I have felt it necessary to post this because of the recent animosity that has been directed at this blog. Let me make it clear that I do not expect, and never did expect, that everyone would enjoy this blog equally. In actual fact, I have always been rather surprised at how popular it has become. However, although I have previously been happy to publish comments that were controversial, and not exactly praising – this is my blog and not that of the Chinese government after all (I will come back to politics later) – there has been what appears to me to be a concerted attempt to undermine the spirit of the blog.
This blog started out as a hobby. It remains a hobby. And the main reason I have continued to produce it in the way I do is because of the apparent interest from online readers. However, despite the fact that there are good natured, interested readers who I am always happy to post for – whatever their views on my clothes – there are signs that it has become the target for sarcastic, weakly conceived criticisms. Not constructive criticisms but simply bitter, childish and picknose criticisms that say more about the personal deficiencies of the authors than their views on attire.
I know how dark the world of style critique is. My involuntary inclusion in a Dandyism.net face-off opened my eyes to the evil (yes, evil) that lurks out there. It’s amazing that people feel the need to disparage for the sake of disparaging. For example, I actually believe that certain people react to the fact that another blog might be popular, might attract a great many positive comments by taking pot shots: it comes down to envy. Not being a strict Christian, I don’t view it as a sin but simply as an ugly trait that exists in all of us to some degree. The better people manage to hide it more successfully.
The spirit of the blog is not to promote brands or even myself but simply to provide examples of a certain mode of dressing within a certain budget. It was never set up to disprove the myth that you can only assemble reasonable ensembles by spending a fortune although that has frequently been the conclusion of commentators and site reviewers. I welcome different points of view as this site needs variety and diversity of opinion. However, I do not welcome inane, pathetically unfunny one liners that exhibit no other point of view except resentment. These invariably come from ‘Anonymous’ posters. And therefore, I have made the decision to exclude all such comments from my site unless a name and a link to the comment author’s website is provided.
As far as politics goes, this is a democratic site. However, it is a sensible democracy that allows no Monster Raving Loony Party to distract from the real debates of importance.
23 comments:
yea, it's sad how catty the online men's style community can be. i love your site and think you have great style that does not warrant any of the aforementioned nitpick-style criticisms.
sadly these things do happen. to everyone. one can never really please everybody. i've been a silent fan and observer for quite some time and i thought i should finally put in a good word now. good blogs in the past have been forced to shut down or change because of pure negativity. don't ever let them win. keep up the good work. you have been more than influential.
Dear Winston,
Like we say in my country "bien dit !"
You realise if you didn't know how it's difficult to be popular and how clothes are everything except a light subject.
God save your Queen and Winston's blog.
Rgds
French Visitor
I follow your blog in my rss reader and have actually never read any of the comments. I'm disappointed to hear of the negativity. I am one individual that greatly enjoys when I see a new post from you. Keep up the good work.
Rob Parham
Sorry to hear of these troubles, I hope those involved will find something better to do with their time.
Hey dude. Not surprised your site has become popular. It's strangely compelling. Just remember, behind every ugly comment, there is an insecure twat. RP.
W,
As you and I have discussed in the past, this is one of the various facets of the internet - eliciting vicious, unwarranted snobbery, scorn and generally poorly phrased insults comes with the territory. What I've also experienced, as you seem to have recently, going by the "faux aristocrat" pejorative that was recently applied to you by one such "critic," is that certain readers seemingly question our credentials or "right" to dress the way we do. In your case, your credentials are rather evident, and I'm pretty sure these people know it - at least if they actually bother to do their research
Given your blog's popularity, publishing the odd constructive or challenging comment and responding to it is good because it emphasises an openness to criticism, but this is only worth it if it's indeed constructive. Out and out rudeness isn't worth the space it takes up
B
Thanks to all for the supportive comments.
Most of the offending comments I have not actually published. Largely because they are irrelevant and merely abusive. This post is rather a 'growl' at others who plan on throwing such turd-grenades at this blog anonymously.
More posts soon.
W
Chin up Winston. There are many bored, bitter people out there on the internet. You are fabulous the way you are, H&M clothing included!
Just go on! You're postings are always very inspiring.
A Dutch reader
Hi! I just found your blog today, via one of your reviews on mensflair.com. I spent all day browsing through your archives and was just amazed at all the great outfits you managed to put together using very affordable low to mid-range priced labels. I couldn't believe that those were H&M and Zara pieces in your photos. I would've never thought to combine them in such ways! I'm sorry to read that you've received nasty comments. Your blog is a wonderful and inspirational resource and I really do hope you'll keep it up.
P.S. I'm a woman but I've always found menswear fascinating, even moreso than womenswear. And it's nice to see that there are some men out there who do care about dressing well. All is not lost to fleece mountaineering jacets...yet. :-)
My dear Mr Winston,
I've been a quiet and admiring reader of your blog for a long time, and I can only beg you to not give in to those blatant scallawags that used to spam your lovely site with insulting nonsense.
I assure you that there are indeed people who appreciate your sense of style and outfits, and since men of savour have always been a minority, simply ignore the chavs.
Yours truly,
a reader from Germany
Hello Winston,
I am sorry to hear of your concerns - I do not noremally read or leave posts - so it comes as a surprise. I say; 'Well done to you. Keep it up.'
I enjoy your blog; I likle your style; and, despite being rather long in the tooth, aspire.
All the best,
Paul from Shrewsbury
Hello Winston,
I am sorry to hear of your concerns - I do not noremally read or leave posts - so it comes as a surprise. I say; 'Well done to you. Keep it up.'
I enjoy your blog; I likle your style; and, despite being rather long in the tooth, I aspire.
