I got one my latest car magazines and saw an advertisement for a shop with the owner in the latest "tough guy" pose, arms crossed, sunglasses and scowl on his face. The thing is, I know this guy and he is one of the nicest guys in the world. The marketing people insist that he pose this way as it is the new image.
When I was a kid (I'm 60 now) our roll models were the good guys that wore the white hats. Roy Rogers, Ward Cleaver, John Wayne, etc. People smiled when they got their picture taken. Being polite and decent gained respect.
Now it seems that everyone (men and women) want to project an image of "don't mess with me". What happened? Was it video games, hip hop culture, WWE, MMA, monster trucks, Orange County Choppers, all of the above?
It's like so many people never matured past 17 years old. I see the all black baggy clothing, full sleeve tats (and face tats!
), flat bill hats, dark sunglasses and the perpetual scowl. Lot's of anger and aggression.
I remember looking at photos from the 1800's and nobody smiled back then either. My thinking was that life was very hard then and they had to project an image of being tough so people would not mess with them. But now, life is very easy comparatively. Most people live fairly comfortable lives with no immanent danger. So why do so many adopt this hard look? Any theories?
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