Scary? No, more comical actually

[PepperElf]

I just about died laughing at this. Its so TRUE.

The louder someone acts, the more I know they're probably just about harmless. Its the quiet ones you have to worry about!

Anyone else thinking of the original Harold & Kumar movie? Where the "extreme" kids turn out to be closet soft-rock fans?

I ride a Harley. My friends are bikers. When we are out on the bikes, we wear jeans and leathers and chain our stuff to our bodies. We don't do this to intimidate people, we do it because its the most practicle way to dress.

It always amazes me when we go into a store to get water and snacks and the clerks look frightened. We are always polite and everything.

Like the original idea for Happy Days - iirc they didn't want The Fonz wearing the leather jacket because of the 'rough' look - but he won the argument for it, pointing out that it's promoting motorcycle safety.

[XCashier]

This mr macho man...looked like an over inflated oompah loompah

Great description! (Honestly, I can't understand why anyone would think an orange fake tan looks good!)

The guy who was paying made this big deal about counting out $700 in twenties and was like "impressed?" to me and I smiled and pretended to be confused and said "oh at what, the duvet cover, yes it's nice isn't it"

Good one! Deflated Mr. Moneybucks' ego!

Can you believe in 2-years NEVER did we kick-out a goth or punk (the ones always labeled as troublemakers) it was always the cute preppy kids in their gap and abercrombie and fitch shoplifting underwear from Debs and the like. You can never judge.

I believe it. When I worked at the Drug Store From Hell, my favorite customers were the big, scary-looking bikers, with their leather jackets, grease-stained jeans and ZZ Top beards. They were always nice, well-mannered, treated me like a fellow human being. The so-called "decent" people wearing conservative clothing were the ones who treated me like scum on their shoes and more often than not were shoplifters and scammers.

[Slave to the Phone]

I believe it. When I worked at the Drug Store From Hell, my favorite customers were the big, scary-looking bikers, with their leather jackets, grease-stained jeans and ZZ Top beards. They were always nice, well-mannered, treated me like a fellow human being. The so-called "decent" people wearing conservative clothing were the ones who treated me like scum on their shoes and more often than not were shoplifters and scammers.

99 percent of us are trying to do damage control over the 1 percenters. When we are out for a ride, we are having fun. Fun having people don't usually go nutz because something scanned wrong, we usually mock the person who grabbed the wrong bottle of water. (we also tip at least 30 percent and the guy who just drinks coffee leaves 5 bucks.)

As to the bed...15 pillows? My cats would love it and I'd be sleeping on the couch.

[blas]

There's a percentage of guys around here who do that stupid Jersey Shore thing, only since it's Wisconsin, they're obviously quite more fair skinned and have lighter hair (though some of them do tan).

Imagine seeing all different sized clones of these guys, same tattoos, same Ed Hardy and Affliction sparkly shirts (the only guy who should sparkle should be Edward. Dammit), hair pokier than porcupines, huge bulging muscles and maybe between all of them, an IQ of about 60.

And don't ask about the female counterparts. Gross.

[Kristev]

Personally, I prefer guys in leather jackets and motorcycle boots over pompous, arrogant spoiled richy-rich types. The bikers just don't tend to like me.

[Little Retail Rabbit]

At my last mall I was always getting complaints from concerned busy bodies about these 'dangerous persons.' My area had a large population of goths. Every day it would be "Security! There's a man in a black trench coat by the food court!" And I'd ask what was the problem, what was he doing, etc. They'd say "Well he's wearing BLACK TRENCHCOAT and looks suspicious." So this guy wasn't doing anything expect wearing a trench or looking punk or goth which as we all know means you're going to start shooting schoolchildren or something. I'd wander over and it usually ended-up being a friend of mine and I'd say "hey Steve, got another complaint about you!" And he'd be like "Hee, I scared someone again huh?" My old supervisor even asked me to talk to my friends and get them to 'dress normal' to which I said no, it's their right to dress however they want as long as doesn't violate any of our rules. Can you believe in 2-years NEVER did we kick-out a goth or punk (the ones always labeled as troublemakers) it was always the cute preppy kids in their gap and abercrombie and fitch shoplifting underwear from Debs and the like. You can never judge.

