Have we forgotten how to be ladies and gentlemen?

[Radelaide]

1. Politeness, chivarly and basic manners aren't dependant on what you wear.
2. Respect shouldn't matter on what you wear.
3. Chivarly ain't dead.

Yes, people these days are a lot more focused on themselves but that doesn't that the basic social rules don't exist. People still say please and thank-you, people still open doors for each other. It's not like society has completely degraded into anarchy.

Also, why are you judging women by what they wear? Most fashion these days is short skirts and low cut tops. Anything else available on the market is frumpy and doesn't make you feel good about yourself. Ever heard the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover"?

 

[Wushu Panda]

Lots of sexism recently, if it isn't the big dispute about slutfest, rape or penis' being cut off, its the behaviour of sexes in general. Women demand basic respect and chivalry and men demand to not all be put into the same bracket, but do you think we've all just forgotten the basic elements of being a gentleman or a lady.

I prefer the way people looked in the old days, they looked so respectable in their fine outfits and beautiful dresses, or so media leads you to believe, either way, its a nice thought that everyone could behave that way.

Today we have females wearing skimpy outfits and demanding to be respected by men no matter what they wear, personally, I'm sorry, but I can't respect you dressed like that because it's clear you don't respect yourself, how can I see you as anything other than what you present yourself to be, slaggy, it certainly wouldn't be appropriate for a guy to walk around in a gimp outfit or have his ballbags hanging from his pants "to tease". As for guys, are we too influenced by the nonsense our other male friends get us into? This whole ego trip and comparisons to be "the cool one with the most chicks".

So yeah, what do you think escapists, have some or most people forgotten how to be 'appropriate' or is the world just evolving? Would you prefer a world where people were more upstanding or do you like the variety we have now?

 

[Thedayrecker]

Wait..... There was a thread about slutfests?!?

Where was I?!?

 

[moretwocents]

Perhaps (And I'm not trying to be funny here) we're evolving in such a way that eventually people will just stop wearing clothing all together. You are not the first person to notice clothes are getting skimpier, whether it be a girl's short shorts or a guy with his pants around his knees.

I believe that we are evolving, however badly we may be doing so. I prefer to surround myself with people whose underwear I can't see one way or another.

 

[Denamic]

Positive sexism is still sexism.
Congratulations OP, you're a sexist.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

I don't define someone as a 'lady' or 'gentleman' based on dress. If you speak eloquently, don't use derogatory words in public, and say 'please' and 'thank you', then you qualify for that status. Unfortunately, too many people these days can't seem to muster the energy or decency to do so.

I'll admit I'm not above thinking of girls who wear shorts that might as well be panties and midriff-baring shirts as whores. Bonus points if they're wearing them while teenaged and pregnant (although then it's just true). Then again, I'm very conservative in my dress (I won't wear skirts above the knee, for example). It's my own bias.

 

[derbt]

I adore old Victorian dress, and would quite happily wear it most days. Manners are also extremely important to me.

Can I just say though - why do people rant on about 'sluts', yet it's totally ok for a man to sleep around, and men who dress scantily don't face the same sneers as women? While I love Victorian clothes, it's not actually the Victorian era now. Why do women have to be virtuous and pure, and men don't?

How nice that it's still ok for men to dictate what we should and shouldn't wear, and sneer at women who dress outside these boundaries.

if you walk around dressed and acting like a slut, you will be treated as a slut and deserve that.

What a charming modern gentleman you are, sir. I must confess, I'd be interested to see what you look like, and how you dress. I'm sure you're the very picture of manly elegance.

 

[Tsukuyomi]

Frankly, as a guy, I've come to the conclusion that we as men just need to suck it up and achieve a higher level of...well, being us. The only reason women "dressing like sluts" bothers other guys that I know is because they have such poor impulse-control that they can't ignore it. Girl in booty-shorts? You'd best believe they'll look! Low cut top? BOOBS! Gots to look. To complain about this kind of thing as a guy I think has alot to say about how susceptible you are to it.

Personally? I've never complained. I either don't notice, in which case why should I complain, or, yes, if I look...well...why should I complain? I'm getting something good out of it. Why be hypocritical about it? I keep my mouth shut, appreciate the art for a moment, and move on. Do I look at EVERY girl dressed like that? Hell no. Most of them pass right by me in the mall or wherever and I don't give a damn. It's just not that hard.

Bottom line for me I guess is that for years we've held women to a higher standard while we've mucked around and had our fun. Now the roles are reversed and we as a gender have discovered just how much it chafes to be in the 'higher standard' area. All that we can do is suck it up and adapt. It's only fair, and it can really do us some good. Since really, we're...not so good in the clothing department sometimes either. Our behavior sometimes isn't much better. If anything? We could use some time in the Victorian hot-seat. It might just do us some good.