Althouse: At the gardens today — a little boy in a suit and a grown man in shorts.

May 15, 2010

At the gardens today — a little boy in a suit and a grown man in shorts.

42 comments:

Jason (the commenter) said...: Shorts are good on a man. Makes him more approachable. If only this one didn't have that thing on his shoulder.; 5/15/10, 6:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Don't you just hate when GROWN MEN wear shorts?; 5/15/10, 6:58 PM
Jeff with one 'f' said...: It used to be that boys couldn't wear long pants until they reached "manhood", i.e. adolescence. Now that the eternal childhood of the Baby Boomers is reaching its dotage we are treated to the spectacle of old men dressing as young boys...; 5/15/10, 7:03 PM
dbp said...: This looks like it could be a soccer uniform, thus falling under the "sports exemption".; 5/15/10, 7:04 PM
LegosnEggos said...: This really shouldn't count, though. That's clearly a sports-related outfit. He's probably just been to soccer practice or a game.; 5/15/10, 7:06 PM
Anonymous said...: @Jason -- That "thing" on his shoulder is a woman's arm. I kid you not.; 5/15/10, 7:07 PM
traditionalguy said...: Don't blame us Baby Boomers. We left our shorts behind in Boy Scouts. The refusal to grow up and become men fashion started in a feminist dominated culture that jumped the youth long after we finished things in Viet Nam.; 5/15/10, 7:10 PM
fivewheels said...: I know that legally in a public place it's all totally kosher and all that, but do you ever think that on a high traffic blog like this, the kind of semi-implicit ridicule of the shorts picture makes it kind of sketchy to highlight a stranger's choice of weekend fashion?

It reminds me of when there's an obesity-related story on TV news, and they run footage of cameramen following fat people's asses on the street. When that woman recognizes her pants and handbag, I wonder how she feels.

WV: flashe. Yes, sometimes I flashe my legs too.; 5/15/10, 7:12 PM
fivewheels said...: (Well, they don't run footage OF cameramen following fat people, but FROM them. I always thought that would be an embarrassing assignment. "Jerry, go get me some fat asses to run with the dieting story tonight."); 5/15/10, 7:15 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Jeff with one 'f': It used to be that boys couldn't wear long pants until they reached "manhood", i.e. adolescence. Now that the eternal childhood of the Baby Boomers is reaching its dotage we are treated to the spectacle of old men dressing as young boys...

Boys used to wear dresses; frilly, ornate dresses. The olden days are over and so are their bizarre dress codes.

I wear long pants all day long at work. It's 90 degrees outside when I get home. You can bet I put shorts on whenever I can.

If you people can't appreciate a good calf when you see one, then I feel sorry for you.

(And bless the Gods who walk around without their shirts on.); 5/15/10, 7:17 PM
rhhardin said...: Doberman and Doberbird.; 5/15/10, 7:27 PM
MadisonMan said...: I'd say soccer ref. Exemption!; 5/15/10, 7:32 PM
Unknown said...: i really hope its just that bare men's legs is the problem for you. if you dont like to see men in football uniforms (the spandex) then i think there is something deeply wrong.; 5/15/10, 7:35 PM
Pablo said...: The guy is shorts is a soccer referee. You tell by the shirt and the socks. Cut him some slack.; 5/15/10, 7:38 PM
Unknown said...: Agree with dbp, MadMan, and Pablo.

King's X. Or whatever it is.

As to the little boy at the wedding, reminds me of me at such events in my youth. Get me away from the grown-ups and find something cool.; 5/15/10, 7:50 PM
David said...: He's wearing a soccer uniform. Is that excusable (assuming that he actually has been playing soccer?); 5/15/10, 7:52 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "This looks like it could be a soccer uniform, thus falling under the "sports exemption"."

At the time, I said "He should be kicking a little ball along with him."

"the kind of semi-implicit ridicule of the shorts picture"

There's no written ridicule. It's just a picture. If the ridicule is "semi-implicit," it's all coming from the man himself.

"It's 90 degrees outside when I get home."

And you have to wear shorts because there's no way you have air conditioning. Right?

"Shorts are good on a man. Makes him more approachable."

And reachable.; 5/15/10, 7:56 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: And you have to wear shorts because there's no way you have air conditioning. Right?

In Florida we can only afford to air condition the outside for a few weeks each year. We're not like people up North, who keep the thermostat down so low that it snows for months on end.; 5/15/10, 8:10 PM
Big Mike said...: MadMan, Pablo, and edutcher are quite right -- the fellow in the shorts is a referee. From the looks of things the game is over and he's tired. (Refs do a lot of running, and they can't sub out.)

As for the kid, my prediction is that his mother saw him get too close to the pool, she let out a shriek, and he fell in. Aren't you sorry you didn't have your video camera along?; 5/15/10, 8:26 PM
Anonymous said...: "...and a grown man in shorts."

