If that’s the case, I’m going to be buying and wearing even more ties…
It seems that many men in the UK agree with the proclamations of the Islamic revolution of Iran, which stated that neckties were a symbol of western decadence and control. Together with bow-ties, neckties were seen as un-Islamic and “symbols of the cross”, which is why former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad always looked like a stressed-out middle manager in a suit without a tie.
The more unIslamic, the better, as far as I am concerned. And if Islam finds my appearance upsetting, that’s a good thing. It needs to be offended good and hard on a regular basis until people get the message. Islam is not special and should be treated with nothing more than undisguised contempt.
I’d love to insult Islam, but I detest wearing ties even more. Must think of another way…
Well, microdave, don’t marry a 6 year old, don’t have sex with her when she’s 9 and you are 54, don’t kill your enemies, don’t rob others to make a living and don’t pretend god is talking to you. That should piss off the followers of this evil medieval cult.
I used to dislike ties and would go out of my way not to wear them. As they fell into disfavour, i found myself working as a self-employed trainer in a corporate environment and use the business suit and tie to set myself apart from my delegates. Perverse, really, but that sums me up pretty well. And if it pisses off Islam, that’s a huge bonus.
Just eat lots of pork and when you pass a muslim breath on them loudly that should do it 😉
The other thing I do is when in the supermarket I wait till I am in ear shot of a few muslims and then ask on the butchery counter “is this meat Halal because if it is I don’t want it, I am against animal cruelty and am not prepared to eat meat that has been allowed to bleed to death after some bearded loony has read verses from some satanic book from the 6th century and slit it’s throat” that usually gets me a funny look or two.
To me ties (and the suits that go with them) have a lot in common with the various rituals of religious belief. They are outdated, serve no physical purpose, cause discomfort and are “required” by those who wish to exercise control. Wearing a tie expresses subservience to the culture which deems it “the norm”. Religious systems typically expect their followers to follow routines which cause themselves inconvenience or discomfort. Perhaps the Islamic fanatics are upset because they have competition?
The reason for such rituals seems to be that human psychology conditions itself to accept these inconveniences as “normal” after a period of time. This happens to the extent that the subjects of such routines go to great lengths to subsequently defend them if their validity is challenged. This amounts to a “face saving” exercise – otherwise they fear looking foolish as a consequence of having suffered something unnecessary for so long without having challenged it.
The tie thus serves the corporate control system in the same way as daily prayer serves the religious leaders – it “shows the sheep who is boss” and causes people to buy into a none-too-pleasant control culture which they subsequently find it hard to extricate themselves from. And is it coincidence that the tie is in effect a symbolic noose around the neck?
Perhaps commuters’ complaints about “trains being too hot” would be taken more seriously if they didn’t insist on using them whilst wearing a thick woolen suit jacket, stiff collar lashed tight around their neck and a thick overcoat on top of the lot?
Cooo! I’ve read some bollocks in my time, but this is worthy of Pseud’s Corner. You don’t like ties. Sure, we get it. They are not however signs of oppression nor are they pseudo-religious in nature. I wear a tie because I choose to – it’s a splash of colour that brightens up otherwise conservative clothing. It’s an item of clothing and adornment, nothing more, nothing less. It symbolises nothing. It isn’t uncomfortable because I wear a shirt that fits and don’t do it up too tightly – and I don’t think anyone much beyond the nineteen twenties has worn a stiff collar. I am not subservient to anyone, nor am I wearing a noose – the knot is entirely different.
You really jumped the shark with your final paragraph, though. The only time I have experienced being too hot on a train was because the air conditioning failed, not because I was wearing a suit and tie.
If it symbolises nothing, why do many employers insist on people wearing one? It may not, in itself, be a “sign of oppression” but a culture which insists upon people wearing one is most certainly oppressive. Still, they are entitled to have these silly rules if they want to – but I’ll certainly never work for them, even if it does mean going hungry.
I agree with your points in the scenario of somebody (like yourself) choosing to wear a tie when they are not otherwise expected to do so. However 90%+ of times I suspect this is not the case. And colour can be achieved with much more practical and comfortable clothes. I like colour too, hence another reason for disliking “smart” dress – which is predominently about the absence thereof.
Regarding the “noose” – it was something of a tongue-in-cheek remark and I realise that this isn’t the intended function of a tie. However it does seem apt in the context of the millions who daily submit to a dreary office job they dislike because they have been led to believe there is no other way they can earn a living.
I have witnessed first hand the worst “complainers” on trains – city banking types (who despite their wealth are allegedly also partial to fare-dodging) – and more often than not they are wearing several layers of unnecessary clothing. These people expect a refrigerated environment both on the train and in their offices, since removing jackets really seems to go against their grain.
By the way, air conditioning is not only horrendously expensive to run, install and maintain but air-conditioned environments are frequently uncomfortably cold (especially for sitting still in), particularly if you happen to be in the “line of fire” of a vent. Simple control system theory decrees that if the system is trying to lower the average ambient temperature it must pump out air significantly cooler than the “average” (i.e. the thermostat set point) – hence although the temperature at the thermostat may be roughly as requested, there are always localised cold draughts. In one case I actually measured this (with a calibrated thermometer no less) and found the air coming out to be 12C. People still wouldn’t accept my point, insisting that if the thermostat/control says 21C then the whole room “must” be at that temperature.
It never ceases to amaze me that in a country which for half of the year is miserably cold and dark, office staff go to great lengths to refrigerate their environment and shut out all sunlight. Permanent winter. There’s no wonder depression is apparently such a big problem.
I used to have a tie (DON’T LAUGH!).
It was covered in wee pigs with “MCP” underneath each one.
DAMN! Wish I still had it!
Insult TWO whinging groups in one go!!!
I presume cravats count?