avatarFrank T Bird

Summary

The article reflects on the generational shift in fashion and culture, with older individuals embracing tracksuits and sneakers, styles they helped popularize, challenging the stereotype of aging gracefully in more traditional attire.

Abstract

The author of the article shares a personal revelation about aging and fashion, humorously recounting moments of self-realization, such as discovering his running form resembled a handkerchief in the wind and witnessing his own less-than-graceful movements during intimate moments. He emphasizes that his generation, often stereotyped as out of touch, was actually instrumental in the creation and popularization of contemporary casual wear and music genres like hip hop. The piece serves as a defiant declaration that older individuals have a right to continue wearing the clothing of their youth and enjoying the music they pioneered, despite the generational gap and the advent of new trends like NFTs and TikTok. The author also promotes his newsletter and author page, inviting readers to engage with more of his work.

Opinions

  • The author humorously criticizes the idea that older people should dress in a manner that is considered outdated, asserting that they have the right to wear tracksuits and sneakers which they helped popularize.
  • There is a sense of generational pride in having invented or popularized elements of modern youth culture, such as hip hop and the casual wear associated with it.
  • The author expresses a degree of self-deprecation, particularly when reflecting on his own physical appearance and movements, comparing them unfavorably to cultural references.
  • He acknowledges the generational divide in understanding and adopting new technology and social media trends, yet he remains confident in the cultural contributions of his generation.
  • There is an underlying theme of resistance against age-related stereotypes, with the author arguing that older individuals should not be expected to conform to traditional expectations of aging.
  • The author uses strong language and cultural references to convey his points in a relatable and entertaining manner, engaging the reader with his personal anecdotes and opinions.

Old People Now Come With Tracksuits and Sneakers

You think we are trying to be cool but we invented tracksuits and sneakers, you little bastards.

Photo:Brett Sayles

I looked at myself in the mirror the other day. It was a mistake.

It isn’t totally up there with the worst times I have seen myself dualistically.

Which, by the way, are as follows:

1.) I filmed myself running

I made the mistake of reading about running ‘form’.

I have always considered myself a fairly competitive runner until I saw myself on camera flapping around like a handkerchief in the wind. What’s worse is that I have seen people running like that in the past and thought:

Those Motherfuckers need to learn some running form.

Turns out I am one of those Motherfuckers.

Every morning Jeff got up at 4 am to practice his Moonwalk. (Photo: Anna Shvets)

2.) I filmed myself having sex.

Yes, with someone else before you ask.

And, yes, it was meant to be hot. But no, it wasn’t. Unless you like to watch albino hippos mating, in which case it was SPICY.

Source: Tenor

There is something inherently wrong about seeing one’s own hips thrusting.

It’s just far too Cronenberg for my liking.

Anyway, as I said, I looked at myself in the mirror the other day. It was a mistake. What did I see?

An old man dressed in hip hop clothing.

It reminded me of the scene where the old woman is rapping in the wedding singer.

But then I stopped and thought,

Fuck it.

Why should I feel like this?

After all, my generation invented sneakers. We didn’t invent the tracksuit, but we popularised it as everyday dress.

We definitely invented hip hop.

Sure, not me personally. But are we really expected to start wearing rough brown slacks and knitted jumpers when we hit a certain age?

The last generation of old folks did, but they were the last of the war generation.

Heck, when they were eight years old, they were wearing itchy jumpers and scratchy brown pants and leather shoes. It was what they knew, even in their youth — itchy jumpers, scratchy brown pants, leather shoes.

In the same way, we are dressing the way we always have, and no little shit is gonna take that away from us. Alright?

Our generation also brought you one of the greatest TV shows of all time ‘Spaced’ (gyfycat)

It’s probably the same with music.

Sometimes I like to do bog laps (an Australian term meaning do a few laps of the block with your windows down and your music blasting).

My favourite bog lap artists are Underworld or the Chemical Brothers. Those guys were doing so-called ‘doof’ before it was even a thing.

So don’t hassle me if I’m a forty-five-year-old grey man doing bog laps. My generation invented doof, and we invented bog laps.

Okay, so I might not understand NFTs and blockchain and Tik Tok and sure, that makes me an old bastard. And honestly, if any young people are reading this, they are probably wondering what this grumpy old man is rambling about.

We do that, don’t we, us old people? We complain about stuff — stuff that hasn’t even happened.

Come to think about it, I don’t think anyone has ever commented on my tracksuit and sneakers before.

But that doesn’t mean they weren’t thinking it in their heads.

Those little bastards.

If ya think this was alright, sign up for my free newsletter. That’s where I put all the really good shit.

Also, do you like books, kind Sir/Madam/Other? How about bald, penis rocket spacemen who sell books? If so, visit my author page at the cracked head gasket of the economy AKA cockrocket.com.

More from Frank T Bird (That’s me):

Comedy
Culture
Music
Aging
The Nineties
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