Is the Guardian worse than it used to be?

There's a lot of irritating stuff, yes. My favourite columnist is George Monbiot, by a mile. Something I like about the Independent when I do get it is that its liberalism is less metropolitan and more about the common good. Needless to say, though, the Guardian's series of articles on public service under that very title were awesome.

Today's G2 seems designed to add fuel to my (f)ire: one page of 'Style' after another, including a column on Why We're So Disappointed That Madonna Employs A Stylist.

Also good in Guardian: John Patterson re. cinema.

oh god, ask hadley today is just... tooth-grinding.

"today"

"At what age is a man too old to wear band T-shirts?"

Martin McCall, by email

"About 15 - that young enough for you, Martin? And to follow one rhetorical question with several more, what in God's name is the point of band T-shirts anyway? To show your allegiance to a band? Do you think anyone else cares? To impress onlookers with your esoteric musical knowledge? See previous reply. To make people stare at your bony chest? Again, I refer you to the first answer. To show that you once attended a live gig? Wow, like, a pair of golden headsets to the guy in the Nirvana '91 T-shirt. In case you happen to bump into the lead singer on the street, he sees that the two of you are kindred souls and therefore invites you to join his band and you then go on the road and have all the manly bonding sessions followed by groupies that your heart could desire? OK, I'll give you that one, although this does suggest that you still harbour the fantasy that you might bump into Joey Ramone in Waterstone's.

"As for ladies in band T-shirts, give me a fricking break. First, gals, a badly cut, poorly made, oversized T-shirt is good for nothing other than wearing to bed and the gym. Second, too often women who wear band T-shirts appear to be going for what we shall call Groupie Chic. It is a style amply modelled by Kate Moss in recent years, and can pretty much be summed up as skinny faded black jeans, ankle boots, a ripped band T-shirt and a cropped fur jacket. In other words, a girlified version of Marc Bolan's or Keith Richards' wardrobe, as though the woman has been so busy, um, sleeping on the band bus she hasn't had time to clean her clothes, so she's now wearing ones belonging to her musical companion. This column has no time for such nonsense."

Yeah, because women have *no* interest in music whatsoever except for sleeping with musicians. What CENTURY is this cretin from?

I think I stopped wearing band T-shirts by the time I was 23. It wasn't necessarily a conscious move tho. I doubt I will ever wear one again tho - I guess it seems lame unless it's an old obscure or overlooked thus hip act (even this I dunno about). I don't notice many people over 20 wearing them. Does Matt DC still have that Save Ferris T?

I only want to sleep with musicians if they are hot as they are (their musical ability is pretty irrelevant in fact).

dear teh grauniad - a long time ago/we used to be friends...

It went downhill after I left.

or were you PUSHED?

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-09-02%2015.37.57%20-0700/Image-D15E03FF59A011DC.jpg

heh. (sorry alex, no harm intended)

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/thesportsdesk/images/200607/20060707henrydive_derblog.jpg

xp

i was being harsh really. i don't care what's on other people's t-shirts that much. just trying to work out why i stopped wearing/wouldn't wear band t-shirts myself.

Any t-shirt which isn't plain white clearly sucks that's why.

i couldn't agree less

I still wear band t-shirts if I like the band. Why not? I don't *define* myself or my personality by my music tastes any more, I haven't done that since I was about 18. But that's not the same thing as wearing a band t-shirt.

I suppose the fashion journalist in discussion cannot fathom the idea that clothes are just something you put on, rather than a definition of or statement about your personality.

This is definitely something that happens as you age - or rather, has happened to me as I aged. There's a subtle difference between Statement Clothes and just things you put on.

Guardian editorial worldview circa 2007:

http://www.astucia.co.uk/images/sce/galibier%20tunnel%20_three.jpg

why else would you buy a band t-shirt if not as a statement or definition of personality?

I didn't know it was a band t-shirt okay?

because you're cold xp

In the past I've usually just bought them as a keepsake of a gig I've enjoyed. The piece tracer quotes is idiotic fluff, obv. I'd be embarrased to admit I'd written that.

