Your body and the clothes you wear is an advertising billboard. Agree or disagree?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:50:30 -0400

The brands you wear can be perceived as your endorsement or support for their actions.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 24 at 2017 6:54 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:54:22 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Most Definitely, Whether I'm Slumming it in My Fishing Gear or "Styling" like My Sister Says in my Very Expensive Buckle Pants (With My Build I have to Buy the Expensive Stuff Unfortunately)

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2017 7:27 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 19:27:39 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I agree. Before I retired, I wore dress slacks, dress shirt and tie, or a suit. Now, I usually wear a Marine Corps or Space Shuttle ball cap along with associated shirts.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Apr 24 at 2017 7:37 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 19:37:39 -0400

I didn't vote, because I think it's a fine line and not a clear yes or no answer. Yes, your body and the clothes you wear is like an advertising billboard. But that does not mean the brands I wear can be perceived as an endorsement or support of their actions.

For instance, I'm currently wearing a Gildan cotton tshirt with a pair of wrangler jeans. The tshirt is part of my uniform and the jeans I wear because they are comfortable and the material doesn't fray as easily as other companies products. So if it came out that the owner of the Wrangler company was responsible for the decimation of Native Americans (completely made that up by the way), no I'm not going to throw away every pair of jeans I own. He's already got my money, so my wearing comfortable pants isn't an endorsement of Native genocide.

Now on the flip side, if I'm wearing a tshirt that says "the only good cop is a dead cop"... then yes it can be perceived that I endorse that statement because I'm wearing clothes that are more vocal.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2017 8:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:41:24 -0400

I work private security when I'm not with the NG, and appearance whether you call it profiling or not does make up part of how I deal with people.

Response by SPC Phillip Ludlow made Apr 24 at 2017 9:58 PM

SPC Phillip Ludlow — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 21:58:37 -0400

I completely agree.

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Apr 24 at 2017 10:22 PM

PFC Jonathan Albano — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 22:22:46 -0400

I agree. That's why I wear a plain blue T shirt and jeans most days. If a company wants me to advertise, they should pay me. There's a few exceptions such as charities I support but not many.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2017 3:21 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 03:21:30 -0400

I totally agree, when service members are out in the civilian population we are a walking billboard for the Military. This is a very true statement.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2017 3:49 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 03:49:52 -0400

SGT Jacqueem Spratley - Even though a simple AGREE would suffice, I always like to engage, to practice my writing.

"The brands you wear can be perceived as your endorsement or support for their actions." That's irrefutable, because one can't fully control the perceptions others will have. Perceptions (based on clothing) are more commonly based on type of clothing and how worn, even if logos aren't visible. Think of a white male wearing camouflage overalls and baseball hat, or a black male wearing baggy jeans and a long graphic t-shirt; then think of a white/black male wearing a full business suit. There is an implicit bias applied, based on perceptions of the person and their clothing, which in reality do not mean they support anything related to the perceptions of their attire. However, because of the subjectivity of perception, people can think anything they want, for any reason.

"Your body and the clothes you wear is an advertising billboard. Agree or disagree?" Yes, wearing logos of a company, or a proprietary pattern that doesn't show a logo, but belongs specifically to one company, does make us a walking billboard, and thus people can form further perceptions.

May I ask the context pertaining to your reason for the poll? Proving AR670-1 to a Soldier?

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Apr 25 at 2017 6:52 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 06:52:07 -0400

If you wear a lot of clothing with Logo's on I guess folks could perceive that you endorse the brand but it might be a stretch to say you endorse the brands political positions. I use a number of products and know the company political positions do not align with mine but I still use them (Nike would be one, Apple, another). I choose to wear less visibly branded products as too many have decided to put their politics ahead of their brand.

More important than visible brands is what you wear and what it says about you. With business attire the brand is not visible (normally) but what you wear, how you wear it, how it fits etc. is a piece of it. A well tailored suit or slacks and a sports coat is part of your professional fingerprint. As you are with a company or organization longer, your experience, contribution, ability to get things done etc is more important.

