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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Girls t shirt from next that says, you are not properly dressed without a smile

515 replies

LardLizard · 14/03/2018 12:21

Wtf !!!!

OP posts:
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Elendon · 14/03/2018 16:50

There are some real injustices in the world to get het up about go find one.

So @ClaryFray why don't you start up a thread about them then.

Care to share your real injustices?

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 14/03/2018 16:53

Oh dear. The professionally offended brigade. There's more pressing things to get het up about

You know, whatever side of any debate you're on, there is just no need for this kind of supercilious attitude.

You talk about 'brigades,' you've lost the respect of at least half the people you're talking to.

You decide that people can only be concerned about one thing at a time, you lose the other half.

Just treat people with a bit of respect. They don't share your opinion, that's all.

BertrandRussell · 14/03/2018 16:54

“There are some real injustices in the world to get het up about go find one”

It’s funny how the most het up people are the ones telling other people not to get het up..........

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 14/03/2018 16:55

There have always been "bigger" things to worry about, and always will. Why would that mean the little things don't matter? Most people's daily lives are dominated by a succession of relatively minor things.

ThoraCentisis · 14/03/2018 16:56

But this isn't even a minor thing. It's not a thing at all. It's people trying to turn a non thing into a thing, when they haven't understood the premise!

ThoraCentisis · 14/03/2018 16:58

I think the issue is that for those of us who grew up being told to "smile love!" every time we went out, it makes us twitch

But thats a different issue! You can't take any instance of the word smile and use it to complain about socialisation and expectations of women, fgs.

This shit is why people switch off when you talk about gendered toys and other stuff, because they think its just more made up shit.

MiaowMix · 14/03/2018 17:00

Absolutely Thora.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 14/03/2018 17:00

I understood the premise. I understood the premise of the Mean Girls "You can't sit with us" (or whatever the quote was) too, but I still think it was a ridiculous thing to put on a tshirt.
I was accused of not getting that one too. What's to get?

Luckyme2 · 14/03/2018 17:01

Snibble I don't tell my DDs to smile at random men either! My point about taking t shirt slogans literally is that this t shirt isn't tell them to smile at random men. And it isn't enticing men to approach them either! Or are you suggesting that they need to be careful what they wear as it may encourage men?

cucaracha · 14/03/2018 17:02

Little things could matter, something like this tshirt really doesn't. The simple fact that it exist for men too should prove the point.

5plusMeAndHim · 14/03/2018 17:02

I think the issue is that for those of us who grew up being told to "smile love!" every time we went out, it makes us twitch

Apat from anything else a T shirt slogan is what the wearer is saying to the world, not an orderfor the wearer to obey!

ThoraCentisis · 14/03/2018 17:04

The song is from a little girl to grown men, for a start, not the other way around, and its about the fact that it doesn't matter how you are dressed because its your personality that matters most.
It's a good message for children of both sexes. It is NOT telling little girls to smile and random men!!

SnibbleAgain · 14/03/2018 17:04

Lucky I am simply sharing the experiences I had growing up in my area.

I'm not sure why people are so unhappy about that -

Maybe women who have had life experiences that don't fit your narrative should keep quiet about them?

ThoraCentisis · 14/03/2018 17:05

Oh and BTW, "the sun'll come out tomorrow" doesn't actually mean the weather will be great in the morning.

SnibbleAgain · 14/03/2018 17:05

So your interpretation of this t-shirt is that men will see the girl-child wearing it, and understand that the girl-child is exhorting them to smile more...

Is that right?

ThoraCentisis · 14/03/2018 17:06

I'm not sure why people are so unhappy about that

It's the sharing them on an unrelated matter as an example of something not anything to do with the issue.

ThoraCentisis · 14/03/2018 17:06

Is that right?

Nope. Still confused.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 14/03/2018 17:09

I wonder how many of those men's shirts they've sold? It really does conjour up an image of a 1950's housewife simpering like a halfwit in an advert for washing machines, or something.
Can't imagine a bloke wearing it.

ThoraCentisis · 14/03/2018 17:10

It really does conjour up an image of a 1950's housewife simpering like a halfwit in an advert for washing machines, or something

In your head maybe. I think for most its an image of a curly ginger girl singing with her dog.

CadyHeron · 14/03/2018 17:12

The song is from a little girl to grown men, for a start, not the other way around, and its about the fact that it doesn't matter how you are dressed because its your personality that matters most.
It's a good message for children of both sexes. It is NOT telling little girls to smile and random men!!

Exactly!! You can tell people are much more happier getting outraged at the thought of it being because women are told to smile.
When it's not even about that!
I hear that lyric, "you're never fully dressed without a smile!" and see that little girl in the hat (Pepper?) dancing about singing about suits on Savile Road.
More Annie watching needed and less knicker twisting and pearl clutching.

cucaracha · 14/03/2018 17:13

It really does conjour up an image of a 1950's housewife simpering like a halfwit in an advert for washing machines, or something

Grin I really do love this forum! classic!

CadyHeron · 14/03/2018 17:14

Oh and BTW, "the sun'll come out tomorrow" doesn't actually mean the weather will be great in the morning.

Sad Bugger. Had enough of the cold weather now.

Luckyme2 · 14/03/2018 17:16

Snibble I really don't have a narrative here. It's just a t shirt!

Luckingfovely · 14/03/2018 17:16

OP are you smiling yet? Grin

SnibbleAgain · 14/03/2018 17:17

It's not really unrelated

I was thinking about slogan tshirts
And things saying "smile"
Andd remembering how things were when I was young
And wondering out loud whether it would increase the number of creepy fuckers who approached you and / or the number of men saying "smile!"

I think the latter is certainly true, it's a "walk right into it" thing isn't it! You wear that and you're not smiling - some hilarious bloke is going to pull you up on it pronto!

The first - I think the creepy fuckers use all sorts of "openers" but I do remember quite a lot of men using "what's that on your shirt" etc as a "conversation starter" and of course as a bonus it's right across your chest which gives them another excuse...

Like I say, maybe this sort of thing was area specific. I dont' see why I shouldn't be allowed to talk about it though.