To ask if you personally judge people who dress alternatively?

[getyourfreakon]

As per the thread title.
Yes, Coronation Street has highlighted the issue. I'm what would be referred to as a "goth". I'm also a mother of one.
What are your feelings on the subject?

I might think they wouldn't have any interest in me because I dress like such a boring middle aged mum. But otherwise, no. I was a metaller/ hippy in my youth and my sister had a goth phase. I try and get on with everyone.

Nope, I love a bit of individuality and quirkiness. Yesterday’s outfit was purple DMs, floral leggings and a striped mohair jumper that could have fitted two of me in. I can afford better quality clothes than in my teens but my inner punk roots still remain. Had my first tattoo at 50 and have added more since along with a few piercings.

People should dress how they want to. It’s the person that counts not how they look.

No, wouldn't judge anyone at all for what they are wearing. Same for people with tattoos.

We've got a chap living behind us with an amazing Mohican and I know some were expecting him to be trouble. He's as quiet as a mouse and the house and garden has never looked better.

You can't judge people on looks.

Oh yes definitely. I’m pretty sure many people who go to the effort of dressing in an alternative style would be disappointed if their clothes didn’t cause a reaction in other people.

Goths? To be honest, a pretty boring, tame phase and I don’t bat an eyelid there.

I dont judge as in "look down on" but i do think in some people it goes beyond a fashion sense and way of expressing themselves and becomes an armour or defense, a protective disguise if you like. If you can't leave the house comfortably without wearing a full goth make up, outfit or accesories or you don't feel like yourself when you look at yourself without them i think it's gone beyond a positive choice and become a compulsion, a pyschological crutch, that makes me curious as to whats behind that feeling. I'm sure it creeps up on people gradually and actually I'd put women who won't leave the house even to put the bins out without a full face of make up on in a similar category (i had a neighbour like this, lovely attractive woman too but had had a lot of tragedy in her life).
Ive always been curious also about old people who never change from the style of their youth, when I was a kid you sometimes used to see old Teddy boys and older ladies with beehives and wonder why they hadn't moved on when everyone else had?
People are interesting!
Its difficult because we all tend to have these feeling to a greater or lesser degree but there's no denying it can get out of hand with some people - Marilyn Manson!
However a young Mum who likes to wear black, no judgement or curiosity necessary.

I make certain assumptions. Like what music they might like. I guess it's because the clothes a goth other sub culture wear are an extension of their personality. So they are bearing a certain amount of who they are. Whereas a lot of people's clothes are simply clothes and not an expression of self. I certainly don't think negative or them though, or anyone based on clothing or appearance for that matter. I don't doubt that there are other people that do though

Sort of.
Consciously, no. But subconsciously I’m sure I gravitate to people who look a bit like me.
I’m not into clothes or how I look so whilst I like being clean I couldn’t give 2 hoots about how I look beyond that. I don’t really enjoy dressing up for eg a Christmas do. I think I judge people who are very preened and spend a lot of time on their appearance, however they dress. Not that they shouldn’t do it - that’s their choice - but that we're probably very different people and I doubt we’d have that much in common.
So yes. I think I do. But not in the way you’re saying.

It depends! Styles of dress/makeup/tattoos can become almost a uniform representing beliefs, interests and tastes for some people.
Sometimes positive, sometimes negative.

I watched a documentary recently about the gang culture in Manchester - One gang leader had a tattoo right across his chest if a grenade and slogan in tribute to Dale Creegan - The Manchester gang member who threw a grenade and killed two police officers.

Yes, I judge his style and choice of ‘body adornment’.

My only thought might be -
At a certain point /age i wonder why so much effort/focus in on clothing and image like a teenager -applies to ultra trendy ,try hard cool people too.
Also why if alternative are you in another uniform thinking you are unique.
Also If you don't want to be judged why present yourself in a particular way

But generally don't care it is just clothes

I might judge them - in a positive way - and want to befriend them! Most of my friends are not "normal"

I don’t judge different styles and fashions except for the ridiculous cat walk clothes we often see. But that’s me judging the designers.
Other than bum crack trousers, gross, I don’t care what people wear.

I’ve never been a goth but think I would have embraced the style if I had known about it as a teen.
My db used to walk about like Citizen Smith, everyone in our small town knew him.

