Recently, during a weekend of less than enjoyable television, I happened across a repeat airing of The Blue Collar Comedy Tour movie from a few years ago. During comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s portion of the film, he commented about the dos and don’ts of fashion in today’s culture (i.e. wearing shorts that say “cute” across the backside, etc).
Around that same timeframe, I came across a website, Singletease.com, which specializes in “break the ice” T-shirts for pending relationships. Offering a line of shirts with messages such as, “Boy Scouting.... Are You Prepared?” and “Just Ask Me (Out),” the company markets itself on the premise of selling a line of shirts to “get the conversation started.” The questions I must ask are: 1.) Does this really work? 2.) Isn’t this idea for seeking love and romance rather pathetic and 3.) Has society really stooped to such a low level of self-esteem that things such as this must be broadcast on a shirt?
For between $20 and $28 and ranging in size from small to extra-large, the company offers shirts with five expressions (all of which I happen to view as rather lame) and for the really desperate, they offer gift certificates.
Playing the dating game is not always an easy task; I’ll grant anyone that much and I’ve been there myself, at times. I, for one, have always felt that yes, while suffering a break-up or other form of heartache is painful in the short-term, going through the agony makes us stronger individually and thus, in the end, we’re better for the experience. It is that side of me which feels as though broadcasting one’s social standing/status on a T-shirt speaks to one’s juvenile antics or horrible dose of low self-esteem.
Call me someone who is overly cautious but in today’s society of never really knowing what may lurk around the corner, is broadcasting one’s single status on a T-shirt really wise? Sure, to some, it may be cute, but puppies are cute and don’t leave you opened to having some ill-intentioned person following you home because you’ve broadcast, across your chest, that you are single.
The website has a testimonial of a woman who ordered one of the shirts. In her case, a guy at the gym took notice of her and ended up giving her his phone number. I guess, at least in her case, these shirts worked. Maybe I am merely too old-fashioned for my own good and for today’s society, but I, personally, feel that it is rather sad that our culture and better yet, the young men and women in our culture, have belittled themselves to such a level that they feel they must broadcast their relationship status on their shirts.
I’ll always believe it is best to find a hobby, go to church, or to go about other means of meeting people with similar interests to your own. Broadcasting these things on a shirt may be funny, at first, but will the person who was intrigued by the humor still be interested once the shirt’s newness wears off? If the answer is, “No,” then my challenge to all of you is to save your money for the shirt, dress impeccably (in your own style sense), be yourself, and walk the pavement to find Ms. or Mr. Right, using the strengths that you were given at birth. You don’t need a shirt that says, “Looking for good pickup lines” to tell others what to do or to prove to your own heart what you should do. You just need your own sense of humor and unique qualities. Sorry, Singletease.com; you may be selling, but I’m not buying into your strategy.
Of course, all things being considered, who knows? Maybe these shirts will make their way into the next “Blue Collar Comedy Tour.”
Good luck to all of you in your search for romance and happiness!
Copyright © 2008 – Jill Eisnaugle.
All rights reserved.
Jill Eisnaugle is the author of Coastal Whispers and Under Amber Skies.
She lives in Texas City, Texas with her family and pets.
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