Dear people who do Steampunk like this,

[moniquill]

You folks here?

YOU ARE ASSHOLES.
No really, you are.

You are exhibiting classist, ageist, racist, -asshole- behavior.

And by doing so while identifying yourself as a member of the steampunk community, you are negatively reflecting upon the rest of us.

Some choice quotes of asshattery:

"What is this T shirt you speak of? (I only wear those

Comments

[kerydwenn]

Hear, hear. I haven't browsed through the whole thread, a few comments here and there were enough.

It's all fine and dandy if you're 'in character' in some LARP or something, but out in the real world, it's... silly.

Sometimes I get comments about my kinda-goth attire, but I always make a point of answering nicely (although a little snarkily at times, when people are really dense and clearly out to mock, which is a whole other story, in that case). Playing the classist, haughty card would feel weird, in any case.

[kdsorceress]

I resent their implications that t-shirts are inherently "plebeian". I wearing one today, as part of my "professional" clothes...with a shirt that requires cufflinks, thanks very much. NOT mutually exclusive.

(Not to say the rest of it isn't awful as well, but that's my personal irritation)

Yes, it's fun to dress up and look pretty. But what's the point if you're just going to use it as an excuse to alienate people? When people stop me on the street to ask about my Regency garb (usually because I'm going to a dance) I tell them what's up, and will often invite them along.

Really, the whole thing just smacks of the "we're so cool" concept of "freaking the mundanes". No, freaking people out because they're different from you is basically never good behaviour.

~Sor

[fantasyecho]

"histrionic" is a delightful word to describe them.

[shweta_narayan]

o.m.f.g WUT.

[kittikattie]

And of course, the delightful racism in there. Because as we all know, black people don't bother in fandom or steampunk, and none of us ever dress in the style of the hood.

For all that jackass knew, the guy was curious. Now, he will walk away thinking "I ain't gonna talk to dem people in dat stuff nawn mo'. They a bunch of dicks and punk ass bitches."