No in fact I quite like it.

I suppose I do judge, but not in a negative way.

If I see someone dressed full goth then I assume they like typical goth music and films, for example.

A little, I think it's just another type of conformity. I tend to just wonder when they'll grow up.

I teach at university and we get a lot of goths in year 1, by year 3 very few still dress in that way so I assume when I see middle aged goths that they're the ones who just didn't get the memo or just don't have enough confidence to let it go.

Depends on the alternative. Goth, to me, is just another uniform identifying a tribe member just as much as HD eyebrows identify a tribe member. People who genuinely dress differently from their peers I am rather in awe of - they generally look fantastic.

I guess I judge them.....I think they’re probably going to be an interesting person. Love a bit of indivuality.

At a certain point /age i wonder why so much effort/focus in on clothing and image like a teenager

I think it is very age dependent. Teenagers are establishing an identity and forming tribes, 20-30s still living with those tendencies. I think when most people get into their 40s and older don't have the same psychological need to express their identity to the world.

I have a friend in her late 40s who still dresses a 90s indie/rock chick. Also there is an old punk who still rocks it like he is in 1975. I see people still living in their glory days (a few decades ago). Having said that interesting and quirky clothing does brighten up a place.

not sure what to say to the question
i dont know if i judge.i notice though

@BackforGood

Depends what you mean by judge? People express themselves via their clothing, so I expect people want to be judged by what they wear. Otherwise they would wear something different. Judging isn’t a negative.

This ^ and

Everyone judges everyone. You want to make a certain impression, or you wouldn't do it.

This ^

I don't know what the Corrie reference is, but we all make judgements when we see anyone. 'Judging' is 'making an assessment of', not criticising or being negative.
Someone said upthread they would "prefer to see “alternative” dress and self expression than all the tanned, hd eyebrowed, heavily contoured and drag queen lips on girls these days." - but surely that is a judgement on the orange faced / over eye-browed clan ?

People who dress to stand out from the crowd know they will attract looks and that people will notice them and often comment, and they have still made a choice to do so. That's great, and takes a lot of self-confidence, which I admire.
But we all make assessments about people to some extent due to the way they present themselves, and that isn't a bad thing unless you choose to make it into some sort of a barrier.

All of this. 100%.

(I was a bit of a goth back in the day. I think it is called Emo now?)

I don't judge exactly, but I make rebuttable assumptions about what you might think or like, etc.

Interesting that a pp said no, they don't judge for being alternative but then judged another look in the same swipe of their keys.

I tend to gravitate toward alternative looking people. I used to dress this way, and though my wardrobe is now full of comfortable clothes and I've removed my piercings and stopped shaving my head, I still favour alternative music.

I do find that there is still judgement people within the alternative scene, particularly parents. A couple moved into my childhood street (typical council estate) the mother dresses in typical Gothic style, dad has long hair but otherwise dresses in a very basic day to day dad style. Although their daughter is the same age as many of the children in the street, she's not invited to play as much as they others or to parties because her parents are seen as weirdos.

I will say though, anyone that spends a lot of time and money on their appearance, be that heavy leather and velvet fabrics and stark white makeup or tans, nails and gym honed bodies, I do find myself wondering how they find the time and money.

I'm a goth. You will never see me out not 'gothed up'. I have had people shout things etc but nothing major. I had a man once ask why I was wearing the boots I was and I asked him why he was wearing trainers. We had a good discussion about self expression etc. I don't judge others by their looks or clothes and never have. It's totally up to the person.

People judge me constantly and laugh and sneer and make ridiculous comments. Because I am a white muslim. I do wear the hijab and a long dress. Its part of who I am and I would never change. ...

No it doesn't bother me. I used to work with someone who wore loads of chains round his waist and platform boots and I thought it looked a bit silly, but good on him for wearing what he wanted and making a statement.

My two best friends growing up were goths, my mother was a punk in the 80s and my stepdad’s a metalhead.
All the “alternative” people I’ve met tended to be very sweet and well adjusted. So why judge?
I’ve got some “alternative” habits myself, mostly in home decor (I love a good dragon statue), and I’m toying with the idea of shaving at least part of my head.
If people judge without getting to know, that’s a nice fast way of weeding out the ignorant.