All the best,
Paul from Shrewsbury
Dear Sir,
I had occasion to stumble upon your journal the other day & as a result I feel obliged to make commentary on certain basic points that other readers may have also observ'd yet may have felt reluctant to make remark on given your recent & relevant commentary by your good self on the matter of posting etiquette.
Referring to certain dispatches of recent months:- the trousers seen in the dispatch of the 20th July are clearly too short in the crural department; one seems oblivious to the basic knowledge required to form or set a tie correctly, indeed appearing strangl'd / flush'd in the dispatches of the 11th & 27th July respectively, whilst in the dispatch of 28th June, one appears to have discover'd a fortuitous termination for one's tie in one's crotch area.
To continue:- the width of the shoes seen in the dispatch of the 10 July are wholly inappropriate for the span of foot, resulting in said shoes having to be laced incorrectly; the sleeves of one's jackets are clearly too short in many of the outfits presented in one's journal & finally I must say that I am fully at a loss as to why any self-respecting gentleman might decide to wear a 1952-style pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer Sun-Blocking Spectacles with what is clearly late Edwardian attire.
Whilst 'tis true that I, myself, have, on more than one occasion, seen men's ties half-windsor'd almost to the width of one's neck, indubitably part of the blame must lie with the manufacturer of such absurd ties in the first place. Indeed, until recently, it was almost impossible to find ties of modest & reasonable width in the stores of the high-street & thus, one is understandably constrain'd to some degree by what is currently à la mode.
I do humbly commend though, Sir, even if it might appear to the inexperienc'd, a somewhat vainglorious or indeed superfluous remark, that one might take the opportunity to avail oneself of suitable tomes of the classical style, p'haps for example, but not exclusively, Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style by Richard Torregrossa, Dressing the Man by Alan Flusser & Gentleman by Bernhard Roetzel.
I remain, your most humble & obedient servant,
Alexander Dyle
It's just plain bitchiness from people who don't know how to dress. I get good comments all the time from people, despite being mostly mangled!
As I've said before I could never look as swath as you in your attire, but I think you look sharp...keep it up!
Dyle,
Drop the act. It's repulsive.
And I wouldn't purchase a single paragraph of Flusser.
People like you made me chuckle a year ago, now I find you boring. Boring and spiteful. Your highfalutin is simply mockery of me - badly disguised mockery - and your opinions are utterly baseless.
I wear the correct shoe size for my feet. You have never seen my feet. I tie my laces in a double knot because I don't like long, dangly laces.
The trousers appear short because I am SAT ON SOME STEPS.
"appearing strangl'd / flush'd in the dispatches of the 11th & 27th July respectively"
Is this really what the internet has come to? I wear a tie, properly tied, and you call it strangulation. I get hot at a sports event and undo my top button and you call it flushed? This is the sort of obsession with, and criticism of, minutiae that I do not give tuppence for. At what point in my blog do I say 'now isn't this all perfect?'
I don't have a pair of sunglasses for every event. As others have probably noticed, I only wear Wayfarers these days. I wouldn't flap and bother because I didn't have a pair of Edwardian-perfect round tinted spectacles.
I don't believe in the oft repeated phrase 'If you haven't got something nice to say, don't say it at all.' I think that's rot. Say something unpleasant if it is reasonable and fair - but to mock, to nitpick, to be blind to circumstance?
Amazing that you have the 'etiquette' to 'stumble' upon a blog - be sent the link by one of your crones is more likely - and pour out such critical tosh.
Sir,
If I may circumspectly point out, it appears that you have misunderstood the intent of my dispatch, which, is neither to discredit your otherwise fine journal nor to besmirch your creditable character but I say this, & without hesitation, one will inevitably leave oneself open to commentaries by other parties, due in no small part by reluctance on one's part to humbly re-evaluate the possibility of one's need to consider any honestly-present'd considerations in the matter of dress. My prior dispatch was mine alone, without the influence of others; indeed I care not to take heed of the advice of others' with impunity, Sir, much as yourself I am sure. No matter. You have made your position clear. It is, with due deference to no longer offend one, that I have chosen to remove my site link that I placed toward your journal so that one might not think I have any untoward interest in irritating your good self any further. I bid you good day & wish you the best in your endeavours & of your journal's success.
I remain, &c.
Alexander Dyle
Dyle,
If I have called you incorrectly I am a fool indeed but I call things as I see them. You are right that others may judge the fact I rejected your particular criticisms. Some may even react to it themselves. I have no part in that. I do not think I have been unfair. I don't think your comment always reads as constructive criticism, or softly supplied advice. It is haughty and, as I mentioned before, nitpicking. Had you asked me whether I thought it better to wear an older model of sunglasses to an Edwardian sports day, I would have responded in kind. However, your advice was not presented in that way. I think it is also relevant to point out that you decided to comment on this post and to suggest that the other supportive readers were ignorant of my shortcomings. As I have written, some like this blog, others do not. I find it very hard to believe that you ever were among the former. If your tastes run to perfection, I am surprised you thought this blog worth your attention.
Winston (if I may),
Rise above it, old chap.
I happened to be travelling past the Royal Courts of Justice some weeks ago. A figure that could only be your good self was upon the zebra crossing. You looked fabulous.
Keep up the good work - you clearly enjoy clothes and that enjoyment comes through in your posts.
Thanks to all for the support. I have been buoyed by the back slapping.
W
Good for you!
Dear Winston,
as I have indeed stumbled upon your blog in dire need of visual support for my wedding garment, I would like to take the moment to give you my thanks for what you have achieved with your postings on the one, and what you have brought me on the other hand.
When familiar with a certain mode of dressing, but yet on the more snug-fitting end of the weight scale, I can only appreciate on what your attire has taught me so far: Get in gear and and do it bold and colorfully!
With that I close my commenting and thank you again for letting us know what men are indeed able to look like.
Michael
Zurich
Post a Comment