# What do you think of a guy wearing a bowtie? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054 "2003-07-17T03:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/1 "2003-07-17T03:41:10Z")
Is he: [ul] [li]a unique individual?[/li][li]eccentric?[/li][li]a nut?[/li][li]none of the above?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/2 "2003-07-17T04:18:02Z")
e. Paul Simon, ex-senator ® of Illinois Ok, that WAS what I thought of though. Anyone remember HIM? Exactly my point! Actually I own three bow ties and only one neck tie, but people generally think I’m an eccentric, unique, nut. (couldn’t those all mean the same thing?) ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/3 "2003-07-17T04:19:08Z")
Just a bowtie…? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/4 "2003-07-17T04:57:57Z")
For almost twenty years, a guy in a bowtie would make me think along Freudian lines:[ul][li]Tie = Phallic SymbolBowtie = Symbol of repressed sexuality[/ul][/li] More recently, even the barest _suggestion_ of a bowtie makes me think of [Tucker Carlson](http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/13/tcarlson.debrief/tuckercarlson.jpg), and I have to work very hard at repressing the urge to do _terrible_ things to the wearer’s face with a fork. So, over the years, that particular style of decorative neckwear has gone from inspiring contempt and pity to murderous rage. I’m comfortable with that. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/5 "2003-07-17T05:04:06Z")
I was flipping through channels about a month ago and there was a guy debating on CNN wearing a bow tie, maybe in his thirties or so, not sure of his political standings or anything, and I just sat there, thinking, he has on a bow-tie. How fucking cool is that. (And no…not _just_ a bow-tie, **Cyn** ;)). It made him look very confident, comfortable with himself, and really set him appart from the other people he was on the show with…none of whom I can remember at all now. But bow-tie man, he left a lasting impression. I think some guys can pull it off. Oh, and to answer the OP: I pick e). both a, b, and c. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/6 "2003-07-17T05:09:12Z")
> [@](#): > > …there was a guy debating on CNN wearing a bow tie… Aaargh! Mudd _SMASH!_ ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/7 "2003-07-17T05:11:45Z")
a unique individual? eccentric? a nut? All of the above I’d also wonder if perhaps he’d lost some kind of bet. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/8 "2003-07-17T05:12:42Z")
**Larry Mudd** , you snuck in there while I was battling this thing into accepting my reply. I like that Freudian slant! Although…you could also make an argument for: - Tie=compensation for phallic inadequacy/feelings of inadequacy - Bowtie=well-adjusted to level of endowment On Preview: It’s okay, **LM** , he’s gone. The bowtie man will never see air-time again. Breathe. Breathe. Think soothing thoughts. Think of ties. Ascots. Frilly cravats. It’ll be all right. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/9 "2003-07-17T05:34:39Z")
> [@](#): > > The bowtie man will never see air-time again. Dude, he’s there _every day_, and I’m sure that his little red bowtie is mainly there as a vain attempt to distract people from his total inability to engage in reasoned debate. You didn’t happen to see him today, blithely asserting that no-one has found the 25,000 liters of Iraqi anthrax referred to in the State-of-the-Union address because the Iraqis “used them to kill people.”? ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/10 "2003-07-17T05:52:54Z")
I had no idea he was a regular. Sorry for the false promises. No, I didn’t see him today…I rarely watch debates, actually, though I do listen to them on the radio occasionally, and try to catch the actual news. All I can say is the bowtie disguise certainly fooled me for the fifteen minutes I tuned in, if only because of its distractive qualities. > [@](#): > > …No-one has found the 25,000 liters of Iraqi anthrax referred to in the State-of-the-Union address because the Iraqis “used them to kill people.” And if he makes claims like _that_ regularly, by all means, _SMASH_ away. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/11 "2003-07-17T06:37:55Z")
I think of Chippendales male exotic dancers! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/12 "2003-07-17T07:09:10Z")
Outside of a tux, where it’s perfectly acceptable, I think a guy in a bowtie is either 1) Old (Orville Reddenbacker) or 2) Some dork trying to show his nifty sense of “fashion”. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/13 "2003-07-17T09:51:47Z")
I wear a bow tie occasionally, and yes, I admit to being a 19-year-old dork trying to show his nifty sense of “fashion.” I think they look cool, and it’s also easier to tie than a regular tie. And that CNN dude is a jackass. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/14 "2003-07-17T10:00:40Z")
I think of Bill Nye the Science Guy, an amazing spectacle of humanity if ever there was one. I have decided that when I can tie a bow tie with one hand, I will be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/15 "2003-07-17T11:24:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*I have decided that when I can tie a bow tie with one hand, I will be awesome. \*\* Well, that would be awesomely impressive but, since I don’t believe it’s possible with a human hand, it would also be scary. I think the OP left out the two most common/obvious choices;[ul] [li]Goober[/li][li]Dork[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/16 "2003-07-17T13:11:36Z")
A bowtie makes me think “This is a guy who needs a gimmick to stand out from the crowd. For whatever reason, he feels he’s not interesting or important enough to command attention from other people, so he dons a bowtie hoping that people will think 'Hey look! A bowtie! This guy is _fresh! Funky! A free spirit! A lone wolf! A maverick! A fashion kamikaze! Let’s listen to him’_ He fills me with pity.” I recognize this assessment may not be altogether fair. But until I see evidence to the contrary, I’m going to assume this pegs Tucker Carlson pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/17 "2003-07-17T13:16:49Z")
A geek. Or a dork. Take your pick. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/18 "2003-07-17T13:25:27Z")
He likes to fight. If your opponent can get his hands on your bow tie, then he might as well grab your throat. With a regular neck tie, you are presenting a target that is much easier to get your hands on. If he’s wearing an ascot, I assume that he’s a swinger. ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/19 "2003-07-17T14:31:32Z")
A bow tie has its place. Outside of eveningwear, that place is round the neck of a middle-aged scientist or a surgeon, where it has an obvious practical purpose in not trailing in blood or acid. Young scientists don’t seem to wear ties. Anybody in any other profession is a phoney would-be eccentric. Unless he is over 60, rich and coiffed in a spectacularly erratic yet sculptural fashion. Worst of all are the young fogeys, would-be old-school conservatives aged under 45, who think bow ties make them look like members of the 19th century landed gentry rather than circus entertainers. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054/20 "2003-07-17T14:40:21Z")
If he is only wearing a bowtie I would call him “sexy” \ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-a-guy-wearing-a-bowtie/189054.md?page=2)