I thought I sensed a disturbance in the Force today. Like millions of voices crying out...; 5/15/10, 8:33 PM
JAL said...: Soccer ref.

On his way home from ref'ing.

He deserves a break.

No one would change into long pants on the way home from the game(s). But they might stop and look at an Althouse Monet along the way. Complete with pink blossoms and his girl.; 5/15/10, 8:44 PM
Ralph L said...: That "thing" on his shoulder is a woman's arm

I think he knew that.; 5/15/10, 8:48 PM
Moose said...: Sorry Ann - I was traveling today and couldn't comment on this earlier.

Are you afraid you're going to see his meat and 2 veg? Your like someone that was molested by a man in shorts. There is a man and his girl (woman) enjoying an idyllic afternoon and you have to contrast him against a child in a wedding, clearly ridiculing him.

Get over it! If you ever have a meet-up somewhere I can attend, I am going to show in shorts and engage you in conversation regarding women who wear drapery...; 5/15/10, 9:49 PM
Anonymous said...: Are you afraid you're going to see his meat and 2 veg?

I thought the expression was twig and berries ... ?

Peter; 5/15/10, 10:01 PM
dick said...: You are assuming that people like to live with air conditioning. I hate it. I would much rather wear shorts and do without air conditioning any time. I never even particularly liked it at work and I worked with computers where we had to have it.; 5/15/10, 10:01 PM
chickelit said...: Did anyone else notice how badly pruned that tree is/was?; 5/15/10, 10:24 PM
george said...: Why is the child being punished?

That verges on child abuse in my opinion.; 5/15/10, 10:26 PM
Irene said...: Both photos are touching because they reflect "accomplishment."

The participants in the wedding are poised for the moment, looking forward with anticipation. The boy in the suit is wistfully detatched, but he sees the reflection of the attendants in the pool.

The man in shorts and his mate seem like they are looking back on a good day.

If only every day were as nice for everyone.; 5/15/10, 10:36 PM
Anonymous said...: I live in the South without the benefit of air conditioning. I wear shorts almost year-round here. Since I work in a restaurant, I get to wear them all day long. Even in the winter, I wear shorts, since it's hot in the kitchen.

Casual dress is simply that--casual. It's not a statement, it's not a protest, it's not a mark of some leftover childhood trauma. I'm fortunate to live in a region and work in an industry where I can dress as comfortably as I do when I'm on vacation, which includes shorts.

wv: whincuss...the official language of Congress; 5/15/10, 11:10 PM
Wendy Kloiber said...: So fun to meet you + Meade there today! Sort of shocking, to turn a corner, see a skirt and pair of shoes that looked distinctly Althousian... and then to look up and see you in Adirondack chairs. First time I have ever had the feeling of having wandered into a blog. When you're planning your trip north post about it and I'll send links... or maps, since some of the best things up here aren't online.; 5/15/10, 11:54 PM
Paul Ciotti said...: Ann doesn't like to see a grown man's bare legs. That's fine. That's her right. I don't like to see big breasted middle aged women showing cleavage in supermarkets and department stores. It's not attractive. Yet they can't let go of what used to be their sexual trump card. At least men in shorts aren't trying to attract anyone.; 5/16/10, 12:05 AM
Ann Althouse said...: @Wendy Hi. Thanks.

@Pollo it isn't a pruned tree but the hulk of a long dead tree that has become more of a sculpture I think the decision ot keep it there is an idea of zen.; 5/16/10, 12:30 AM
Penny said...: "Doberman and Doberbird."

FIVE STARS for this one, rh! haha; 5/16/10, 2:13 AM
Penny said...: Guess I should laugh longer...BUT...I am overcome with anxiety!

What is a lady to do with a little man or a big boy?; 5/16/10, 2:23 AM
Palladian said...: Nice legs on the silver fox in the soccer outfit.; 5/16/10, 2:24 AM
Penny said...: Agreed, Palladian.

And the odds are in my favor. ;); 5/16/10, 3:16 AM
Penny said...: Except for that little man, big boy dilemma?

Do you have any advice for me?; 5/16/10, 3:19 AM
Jason (the commenter) said...: El Pollo Real: Did anyone else notice how badly pruned that tree is/was?

They probably can't afford to hire proper tree pruners, what with all the money they spend keeping the outside air conditioned.; 5/16/10, 5:23 AM
themightypuck said...: If women didn't mock men there would be no war. There would also be no civilization.; 5/16/10, 5:29 AM
Methadras said...: I'm wearing short now. NYA!!!; 5/16/10, 2:49 PM
Larry J said...: Assuming a man who wears shorts wants to be a child is about as moronic as assuming a woman who wears pants wants to be a man. Does the idea of comfort ever cross your mind?; 5/16/10, 4:30 PM
Calypso Facto said...: I wore shorts with work boots all day while landscaping. That combination would probably send Ann right into paroxysms.

@ Wendy: How far north? Further than EC?; 5/16/10, 8:06 PM