old varsity jackets is a sign of moral decay any more than I think it’s an indication of moral superiority. We’re heading for conflict without any underlying disagreement, and I’ll admit it’s mostly my fault. As a peace offering, I hereby forswear the last word. Best regards. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/83 "2006-02-10T22:44:11Z")
> [@The King of Soup](#): > > That’s a shame, Mrs. Havisham: I bet you were the prettiest tool at your prom. And now, a message from our literary nitpicker. Actually, it was _Miss_ Havisham, who lived bitterly cloistered amidst the detritus of her wedding day because she was jilted at the altar. We now return you to our regular bickering. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/84 "2006-02-10T23:03:04Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Is it a white person with a tattoo containing any sort of tribal motif or [Chinese characters](http://www.hanzismatter.com/)? Because that’s lamer than a class ring. No, no wait! I’m certainly pale as a ghost and I wish to claim the butterfly on my lower back as lamest of all. Besides, I’m thinking of following it up with the Chinese characters for “hippie.” :eek: 😛 I’m so proud to be a part of the neo counter-culture!! ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/85 "2006-02-10T23:10:40Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > Hell, those jackets are expensive. May as well get all the wear you can out of them. My highschool jacket is wool and nylon with leather sleeves, and cost me $500 and 6 months of saving up to get it. Plus it’s really warm in the winter. It’s been 7 years since I graduated HS. What’s the problem with still wearing the jacket if it’s practical? [hijack] Damn! Mine cost me $12 bucks. The school paid for the rest of it, and they even put my last name on the back in Old English Style caligeraphy. I was the only one that I knew that had that. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/86 "2006-02-10T23:49:48Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Is it a white person with a tattoo containing any sort of tribal motif or [Chinese characters](http://www.hanzismatter.com/)? Because that’s lamer than a class ring. Your real name is Mr. Blackwell, isn’t it? Of all the people I thought I might meet on this board, Cunt-in-Chief of the Fashion Police would have been my last guess. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/87 "2006-02-11T00:00:11Z")
Maybe she was having her current coat dry cleaned yet still needed something for warmth? (as likely as **Bosda** ’s guess) The night of my graduation, I lost my hat thingy (mortar board, whatever - I threw it, hoping to decapitate someone), my robe (used it as a net to catch the cute chick I wanted to come party with us), my car (found it a couple of days later at a friend’s house), my jeans (woke up on a couch at another friend’s home with some other cute girl laying on me), and much of my memory of later hours of that evening (morning) due to drugs and alcohol. I borrowed a pair of cut offs to go home in. The mere fact that this lady still has something from back then is kind of impressive, but only in a “huh.” kind of way. I don’t hate her. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/88 "2006-02-11T01:55:09Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > While I agree that “hating” someone for a coat is bizarre, what exactly does theorizing say about a person? > > When **bosda** theorizes that > > what does that say about him? That he’s imaginative? My suggestions were put forward as _possibilities_, the OPs as _final conclusions_. Since **none** of us knows this person, **all** of us are speculating. I was simply more kindly & generous in my outlook. ---
**Author:** ![VegemiteMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/df788c/32.png) [@VegemiteMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegemiteMoose)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/89 "2006-02-11T03:37:16Z")
**The King of Soup** Your posts belie your message and the Pope wants his hat back. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/90 "2006-02-11T04:00:54Z")
> [@VegemiteMoose](#): > > **The King of Soup** > Your posts belie your message and the Pope wants his hat back. [And you really don’t want to mess with the Pope.](http://www.newsarama.com/ImageComics/BattlePope/BattlePope01issue.