I Hate Posers

Well I used to.....

from JoeUser Forums
I hate "Posers"

Well I used to.

It seems that no matter what what group you choose to belong to there are always those who want to fit in but don't.  They think that by wearing all the right cloths or saying all the right things that they can weasel their way in.  We all know that it doesn't work.

When I was younger I despised and made jokes about the posers that would show up in the country bars and clubs that I hung out in.  You could spot them from a mile away.  They always wore what ever was the most expensive clothing and such that they could purchase in the western wear store and for some reason thought it was cool to have those little chrome tips on their boots.

I'm a couple years older now ;) and the "Posers" have changed, now they are wearing designer western shirts, Hilfiger and the such.  Their manners are worse and they don't know how to tuck in a shirt but, that's OK. 

I now realize that no matter what your group, "Posers" are a good thing.  They are lining the pockets of the folks that run the business that support our chosen group.  They may be annoying and you may want to punch them in the nose but, just remember they are supporting your cause and the trend will change soon and most of them will drift along with it.

My chosen group wont change even though it's not "Cool" anymore.

As Dolly Said, " I was country when country wasn't cool"

I'll be country cool or not as I suspect you'll belong to your chosen group no matter the coolness factor.
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Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry to have to break it to you but it was Barbra Mandrell who was the original "Country, When Country Wasn't Cool". But then again, everyone before Alabama and the Eagles (up until Joe Walsh joined the band) ushered in this "Hot New Country" genre were "country when country wasn't cool... So yeah, Dolly would fit that description. ;~D

Where I come from there were two kinds of Cowboy boots that you wore at different times. If you chose to wear boots with church clothes then they often did have Garands (those little chrome tips), but no one wore them with casual wear. The best way to get laughed at though would be to wear anything that had someone's name as the label... unless of course it was Levi Strauss. ;~D
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Barbra Mandrell who was the original "Country, When Country Wasn't Cool".


Ahh, nailed me there......

If you chose to wear boots with church clothes then they often did have Garands (those little chrome tips), but no one wore them with casual wear.


Here in my little corner of SW Mo church boots are either your newest pair or the ones that have had the most recent polishing. No self respecting man or boy wore boots with those Garands, those were left for our illeagle imagrant friends......

The best way to get laughed at though would be to wear anything that had someone's name as the label... unless of course it was Levi Strauss. ;~D


Same here. Though I must admit that I now wear George Straight Wranglers, they just fit too good to pass up and at least the material is made in the U.S.A. Levi Strauss has, from what I can tell sent all thier stuff overseas and regular 13MWZ wranglers strangle things below the belt that should not be strangled. :o
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Fair enough.


Oh, and I forgot one... if the name of the store has "Western Wear", "Cowboy" or "Country" in it... you probably won't find many real "Western", "Cowboy" or "Country" people anywhere near the place, much less wearing what they're selling! ;~D
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
What makes me shake my head is the ones who wear plastic boots - faux leather I should say. Maybe I'm totally not PC but if you can't afford leather then don't wear boots. We had friends come to visit from Michigan. I live in Texas. They wore the most cheesy "western" wear you have ever seen and wanted us to take them to billy bob's - the horror, the embarassment. I guess they're used to it down there at the stockyards. It is so touristy. At least they didn't buy one of the huge foam cowboy hats - ha ha.

Then there are the "real" cowboys who don't take their hats off in restaurants. Real cowboys take their hats off in restaurants - sorry. Or they go clanging around with spurs on like they are spurring something at Chili's. I can see a ten year old being so proud of his spurs that he doesn't take them off when he goes out but a grown man - come on.

And I hate to say it but wrangler's just don't do it for me. They make guys look like they have mechanical butts.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
And I hate to say it but wrangler's just don't do it for me. They make guys look like they have mechanical butts.


Iffn they don't say "Levi Strauss" or "Big Smith" (bib overalls) on the label then they ain't on "my" butt. What I find funny is to get those wanna be's to show you the inside of their hats. Chances are good it ain't a real one. Like a Stetson or a Bailey, etc.....Personally I have 2 Stetsons and a Bailey. And a cheap straw only because I tear them up so quickly. And the ones that "do" take them off either hang them up or set them brim side down, never upside down. Plastic/ leatherette boots? Burn them!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
And the ones that "do" take them off either hang them up or set them brim side down, never upside down.


yep, none are trained in the proper way to care for a hat.

Real cowboys take their hats off in restaurants - sorry.


Amen sister.....

And I hate to say it but wrangler's just don't do it for me. They make guys look like they have mechanical butts.