As the old saying goes, first impressions are lasting. People should be more thoughtful about how they appear/dress in public more particularly in the work place.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2017 8:06 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:06:35 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - I do not agree at all - I vet my outfits for their artistic impression they make on my body - and the message that impression conveys to my audience - not for whatever political or other position or behavior may somehow be associated with the designer, manufacturer, or distributor, Don't be absurd - I have no obligation to investigate the people who produce my clothes - not even if there may be allegations in the press re their race, sex, gender, sexual identity, sexual preference, political party, national origin, religious preference, employment practices, or political positions. I have no doubt some of my clothes are made by people who are devout communists - and I have hated and fought communists and worse for decades - but clothes, shoes, and accessories are just that - clothes, shoes, and accessories - not advertisements for the people who produce them. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Apr 25 at 2017 8:29 AM

SFC Dennis A. — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:29:54 -0400

I'm not really sure about the "advertising billboard" but I said yes because it definitely affects the first impression that form about you.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Apr 25 at 2017 9:42 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:42:04 -0400

I judge people by three ways. really strange because it turns out to be pretty true. I see someone walking down the street dressed like a bum that person dose not carry themselves well or don't care about themselves. 2. In the office you see people who have really messy desk then you no what home life is like and 3. what the car inside looks like as well. A messy car is shity person and I bet the have some money problems as well. Just my thought and I don't wear a lot of clothes that advertise who I am or what things I like, I am more a dark clothed person and stay to myself. I HATE PEOPLE WHO SMELL LIKE SMOKE!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2017 11:41 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 11:41:59 -0400

How you dress can reflect to others the respect you have for yourself, and for others, for that matter.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made May 29 at 2019 1:39 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Wed, 29 May 2019 01:39:55 -0400

Usually T shirts for example I'll wear one with military themes, Boston Sports teams, like the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics or plain colors. I have one Shirt with Commercial go but its for a business My Wife's Cousin owns. I have some for building materials or paint that My son who is a building contractor got for free, I have no problem wearing them and I'm not trying to advertise anything. Companies however that have taken actions that are anti American, there stuff goes in the trash if I even had it in the first place or maybe I'll clean of the oil with it on a dip stick for My vehicles or tractor or clean up a mess with it. One the other hand, dress clothing and suits there is no logo showing anyway.

Response by MGySgt Ron Soens made Sep 10 at 2021 10:00 AM

MGySgt Ron Soens — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:00:36 -0400

I was actually thinking in another direction: how you dress and groom yourself advertises to others a great deal about you. From this I mean sure, a few (quite a few) years ago all the rage was sports Starter jackets you could get while we were in Korea, so obviously everyone's loyalty to their team was displayed. But I lean more toward your attire when out of uniform. Many service members believe what they wear off duty has nothing to do with their civilian attire or military representation, but most Marines will tell you different, at least from my day and age. Things as common today, such as visible piercings on men or sagging pants, were strictly forbidden. Marines believe you're a Marine 24/7 and your conduct off duty is still a reflection of the Corps and its ethos. And yes, if you wear a t-shirt that proclaims "F (Firetruck...) YOU" then yes you are advertising you are not part of a team or represent as a member of the finest, most disciplined military in the world.

Response by PO1 Charles Wadlington made Sep 10 at 2021 11:39 AM

PO1 Charles Wadlington — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 11:39:53 -0400

We've ALL seen that fat, dirty, unkempt, or dumbass Service Member in uniform and was embarrassed by them. As a supervisor, I canceled Liberty numerous times for junior sailors that didn't meet standards. That's something that many civilians don't understand...Pride is reflected by appearance. And yes, I am still a neat freak.

Response by PFC Phillip Jones made Sep 10 at 2021 3:55 PM

PFC Phillip Jones — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:55:24 -0400

I fully agree with that statement. I work in marketing. One aspect of brand proliferation and encouraging consumer enthusiasm is to portray it as a lifestyle. As an identity. You get the consumer to conflate their personal characteristics with those of the brands. If someone likes MMA fighting (or just wants to look like an MMA fighter without having a reputation for it), they can send a message to society around them that they share some characteristics (often not as many as we tell ourselves) with that lifestlye by wearing Tapout or something similar. The draw of wearing a brand as clothing or tattoos is that you gain an aspect of your identity which is most often used to try and elicit respect, love, or intimidation. Sometimes it's a way of sharing your interests to let others know what you care about.

Unless your clothing consists of monochrome t-shirts and gym shorts or jeans without brand tags, you chose that brand of clothing for a reason. You are tacitly accepting that identity and broadcasting it to the world. It's playing on those things - whether it's the need to belong to a subcultural group, the need to project a certain image, or the desire to send a literal message through text or images that makes people buy clothing or get brand tattoos.

Response by LTC Dave Leppanen made Sep 10 at 2021 8:34 PM

LTC Dave Leppanen — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 20:34:35 -0400

It also makes you a target. Many people have been mugged for their jacket or sneakers. Women have had blood thrown on them for wearing fur. Many sports fans have been accosted for wearing the wrong jersey. Many people have been assaulted for wearing a t-shirt with the wrong political message. If you're going to wear it, be prepared to defend yourself. (Which you should be anyway.)

Response by Nancy Brook made Sep 22 at 2021 4:13 AM

Nancy Brook — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 04:13:37 -0400

I think the appearance of the clothes is important, and not what the brand policy implies