Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: O.G.

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  • daleaway,

    Well, at the risk of not being cool, a la mode, identifying with yoof or *currying favour with them * , I'll say that I can't disagree with Ron Mark.

    We're importing some very shabby aspects of overseas culture, and if hoods are identified with gangs of whatever sort, then who needs them? Is this a bandwaggon truly worth jumping on?

    What is the point of a Hoodie Day?
    Who's trying to impress whom about what?
    Who's organising this silly little non-campaign, and for what purpose?

    Defiance is a poor reason for chosing clothing. Grownups don't have to express their antisocial thoughts or all-round bloodymindedness through textiles - we have language for that.

    Anyway Ron Mark is okay by me after his sterling performance in the Terrace Tunnel yesterday, saving that bloke's life. Top mark(s).

    Since Jul 2007 • 198 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    LOL Shep. I wonder when the cloak is going to make a comeback. Would be perfect for gangstas, you could hide your sub machine gun under there.

    Personally I've got nothing against a hooded garment as a highly practical choice for a variable climate. But I am quite suspicious of people who feel the need to actually walk around with the hood up, a hat on, wearing sunglasses, when it's not sunny or raining. Much as I would be of someone choosing to wear a scarf around their face or a motorbike helmet when they were not riding their bike. Or flitting from shadow to shadow.

    I don't think that the effect is lost on the wearers either, that they are ignorant of that effect. They do it for that reason, for the effect that it has on people, which is mostly one of intimidation. I find that hard to admire as a fashion choice.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I've read enough Harry Potter - wearing a cape while flitting from shadow to shadow is apparently quite common in some social circles these days ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Morgan Davie,

    Re: the online pre-cancellation campaign to save Dollhouse - there was previously a pre-cancellation effort to save the Sarah Connor Chronicles. It was basically a joke, and hardly anyone signed the petition because they all recognised it was a joke:

    http://www.petitiononline.com/scchron/petition.html

    That said, I'm with Patrick Neilsen Hayden at Boing Boing - preparation makes sense to me.

    Wellington • Since May 2008 • 36 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Wait a mo', just to play devil's advocate here, I do find the casual misogyny, homophobia and glorification of black male dysfunction of much hip-hop culture repulsive.

    I find it disturbing too.

    I just think the link between it, and a bunch of kids wearing a sweatshirt is a little weak. Attack the problem not the clothes its wearing.

    Bling however... that shit's gotta be banned.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    nor approached to facilitate the purchase of recreational pharmaceuticals

    I have a hat that got me offered more drugs than any hoodies I've ever worn. Mind you, that was in Portugal.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Morgan Davie,

    Re: hoodies - I am a notoriously stubborn hoodie wearer. They definitely don't have the cachet here that they do in the UK - I remember returning to Edinburgh after some travelling, wearing my nice new white hoodie that I'd been wearing for a few weeks in all kinds of civilised settings, and I was shocked to see how reactions to me changed - I was eyed suspiciously in shops, young neds asked me if I could buy them liquor, and little old ladies crossed the street to avoid me. No, seriously, she crossed the street because she was afraid of me.

    Hoodies are serious business over there - the tabloid culture + ned/chav culture + massive oversignification of clothes = hoodie fear.

    Wellington • Since May 2008 • 36 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    nah - watching rapper wannabes trying to get thru airport security in the US is such great entertainment (assuming you're not late for your flight)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Paul, perhaps I'm wrong and all the hoodies are just fighting evil in their own way, making sure they don't get caught by all the Death Eaters that pose as average Kiwis?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Now that you mention it Ron Mark does appear to have a certain sinister aspect .... I'm more amazed by the amazing shrinking leader of the ACT party (and why his head isn't shrinking at the same rate - it's very strange i tell you)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Shep: of course, back in the C12th when academic regalia originated, university students were the equivalent of today's "yoof". Terrorising the townsfolk, rioting, visiting brothels and refusing to pay their bills, spreading heresey and pantheism. Hanging's too good for 'em. No, you've got to kill them, then a decade later, dig up the body and burn it, just to show you're tough...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Evan Yates,

    Pah!

    Youngsters in hooded sweatshirts with pretensions of menace are amateurs at intimidating/scaring ordinary folk.

    Now this is a real hoodie to worry about. When I see people wearing these, I might jump on the "No Hoodies!" protest bandwagon.

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report Reply

  • Kebabette,

    Skivvies are scarier than hoodies.

    Christchurch • Since Feb 2007 • 221 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I'm entitled to a white rabbit fur lined hoodie, you say? Awesome. I just gotta catch me a white rabbit.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    Interesting things I noted about TVNZ submission, based on a quick browse:

    - they seem to match "public interest", with "high ratings".
    - their flag-waving for "NZ Made Content" is Dancing with the Stars, and assorted reality TV shows. I didn't notice any drama on the list at all.
    - using a percentage of income from the government to compare TVNZ and the likes of the BBC will of course produce disparities - those channels have no ads.

    I've rather given up on TVNZ, which seems to be firmly aiming at the lowest common denominator most of the time, particularly with the infotainment passing for news, which is mostly filler. 3 is not much better.

    It has been eloquently blogged here about the non-newsworthiness of much of the news, especially the "crossing live to where nothing is actually happening anymore, so we can create a fake sense of drama and cover the fact we've a shortage of crime today and couldn't be bothered talking to people outside the main centres"

    Prime gives the same news content, in half the time, either first at 530 or conveniently re-screened later. Then add in CGW "News" for an enjoyable half hour of comedy on sporting topics, and an hour is much better spent than watching TVNZ or TV3 preview topics, cross live to interview a journalist about what happened, and then recap the headlines. Again.