It's not the butt that 13mwz Wranglers squish it's the family jewels! :o I am glad to see a woman that does not appreciate them......
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Are there really any "real" cowboys left or is it just another social metaphor to cling and identify with? Being a Pacific Northwesterner, but traveling on business a lot to southern states, including just about everywhere in Texas, it seems that the only people I see wearing "cowboy" garb in reality are not cowboys at all, but just like the clothes. I really don't know and am interested in the how and why of the whole "authentic" cowboy thing and what makes someone an "authentic" cowboy these days. For me personally, I find cowboy boots, (real, leather ones ) a bit uncomfortable and a little to clickish for my taste but that's just my opinion.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
And the ones that "do" take them off either hang them up or set them brim side down, never upside down.


yep, none are trained in the proper way to care for a hat


And yet if you ask them...."oh yeah I'm a cowboy", Yeah suuuuurrrrre you are "dude"!
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Wet Monkey: If you ask me, there are only 2 kinds of "Real" cowboys. Those people who live/work on ranches and those who ride rodeo. Everyone else is a "poser" of one level or another. Speaking for myself, I wear boots to church because I prefer them to dress shoes. When I did have a Western Hat, it wasn't a Stetson because, well to me Stetsons are for real cowboys and I'm not one. To tell you the truth, with a few exceptions, this article has proven that you don't have to be wearing an Armani suit and drive a Lexus to look down on other people for what they choose to wear and how they choose to wear it.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
. I really don't know and am interested in the how and why of the whole "authentic" cowboy thing and what makes someone an "authentic" cowboy these days.


I wonder that too, I get called Cowboy on a regular basis but I am not comfotable with the term even though I would meet most all of what I wold consider requirements for the title....

And yet if you ask them...."oh yeah I'm a cowboy", Yeah suuuuurrrrre you are "dude"!


That's probably exactly why I don't like the title, there are soo many posers who think that they are "Real" and I don't want to be catagorized with them......

, I find cowboy boots, (real, leather ones ) a bit uncomfortable and a little to clickish for my taste but that's just my opinion.


Try some Ariat brand boots, look real, made of real leather, wear for ever ( I have a pair that I wear regularly that are 8 years old) and feel like Nike air's on your feet!

. Chances are good it ain't a real one. Like a Stetson or a Bailey, etc.....


I have three hat's in service right now (The other one has been beaten so badly it's now wall decoration) One Resistol straw I use as a goin' out hat, One US hat company Bangora that I wear regulary because it takes a beatin' and still looks decent and One 6X black felt not sure of the brand though, it was the quality hat that fit and that was more important that having Stetson, Bailey or Resistol stamped on it.....
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Dictionary definition:

Cowboy:

n 1: a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback [syn: cowpuncher, puncher, cowman, cattleman, cowpoke, cowhand, cowherd]

2: a performer who gives exhibitions of riding and roping and bulldogging [syn: rodeo rider] 3: someone who is reckless or irresponsible (especially in driving vehicles)

and why are we debating what makes a Real Cowboy anyhow? The article was about posers........
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
So how do you define "poser" if you don't define "Cowboy"...

What's the difference between a "poser" and someone who just wears boots, hats; shirts with pearl snaps and a yoke; or dusters? Especially if you don't want to discuss what a "real cowboy" is.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Where I live in Weatherford, Texas, cutting horse capital of the world, there are lots of "real" cowboys. Which means they work with the horses on the ranches around here etc.

George W. has a ranch is he a cowboy? Just wondering? I think they have to be involved with day to day operations to qualify.

To me a "poser" is the one who is just playing dress up. Another thing that always cracks me up is cowboys or I should say posers in all their get up driving around in little cars. Cowboys drive dualies with a hitch because they need it to pull their livestock trailer around. Nothing like watching a "cowboy" go out and load into a chevette.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was also thinking that pretty much every group has posers or wannabes. Look at all the little suburban kids wanting to dress tough like they're from the hood. Craziness.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
i just hate wanna-be's. good show, finally i've found a like-minded person!
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was also thinking that pretty much every group has posers or wannabes


That was the point of the article. Every group has posers. My particular group just happens to be in the country scene. I do not consider myself a cowboy, though I am a country boy.

Cowboys drive dualies with a hitch because they need it to pull their livestock trailer around. Nothing like watching a "cowboy" go out and load into a chevette.


TasT drives a 3/4 ton with a hitch but, sadly right now I have not the funds to have any livestock.

And your right a group of guys in cowboy hats loading into a small car is always funny....
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was also thinking that pretty much every group has posers or wannabes. Look at all the little suburban kids wanting to dress tough like they're from the hood. Craziness.


