Homogeneity Everywhere

In this article , Ruth Wisse mentions that "all groups tend to a measure of homogeneity." Yup. I played in a heavy metal band in 1984 and 1985 in Sioux City (yes, Sioux City), Iowa. Near the end of our run one of our drummers (we had two guys who switched between drums and vocals) befriended one of the local punk rockers. One of the punk's things to do then was to make fun of the so-called preppies, the kids who wore the alligator shirts with the collars up (which is back in style and looks as silly now as it did back then). He derided them for spending time and money trying to make themselves look good.

But the punks spent just as much money on clothes - possibly more since they were dressed in leather coats - and spent just as much time trying to make themselves look bad as the preppies spent trying to make themselves look good.

Me? I'm a t-shirt and jeans kinda guy.