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You may have noted my dashing photo on this website - specifically, my T-shirt which says:

READ.
RESIST.
REPEAT.

I cannot tell you how much grief that shirt has given me. Seriously, I had a guy in a country town in Victoria bail me up and demanded to know what it meant (and, yes, I will get my smug on and observe he did not look like much of a reader).

It fascinates me that I could wear a T with FCUK on it and no one would blink; try wearing something that suggests pushing back against ignorance and that riles people.

Thoughts? Observations?

Palindromeman 7 Apr 9
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15 comments

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1

I live in Toowoomba.
Where do you get the shirts?

Readings bookshop in Melbourne. A great, great bookshop. Indie, as you would expect.

@Palindromeman Thanks, I know the shop and both exes are in Melbourne.

1

I did notice your shirt and I like it. About 15 years ago I was visiting my friend Robbin in upstate NY. We met as teenagers when I spent summers up there. When I visit we always go to the town of Woodstock to walk around and soak up the nostalgia. After 9/11 there was a common t-shirt that had an American flag with the words "These Colors Don't Run". I saw a woman wearing a shirt with a flag that said "These Colors Don't Run The World". I loved it! I wanted one but I knew I couldn't wear it in the small rural town I lived in at the time. I've never heard the phrase 'bailed me up' but I for sure would have been bailed up and then some for wearing that shirt back home. There were definitely more guns than books in that town. I'm still in a rural area and your shirt would get me a lot of dirty looks and possibly nasty comments. Lots of Trump voters here.

Great story! Lordy - a mouthy T-shirt gets comments and an open carry AR-15 gets Second Amendment applause. There's trouble in River City - starts with T, rhymes with G and it stands for guns 🙂

1

By more t-shirts

4

It is fear. They feel threatened because they fear that you might be right and that they may be the moron that deep down they know they are...because I am convinced that they do know that .....deep deep into the bowels of the soul. Just a theory.

Otherwise, they would just note it, in passing...

“...and that they may be the moron that deep down they know they are” ...god that’s refreshing..

1

Great shirt. And fascinating that it stirs some of those that choose to be offended or angry with it's ideas. At least you know they can read those three words !

Indeed. It appears that people's illusions need little provocation (if it's even that) to be offended or threatened. I mean, seriously, it's just a T-shirt - if that threatens you, there is something really wrong with you.

2

Good shirt. Obviously, that guy read it and resisted the urge to think for himself. 😀

Copy that!

2

It maks perfect sense to me. It is my new mantra. Thanks!

Ange Level 5 Apr 9, 2018
1

Goes to show just how far away we have come...from 'yesterday's' freedom of being civil toward one another!

3

Guess he thought you were try to make him look stoopid..

5

I got a taste of this when I posted fairly intellectual, literate original poetry to a public site. Some people loved it, and told me privately. Some people hated it, and told me publicly, rudely, aggressively.

Many people don't like to be "made to feel" stupid. They get defensive if their valuation of education/knowledge/literacy doesn't match up with the valuation they think you're trying to promote. As if it has anything to do with them. As if you're personally insulting them for not wanting to be as smart/educated as you obviously think they should be.

It's asinine. It's the reason I don't talk much in mixed company--because I can't modulate my speech to keep the "big words" out.

Ugh. People. Repeat after me - "mary had a little lamb..."

2

I haven't had any overt negativity yet when wearing my "sunday best" shirt. It's a mantis with his arms crossed and it says "atheist" underneath. If anything, I just have to explain it to some people.

You are just not trying. As Yoda would say - try, you must.

3

I think the word "resist" gets their attention.

4

Morons are threatened by intelligence.

5

Holy rollers get upset easily I guess.

9

DUH bro....an 'anti sheep' shirt won't be popular amongst sheep....

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