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/91 "2006-02-11T04:29:03Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > Hell, those jackets are expensive. May as well get all the wear you can out of them. My highschool jacket is wool and nylon with leather sleeves, and cost me $500 and 6 months of saving up to get it. Plus it’s really warm in the winter. It’s been 7 years since I graduated HS. What’s the problem with still wearing the jacket if it’s practical? Damn. Mine cost about $80. It wasn’t a letterman’s jacket, though, just a school jacket. A lot of the kids at my school had them and they were made into letterman’s jackets, band jackets, what have you, by the application of something related to whatever thing it was you did. They were actually quite nice-looking jackets of two shades of blue. Mine was corduroy, though; the wool ones had weird piping on them, and started looking ratty after a couple of years. My jacket, on the other hand, stayed good-looking for a long time, till it was unfortunately ruined by improper cleaning. It was fun to wear it among my friends. They all looked so drearily identical in their black t-shirts, jeans, trench coats, and eyeliner, and I was (for some reason) looked on as quite subversive for dressing like the rest of the students instead of my own crowd. Prom dress still fits, the last time I saw it, and it’s a classic little black dress type, so if the bitch I loaned it to had bothered to give it back to me, I could still wear it. Clinging to your high school memories is all very well and good. If those had been the best years of my life, though, I would have killed myself long ago. High school sucked. But that jacket was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![TwistyLamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ba0ec/32.png) [@TwistyLamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistyLamp)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/92 "2006-02-11T06:32:05Z")
On the OTHER hand, I think that the whole school spirit thing is VERY superfical. I can understand school spirit if it’s connected to a private school or a college…or even a camp (hell, I just graduated from college, and LOVED it…Still wear my college hoodies) but there’s nothing all that remarkable or special about public school. What’s so special about public high school? ---
**Author:** ![TwistyLamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ba0ec/32.png) [@TwistyLamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistyLamp)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/93 "2006-02-11T06:35:28Z")
Oh, and I think the OP was probaly pitting the menality of those folks who still talk about their high school days in a rah rah rah way, even after graduation. I remeber reading a book on a gang rape set in a REALLY whitebread pro school spirt town…a guy was quoted " That’s a party that everyone still talks about." Gotta admit, that is SAD…to still talk about a PARTY??? Damn…those people’s lives must be so dead! ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/94 "2006-02-11T07:21:32Z")
> [@TwistyLamp](#): > > On the OTHER hand, I think that the whole school spirit thing is VERY superfical. > I can understand school spirit if it’s connected to a private school or a college…or even a camp (hell, I just graduated from college, and LOVED it…Still wear my college hoodies) > but there’s nothing all that remarkable or special about public school. What’s so special about public high school? Here’s the problem. You seem to assume that everyone who reflects fondly on their lives must not have fulfilled present lives. That’s just wrong. Sure there are some who are stuck in the past and have never done anything else worthwhile. That’s kinda pathetic. On the other hand there’s nothing wrong with chatting about old times with old friends every once in awhile. You also assume that everyone has the same oppurtunities as you. They don’t. Not necessarily for lack of smarts, but rather for lack of money and whatnot. Not everyone gets a chance to go to a private school or a college or even a camp. Everyone does get a chance to go to high school. What then makes it special? What you put in. The friends you make. The opportunities you take. Same as everything else in life. I agree, college kicked high school’s ass in everything, but high school was a good time too. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/95 "2006-02-11T12:09:48Z")
> [@Roland Orzabal](#): > > \I still have the suit/tux thing I wore to my senior prom, and I wear it whenever I have an excuse to rock formalwear. That suit kicks fucking _ass_. I don’t know how old you are but for some reason I now have a visual of some guy at a party in a textured polyester suit with 6 inch 1970’s lapels, receding hairline, doing a little hip-jiggle dance and shooting the ladies with his “finger gun” as they walk by. **bang-bang** “Hey. How YOU doin’?” **bang-bang** “Pretty Lady. How YOU doin’?” ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/96 "2006-02-11T12:18:17Z")