Now I keep thinking of inflatable oompa loompas....

I certainly CAN believe that, and I believe that sort of thing happens all the time. Less so in the UK, sorry to say it, but my own experiences prove to myself at least that the UK is generally more open-minded to the alternative subcultures than some parts of the US...goths have never been associated with school-killings over here.

The truth is, as you pointed out, Goths are more likely to be the quiet kids, and the adults as well. A group of goths on the Londong Tube on NYE were much better behaved than a bunch of "normies" bouncing off the bloody train! (And people think Goths have a death wish :P ).

I generally find I get a lot more disturbed or frightened looks when in goth garb in the states than I do at home. I react to it much the same way as I do at home (either indifference or amusement lol) but in the UK I don't believe I've ever had parents pull their children away from me...has happened in the states though lol.

(The sad thing is, unlike the guidos who do like to act obnoxious even if they are harmless, goths generally are kinda shy and quiet...with some exceptions, we're also very polite and friendly!)

[blas]

Weirdly enough, if I see a person in a trenchcoat, I think they are naked under it. Not a terrorist or someone who is going to actually physically harm anyone. Mentally, maybe.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Weirdly enough, if I see a person in a trenchcoat, I think they are naked under it. Not a terrorist or someone who is going to actually physically harm anyone. Mentally, maybe.

Or give someone a laugh at their lack of "abundance."

[EyeTeaGuy]

I ride a Harley. My friends are bikers.

It always amazes me when we go into a store to get water and snacks and the clerks look frightened. We are always polite and everything.

My father used to repair arcade game machines and pinballs. He once got a call to repair a pinball at a bar known for being a local Hell's Angels hangout.

He had to explain to some patrons there QUICKLY why he was there, but as soon as they knew he was told that he wouldn't be messed with. He actually had one stay by him until he was done, and if the bar was still there, would have a bar that he could drink at for free, they were so happy with the job he did on their machine. Guess they really liked their pinball.

And around here one of the largest annual donations to the Children's Hospital for toys for XMas is done by a massive amount of bikers. Good people.

[RealUnimportant]

I ride a Harley. My friends are bikers. When we are out on the bikes, we wear jeans and leathers and chain our stuff to our bodies. We don't do this to intimidate people, we do it because its the most practicle way to dress.

It always amazes me when we go into a store to get water and snacks and the clerks look frightened. We are always polite and everything.

Of course now I have "Slave to the Phone" running through my head to the tune of "Bad to the Bone" - I'm not sure if that was intended, if it was then bravo

[GiggityGiggityGoo]

Meh, that was probably mommy and daddy's money anyways...

[Fire_on_High]

As to the bed...15 pillows? My cats would love it and I'd be sleeping on the couch.

Good Slave! - Signed, Your Furry Overlords

[mharbourgirl]

I ride a Harley. My friends are bikers. When we are out on the bikes, we wear jeans and leathers and chain our stuff to our bodies. We don't do this to intimidate people, we do it because its the most practicle way to dress.

It always amazes me when we go into a store to get water and snacks and the clerks look frightened. We are always polite and everything.

I used to live on a road that was popular with bike clubs. You knew spring was really here when the first lot cruised past the house. I always loved it, they were great people.

How great? One day I'm broke down on a remote stretch of that road with no houses in sight, hood up trying to figure out whether it's a dead spark plug or something worse. Next thing I know two dozen bikes purr by and suddenly pull over en masse. Harleys, leather, beards, chains, the whole shebang. I should have been terrified (small female-type person, two dozen burly bearded men, do the math), but I wasn't. Because they got my car going again and a couple of 'em followed me home just to make sure I got there, then took off with a wave.

It was a beautiful day.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

(the only guy who should sparkle should be Edward. Dammit)

Does not compute.

[Ironclad Alibi]

(the only guy who should sparkle should be Edward. Dammit)

Does not compute.

Edward, the twinkling vampire from the Twilight series.