Geeks agree - 'We need to dress better'

Thanks, Otto

Stern response I've been so pleased with the reaction to my piece last month entitled CEOs should follow NBA and make geeks wear real clothes. It's very rewarding to have your public justify insightful positions by heaping praise.

I'll admit that not everyone saw the raw genius in my proposal, and in the spirit of open dialogue, I'll print plenty of these maniacal letters too. But first to the sane folks.

I couldn't agree more with your article relating to geeks clothing habits. I work for an extrememly prominent construction firm in Los Angeles, that caters to high end clients. Now the company dress code is business casual for in office employees, and business dress for employees who go into the field. One of my System Admins is the cousin of the executive VP and therefor believes he can do anything he wants, (which of course explains multiple problems in and of itself) His dress ethics are about equal to a hippie in Haight-Ashbury. His favorite shirt is a stained shirt from a sushi restaurant that represents a game of space invaders, which he wears at least three times a week with the baggiest, most pockets I have ever been witness to cargo pants.

Around the office, albeit he is violating the dress code it is sort of ok, because most of the time he is in his office since he likes noone and so he isn't really all that visible, but he often has to go to our job sites to perform site maintenance and of course on the days that he does, he certainly does not change his attire. Our clients who hire our company on our prefessionalism see this guy and instantly lose respect for him and the company just as I myself have.

It really is quite embarassing to to be in front of an executive explaining something and have this hippie next me wondering what he can stuff his mouth with to get a little more overweight so that his shirt really doesn't fit. Name Supplied

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I just read the IT dress code article, and I have to say, it is awesomes. I'm an 18 year old web designer, and I never go into work with cheeto stained jeans. In fact, I don't even eat cheetos for exactly that reason.

I've never understood why people don't like wearing ties. I have a tie and dress clothes and a jacket and it is PIMP.

None of that hippy-crap.

Joe Cooper

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Dear Register, I fully agree with your story "CEOs should follow NBA and make geeks wear real clothes". As everyone has learned from the past great century, the true sign of competance is conformity. Only the conformist survives and thrives in our society, and it's high time that everyone started bowing to this notion if we are ever to succeed as nonindustrial capitalists.

However, I think your point is moot. After the tech crash of 2000, I doubt there are many of these "stinking hippy" do-gooder CEO technologists around to allow their employees to dress as they see fit. And I think that is just peachy!

Let's all wear a tie and some nice wingtips as we make our way into the workworld (a scarf for the ladies of course!). Case in point, modern cults usually require their members to wear business casual in the "real" world, and if a starched shirt and snappy tie can make a cultist look normal and competent, then just think of the effect on a socially vunerable nerd!

Case Closed!

Yours in Pressed Slacks, Neil Morman

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Hi Otto,

I enjoyed your column about the NBA's new dress code. I work in a publishing company where flip flops, jeans, and ultra tight halter tops have become the standard attire. I wear a conservative mix of skirts, dress pants, blouses and sweaters, and often get the comment, "What are you so dressed up for?" Making a little effort with my appearance helps me brace myself for the day and mentally put my best foot forward (that mixed metaphor probably doesn't work, but you know what I mean). If I look professional, I feel professional and act accordingly, more or less. If I look and feel like a complete slob, my attitude and work are likely to suffer.

So thank you, and I look forward to reading more of your columns.

--Penny Crosman

P.S. Wow, you've provided a lot of information about your prostate. I hope you're feeling better.

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A-men on that article! The tech geeks need to dress up or ship out. Start dressing seriously ad maybe they'll be taken seriously. John Wetter

Now we turn to the less sensible members of the Reg audience who had the audacity to disagree with me. Complete flames first, of course.