Oh yeah!! I about fell over laughing once when a kid here in Sheboygan said, "yeah, I'm ghetto!" If he is he'd better move, the closest "ghetto" is 60 miles away! lol
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
To tell you the truth, with a few exceptions, this article has proven that you don't have to be wearing an Armani suit and drive a Lexus to look down on other people for what they choose to wear and how they choose to wear it.


Even cowboys are snobs.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think snobs is going a little far, but yes some country boys are......

I look at it like this, I don't go and try to fit in at the local dance clubs that play current pop and hip-hop, when I do go I don't change the way i dress or act to fit in then I would be a poser. I go as myself. A few months ago I would have been a loner in a club like that but, recently the trends have gone towards guys wearing western atire again. I still don't fit in but, at least I'm not the only one in a western style shirt.

The fun begins when theses trendies show up in the country bars decked out lookin' like they came right out of the 1984 movie "Rhinestone Cowboy " you can't tell me that isn't funny......
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
Of course it's funny, but so is making fun of the guy in the Armani suit, and he thinks it's funny laughing at the rest of us. Laughter is a good thing.. right?

TasT, not to belabor the question (and if I missed your answer, forgive me), but...

What's the difference between a "poser" and someone who just wears boots, hats; shirts with pearl snaps and a yoke; or dusters?
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
think snobs is going a little far, but yes some country boys are......

I don't think it's going too far. You already looked down your nose at people who wear plastic boots and designer western shirts...that's snobbery, really.

look at it like this, I don't go and try to fit in at the local dance clubs that play current pop and hip-hop, when I do go I don't change the way i dress or act to fit in then I would be a poser


Here's a thought: perhaps the boys that show up wearing that gear do so because a) they're new to the country scene and don't know any better b) can't afford 'real' boots and a hat (they're not cheap; I dropped $150 on my boots and hat and they were both on sale) or c) they trying to put an individual spin on their attire and make it more to their personal liking.

Being a poser to me means dressing the part but not understanding the philosophy or the true meaning of the concept. For instance, a Buddhist poser would wear the mala, maybe shave their head and wear robes, and make a big deal out of meditating in public where other people could see them...but if you were to ask them what the Noble Truths were of what the Eighfold path was all about they wouldn't have a clue. However, rather than blow them off I think that I would show them what Buddhism was really all about.

What would you think of them if they showed up at a country bar wearing hip-hop attire? Maybe they're simply thinking along the lines of 'when in Rome'.....
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
What's the difference between a "poser" and someone who just wears boots, hats; shirts with pearl snaps and a yoke; or dusters?


A person who just wears the above list of things and is not trying to impress or imply that he or she belongs to said group is fine and normal. A poser one the other hand would be a person who goes into the groups hang out and tries to be something he or she is not.

I cannot go and buy myself and Armani suit and a BMW and istantly think that I fit in with that crowd. Nor can I put on my boots and hat and expect to be welcomed into the group of professional cowboys at a PBR or IPRA event.

I think in my circles it has more to do with how you approach things, If you act as yourself and do not try to put up a front through attitude, or try to buy acceptance you will generally be accepted into the fold and not be considered a poser. However if you come in with the attitude that you are all that and a bar of soap or if you try to buy your way in by having all the right atire, vehicles and the such you will not be accepted.

TasT thinks that people should just be themselves.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Here's a thought: perhaps the boys that show up wearing that gear do so because a) they're new to the country scene and don't know any better b) can't afford 'real' boots and a hat (they're not cheap; I dropped $150 on my boots and hat and they were both on sale) or c) they trying to put an individual spin on their attire and make it more to their personal liking.


A) I'll grant you that one

B) Justin Basics $49.99 @ shoe carnival, most any western sore or farm supply. My bangora hat was $19.99

C) Indivuality is excellent, though know the rules of your group before pushing into new territory.

What would you think of them if they showed up at a country bar wearing hip-hop attire? Maybe they're simply thinking along the lines of 'when in Rome'.....


Some do and I like it just fine, I would prefer a person be themself, than put up a front to try to be accepted.

Being a poser to me means dressing the part but not understanding the philosophy or the true meaning of the concept.


TasT gives dharma the trophy!

That's what I have been trying to say but couldn't find those simple words to explain it, thank you Dharma!
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oh yeah!! I about fell over laughing once when a kid here in Sheboygan said, "yeah, I'm ghetto!" If he is he'd better move, the closest "ghetto" is 60 miles away! lol


Me too. We have this little punk who lives behind us here in Pittsburgh. Thinks he's a gangsta. HA! Having lived in southern CA for quite a while I promply told told him that a "real" gangsta would laugh their butt off at him. Of course that would be "after" them seriously kicking his butt! He didn't care for my statement. I dunno why not.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks for the clarification TasT, me and my Garrand garnished boots (toe, not heel) thank you. ;~D