    Looking at the "front pages" of Stuff I suggest they give "crime" its own thread. Perhaps TVNZ /TV3 could do the same - The Crime news, and then the Sports news? It's most of the "news" anyway, as it's easy to report and to get quotes from someone outraged somewhere.

    Down here in Christchurch, the Press editor is quite open with the fact that marketing drives the front pages (there went my illusions of a newspaper as public service), and while regular subscribers dislike crime, casual buyers will buy on that basis.

    Hence the emphasis on crime. And, by emphasising crime the fear of crime escalates. I recall from my time in inner-city London, a report that indicated that the level of the "fear of crime" was actually more debilitating to people's quality of life in a city than the levels of crime itself.

    It thus became an objective of the council to reduce both crime levels, and the fear of crime.

    So here's an hypothesis:, the Press's continual emphasis on crime will increases the fear of crime, increase positional/judgmental behaviour which increases social division (yoofs in hoodies!) which will, in the end, make the city a worse place to live.

    There's some interesting psychology going on here - something to do with biases, stereotypes and the esteem boost we get from feeling superior to others, but this comment is long enough already!

    [/rant]

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Wait a mo', just to play devil's advocate here, I do find the casual misogyny, homophobia and glorification of black male dysfunction of much hip-hop culture repulsive.

    I find it disturbing too.

    I find it no more or less laughable than all the fashions of my lifetime. It does seem to have had remarkable staying power, though, rivaled only by clothes which have their origins in white gangs. I guess in 20 years hoodies will be what old farts wear.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I just think the link between it, and a bunch of kids wearing a sweatshirt is a little weak. Attack the problem not the clothes its wearing.

    Sure but I did post that link up thread for a reason -- sorry for showing my ignorance, but I do tend to "stereotype" people who get about in a 'White Pride' hoodie decorated with Nazi symbols as... well, racist thugs. Sorry if I've misread your ironic deconstruction of racist and fascist iconography, but I'm disinclined to enter into a dialogue over your couture which is, I suspect, the whole point.

    Personally, I've aired out my winter-weight cardigans and tweed jackets, the anorak has been sent to the dry-cleaners and the matching beanie/glove ensemble is ready for action. Anyone care to join me in Young Fogey Week?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Surely leather jackets have been associated with gangs and gang culture in NZ for a lot longer than hoodies? Some serious gangs too, not just wannabe teen posers? I remember a pool hall out west that banned wearing leather jackets on its premises for those sorts of reasons.

    Context is critical ... as Morgan suggests.

    There is surely no strong association between hoodies, gangs, and "undesirable bits of black American sub-culture" in New Zealand?

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Martin,

    The history of the hoodie is interesting...from monks to Rocky Balboa...it seems somewhat churlish to seek to ban

    attire embodied the persevering spirit of the American Dream at the time, and simultaneously appealed to workingmen, street thugs, and athletes

    *g*

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Martin,

    tsk

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Prime gives the same news content, in half the time, either first at 530 or conveniently re-screened later. Then add in CGW "News" for an enjoyable half hour of comedy on sporting topics, and an hour is much better spent than watching TVNZ or TV3 preview topics, cross live to interview a journalist about what happened, and then recap the headlines. Again.

    Actually, the TVNZ 7 news hour is a pleasant watch too. You get most of the 6pm news reports, more world news, and none of the live-cross theatre.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Sure but I did post that link up thread for a reason -- sorry for showing my ignorance, but I do tend to "stereotype" people who get about in a 'White Pride' hoodie decorated with Nazi symbols as... well, racist thugs. Sorry if I've misread your ironic deconstruction of racist and fascist iconography, but I'm disinclined to enter into a dialogue over your couture which is, I suspect, the whole point.

    I missed the point too. Was it "Hoodies are bad because some bad people wear hoodies?"

    Personally, I've aired out my winter-weight cardigans and tweed jackets, the anorak has been sent to the dry-cleaners and the matching beanie/glove ensemble is ready for action. Anyone care to join me in Young Fogey Week?

    Your crew could be Tha Cardie Killaz.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    Actually, the TVNZ 7 news hour is a pleasant watch too.

    I would watch it...but TVNZ 7 isn't on Sky's service as it's Freeview bait. One day...

    I grant you their billboards are pleasant enough though. The ongoing saga of the man on benefits going to be a doctor in Northland ..I can't wait!

    Flicking through the live menu on Sky (what did we do before we discovered what that button on the top left is actually for?) I mused on how we watched less Maori TV after Sky changed its channel number to something less accessible, and watch much more food TV now that it's not channel 38.

    I wish we could set the live menu to pick up the channels in an order we want to watch - sport/Maori/BBC/CNN/National Geographic and the channel with L'il Einsteins would be closer to the main channels and the crack pipe that is E would be banished. (E is like televisual junk-food - easy to watch, but no nutritional value, and leaves you feeling slightly queasy after).

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Anyway Ron Mark is okay by me after his sterling performance in the Terrace Tunnel yesterday,

    Ron Mark finally found a use for his finger that didn't tie him to NZ's gang culture.

    But yes, good on him for that life saving effort.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Nicholas,

    So is it function or fashion, folks?
    Function I can and do live with - thanks god for the hoodie on a cold/wet/snowy day. Fashion, style, personal statement - I don't think so.
    Hoodies obscure the face and there aren't many other garments that share that purpose. So I'm thinking that if you want to hide the face, you don't want to be seen. A perfect fit for teenage angst, then.
    As for the rest of you, if hoodie up is your costume, then you're either emulating something that's never going to be part of your culture or you're up to something you shouldn't be.

    Since Nov 2006 • 12 posts Report Reply

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