> [@TwistyLamp](#): > > Oh, and I think the OP was probaly pitting the menality of those folks who still talk about their high school days in a rah rah rah way, even after graduation. I remeber reading a book on a gang rape set in a REALLY whitebread pro school spirt town…a guy was quoted " That’s a party that everyone still talks about." > Gotta admit, that is SAD…to still talk about a PARTY??? Damn…those people’s lives must be so dead! If you hardly ever see the people from your youth, then yeah. I can see still talking about some crazy high school party. That said, if you see these people all the time and 20 years later you’re still talking about that one crazy high school party,. THAT’S LAME. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/97 "2006-02-11T15:03:23Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > You “Hate people like that”? > > Like what, exactly? > Someone who was a popular cheerleader or athelete in high? > Someone who might of grabbed their son’s or daughter’s jacket from the coat closet school because they just running out for a 1/2 gallon of milk? > \*\*Someone who unintentionally reminded you of 4 years you’d wish you could just forget?\*\*Let it go. Save your hate for stuff that really matters, like why no one would check MTV2 and report back. Bingo! _:dingdingding:_ We have a winner! High School is 4 years of my life I wish I could forget, or better yet, simply erase. And I too get a kneejerk twinge of of antipathy at seeing the rah-rah former varsity atheletes/cheerleader soccer parents tooling around town in their SUV’s and still acting like they’re “Big Man/Most Popular Girl On Campus.” And I “Let It Go” about 8 months after graduating high school, when I went into the Army and rearranged my priorities in life. “Let It Go.” Great advice, and seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/98 "2006-02-11T15:34:40Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > And I “Let It Go” about 8 months after graduating high school, when I went into the Army and rearranged my priorities in life. > > “Let It Go.” Great advice, and seconded. As someone who works with veterans, let me just say if you think highschool jocks have a hard time “letting it go”, you should see former military personnel who can’t seem to swallow the fact that they discharged from the Army (or Navy, or Marines, or . . . . ) years ago. Before any of you bring it up, yeah, I am more than aware that some of these veterans have disabilities they are living with everyday of their lives and that we should be grateful for their military service. My 50 hour work week is dedicated to these guys and has been for a number of years. That’s not what I am talking about. I am talking about G.I. Joe who discharged years ago but has yet to “leave” the military. **King of Soup** - Are you even speaking English? WT mother F’n fuck?!?!? You sound like you pulled that shit from Chicken Soup for the Smug Asshole, Horribly Bad Purple Prose Writer’s Soul. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/99 "2006-02-11T15:36:39Z")
The only thing I’ve gotten out of this thread is this: “grow the fuck up!” So, based on this rule, if I see a 40-year-old, obviously out-of-shape and potbellied man wearing a “US Marines” t-shirt, I should tell him to “grow up” only because he was a Marine for one tour, 20 years ago? Fuck that. By those “rules”, I guess this means I’ll never be able to wear any of my US Air Force t-shirts or jackets. Ever. You want to wear your high school jacket? Go ahead! You want to wear a mullet? Go ahead, MacGuyver. More power to you! You earned it, you can wear it. Fuckin’ fashion police. :mad: Tripler I guess this means I can’t hang out at the mall, either. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864/100 "2006-02-11T15:51:57Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > The only thing I’ve gotten out of this thread is this: “grow the fuck up!” > > So, based on this rule, if I see a 40-year-old, obviously out-of-shape and potbellied man wearing a “US Marines” t-shirt, I should tell him to “grow up” only because he was a Marine for one tour, 20 years ago? > > Fuck that. > > By those “rules”, I guess this means I’ll never be able to wear any of my US Air Force t-shirts or jackets. Ever. > > You want to wear your high school jacket? Go ahead! You want to wear a mullet? Go ahead, MacGuyver. More power to you! You earned it, you can wear it. > > Fuckin’ fashion police. :mad: > > Tripler > I guess this means I can’t hang out at the mall, either. If you want to wear your US Marines t-shirt to the mall, go for it. If things like that really bothered me I would be in pretty bad shape at the end of my work day. I was only pointing out the irony of the “let it go” comment from a guy named “ExTank”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-you-highschool-letterman-wearer/343864.md?page=6)