A New Frenzy

 A NEW FRENZY

The Wall Street Journal, Saturday 21 August 2026, reports a new frenzy - vintage graphic tees.  In other words, t-shirts.  It is reported that the t-shirt you are wearing will have the ability to "convey personality and authenticity".  Another facet of this new "frenzy" will be the ability of those having such items, to sell them for more than what was paid originally to purchase them; always a plus to the publisher of the Wall Street Journal.

What particularly struck me was the view a "vintage graphic tee" "would convey personality and authenticity".  Unfortunately, this is the acknowledgement that most of us don't have "personality and authenticity" and we need an outward, viewable, method of obtaining some.  All one can say about this, is that if you think wearing a "vintage graphic tee" will make you interesting, or entertaining, or just worth knowing, get over it, it won't.

But your visual aspect has always functioned thus.  From war paint to haircuts, your visual aspect has carried meaning and significance.  After all, you don't need a large vocabulary to tell someone you are a general if it clearly shows you are a general on your uniform, or that you are wealthy and sporty if you drive a Bugatti, or you are young and male driving a muscle car that makes a loud noise.

These things, whether we like it or not, are not substitutes for the genuine.  They are an attempt to make up for what you lack - - a personality - someone interesting enough to have a conversation with.  When you take a look at your friends and acquaintances for the purpose of deciding if you want to spend any time with them, you don't decide the matter on what kind of car they drive, what their t-shirt says, or the color of their war paint.  You decide depending on the purpose of your visit.  If for business, whether the other person is interesting may add to the meeting, but it is not necessary.  If you are to spend an enjoyable lunch or dinner with someone, it is important if that person can engage in a conversation, has something interesting to talk about, or otherwise can hold your attention.  Relating the current status of one's children, or what wonderful pictures were taken on the last vacation, or how your favorite football team won or lost,  doesn't do it.

I'm sorry, but the t-shirt you are wearing, or the car you are driving, or the house you are living in doesn't make you interesting or worth knowing.  And back to the Wall Street Journal which shows you daily the houses, condos, and apartments of the wealthy and their tremendous costs.  Never does it appear visually or otherwise that the proprietors of these dwellings are worth knowing - - it is presumed apparently.

Having an interesting friend makes life easier, having a vintage t-shirt does not.  Driving a Bugatti or a muscle car will certainly allow for the gaze of others, but I, for one, never thought that the person driving such a vehicle was worth knowing simply for owning and driving such a vehicle.  In fact, it is one sure sign, as are "vintage graphic tees", that those driving such cars and wearing such t-shirts are simply trying to make up for the fact that they are really boring, probably annoying, and not worth spending much time with. 

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo