Do you have a weird hairdo or various piercings? Do you wear boots with spikes? Why or why not?

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

Answers

I had always wanted to be alternative when I was younger, but my mom oppressed me for so many years that by the time I could dress any way I want or do my hair any way I want, I didn't want to do stuff like that anymore.

The best I did was dyeing my hair midnight black once.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

I'm wearing sneakers in a corporate environment right now.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

My environment is corporate right now, too, but you wouldn't believe how relaxed the dress is around here. One of the reasons why I love it here.

Never been alternative, per se, although in high school my friends and I were a small clique of long-haired kids who regularly wore tight jeans and concert jerseys when the vast majority were either preppy or otherwise trendy. That made us "alternative", although probably not the way this question intended. :-)

In college I wore whatever I could get for cheap at Wal-Mart or Target. No piercings, no weird hair. No spiky boots. It's really not me, really never been me, although I went through a time about a year ago that had lasted for two years during which I was obsessed with anything "Gothic". I swear, I spent so much time learning about it that you'd think I was preparing to go for a research grant so I could carry on my life's work. I don't know why, I think because it's so different than what I had known.

As for now, on any given day I could be in khakis & polos or a sweater, or jeans and long sleeved snowboarding shirts (which my wife claims makes me look like I'm 16 and get me, and her, carded when we try to buy drinks in restaurants), or shorts, T-shirts and 'camp' shirts (plaid, like Dad used to wear (i.e., 'square')) when the weather's hot, and so on.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

I did the weird hair and clothes thing while in high school. I gave it up during college because I had too much going on. I thought I wouldn't do it anymore once I had kids because I didn't want to embarass them. There's a mom at my sons' school who has multiple tatoos and piercings and stuff. I kind of admire her. But mostly I'm just too lazy now. I have to totally change my hair color every month or so because I can't be bothered to find the color I used last time and only touch up the roots. I'm always losing jewelry. I just -- I don't know.

If I were to do anything like that again, I'd put green streaks in my hair. I almost did it in Dallas, but then I didn't. I've always wanted green hair. I did a mehndi drawing on my entire left forearm last year. Only my singing teacher and my mother-in-law saw it, though. They were just like, "What's that? Oh." I would do that more often if I could find a really good henna that stains dark, with a good, thin, non-blobby applicator.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

Although I really badly would like to have a tongue piercing, I know that such 'alternative' looks would not suit me.

I did have purple hair for a time last year, but that wasn't really intentional.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

I was pretty alt for a long time but now "everyone" has Hawaiian shirts. Damnit. So now I wear wife beater shirts. Like the chicanos wear in East LA you know. The beach scene is so eclectic that there is no such thing as alt here anymore. James

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

I am not alternative looking in the least. My fashion heroes have always been Grace Kelly and Jackie O. As a wild college rebel, I pierced one hole in each earlobe and inserted pearls. That showed my parents a thing or two, hah! I am not a tame or conservative person, I just like that look. It's so....clean. Much more fun to be a dirty girl if you look like a good one.

-- Anonymous, October 24, 2000

In college I was sort of part of the alternative side. It was the '80s (right at the time REM was making it big) in Athens, Ga., and I lived for the bars and music. But since I was an ag. major who worked with all journalism students, I was caught in the middle. My work friends would rag on me for dressing "businesslike" when we went to the clubs after work, and my class friends would be astonished that I didn't give two hoots about the tractor pull.

High school was much the same way -- I hung out with the British curriculum kids and learned all about punk, ska and reggae while my own classmates were calling for "Freebird". Guess I just like the contrast.

-- Anonymous, October 24, 2000

Mary Ellen, alterna-ag! I know how to shear sheep, but I'm sure I'm a little rusty...does that count as alternative? I have no tatoos(which should be alternative now days.) I have other alternative elements that I won't discuss in a forum. But let's just say I qualify. ;)

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2000

No. I got that out of my system in high school. I have nothing to prove and don't care for the kind of attention that stuff brings. Quit lookin' at me, will ya?

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2000

i have 2 defferint color eyes does that count?? some times i like to get a little crayz and ill paint my finger nails each its own colpr.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2000

I had my nose pierced the summer after my son was born and I let it grow in the next year. I think I would like to havea nose ring again. I miss it.

I have large, black plastic framed glasses that I really like. I thought about having dreads, but I couldn't make them work. I'm thinking that I would really like to have my hair braided in lots of little braids. In order to do this though I have to convince my husband that he wants to mantain such a nifty look because I'd need help and there's no way I can afford a salon.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2000

Oh, yes, sheep shearing is definitely alternative; in fact, Lollapalooza is originally a sheep-shearing term ("Tackle that ewe for me, Joe Frank, while I re-whet my lollapalooza."). I'll show you my clippers if you show me yours.....

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2000

I'd love to try something like that, but as I flucuate between a complete preppy type and a hippie, it just wouldn't flow.

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2000

Now, I can say things I couldn't at work. I have a friend who is a very conservative brillant engineer, at least at work (see halloween customs thread). She has introduced me to the S&M culture recently. Last night I went to a S&M seminar on "The Old Guard". I mostly just listen and watch during these "events" at this point in my life.

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2000

Ha! Mary Ellen, I use the "Australian Method"....and for those of you who aren't familiar with it, NADS is NOT involved...but it does sound kinda porno huh? I got so excited when I saw them shearing on one of the commercials during the Olympics....course I haven't sheared since high school, so I guess I probably have forgotten a lot of it.

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2000

i had a mohawk but it grew boring to me . so i did the sinade oconnor due. I wear odd clothes and listen to odd music. however, i have nothing pierced. i am 16 almost 17 and my parent s wont let me pierce my nose. I want to pierce my nose, my eyebrow, my septum(like a bull ring) and my belly botton. sigh... maybe someday...

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000

Well, at first glance I am the sweetest, least-alternative-looking person you'll ever see. But I do have a tongue piercing, and three (hidden) tattoos. At one point in my life i bleached my honey-blonde hair platinum, and put magenta streaks in it...that was probably the least attractive I ever looked. I have found that my involvement in BDSM has renewed my interest in body modifications and I am looking into additional piercings and possible tattoos.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000

If alternative means wearing scruffy Goodwill clothes because you're a cheap bitch and having paint splattered forearms because you're lazy and that stuff does.not.come.off, and having multi-colored hair because it grows too fast and you can't be bothered to touch up the roots, then yeah, I'm alternative.

I did red Manic Panic once. I'm so daring. I'm thinking of doing blue this Christmas break, that way it'll wash out before school starts again. Musn't upset the locals.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000

some times i feel alternetive whne i listen to kid rawk!!!! i just love him and if i rilly want to be dearing ill wear all me ear rings and rings on every finger!!!

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

Oh, floosie! I can just see you with all your rings and stuff. But kid rawk is nothing compared to me baby! Lumberjack

-- Anonymous, December 16, 2000

yuko it thot you went a way jim

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2000

Unlike Burp or Brute or Brett or whatever his name was, I'll never leave you Floosie my darling. James

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2000

BRETT!!!! hes out of my systim men suck

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2000

Floosie, you sure are cute when you get mad! James

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000