Because you like the design? Because you like the music? Because it was given to you (this is where most of mine come from)? Because it was a souvenier?

x-post

you wouldn't actually buy a band t-shirt because you liked the design but not necessarily the band tho...would you?

because you like the music = statement/definition of you/your taste

given to you = not you buying

you wouldn't actually buy a band t-shirt because you liked the design but not necessarily the band tho...would you?

No, plus I've only ever bought them @ gigs.

because you like the music = statement/definition of you/your taste

Probably yeah, but w/smaller bands there's also the knowledge that in buying it, yr helping to supposrt the tour.

i actually bought a comets on fire t-shirt solely because the design was so awesome. (it was at a gig, but they hadn't come on stage yet.) then i heard the music and i liked that too. i suppose if i hadn't liked their music, or thought it was boring, it would have posed a problem.

a friend of mine, who shall remain nameless so that alex in nyc doesn't stalk and kill him, bought a huge iron maiden patch when he was 14 and sewed it across the shoulders of his denim jacket. he had never heard a note of iron maiden, but he wound up becoming the biggest iron maiden fan i know, and even sung in a band later, where his vocal style was almost inseparable from bruce dickinson's.

my take on this: do not read hadley freeman.

this resolution made some time ago, stands as strong today as it ever did.

it's a crass and deliberately invidious piece of writing. such an attitude, if sincerely held, could be turned around on pretty much ANY choice of clothing. so forgeddaboudit

the last band t-shirt i bought - robyn!

alan i can't help myself, i know i'm sick and need help.

is there a thread for best band t-shirts? must see

Taste is something that I have. It does not define me. Clothes are something I wear. The statement I am making is "I don't really care about clothes any more."

If I'm going to make a statement about clothes, I'll wear a bright green paisley jacket to a dronerock festival where everyone else is in leather.

I suppose my Hawkwind t-shirt is a statement, it says "ha ha, I'm wearing a Hawkwind t-shirt, I care nothing for fashion, I am wearing the shirt of a band so deeply uncool you can suck my left one because I love them!" But it's certainly not a statement saying that I want to f*ck any of Hawkwind or that I have a musician boyfriend whose Hawkwind t-shirt I'm borrowing, which is the assumption of that article.

> I don't notice many people over 20 wearing them.

*SOBS*

> you wouldn't actually buy a band t-shirt because you liked the design but not necessarily the band tho...would you?

EAR t-shirt with the putney on the front = great. EAR live = terrible. (EAR on CD = ok, plus pram and stereolab were supporting)

"Do you think anyone else cares?"

the core MOTOR of fashion is YES OF COURSE I THINK OTHER PEOPLE CARE THAT I AM WEARING... WHAT'S "IN". no less dumb than wearing something else that forms part of your identity. so it's just a puerile throw away bit of nonsense. heh. fashion in 'being puerile' shocker.

I gave up caring whether I was too old to wear band t-shirts or whatever a long time ago. Really, if you're getting that worked up about what other people are wearing, the joke's on you, I think. To paraphrase - "Do you think anyone else cares?"

Yesterday I wore an X-Ray Spex t-shirt. I am 31. Oh noes.

If a FAC 51 Hacienda T-shirt counts as a band t-shirt, I am wearing one NOW. I am more than 31.

Unless you buy shirts at arena shows or whatever they cost a tenner or less which is cheaper than t-shirts tend to be (aside from plain ones from Primark or something). I guess it bugs fashiony people cos it's fashion for people who don't give a shit about fashion

you wouldn't actually buy a band t-shirt because you liked the design but not necessarily the band tho...would you?

whoa there, people do this All The Time! witness all the motorhead/def leppard/poison tees on sale at top shop/debenhams/whatever.

What's a putney, Andy?

I bought a Mega City Four t-shirt the other week. I bought it cos I like the band and I like their logo, and out of nostalgia.

witness all the motorhead/def leppard/poison tees on sale at top shop/debenhams/whatever

really? since when do those shops sell (official?) band merchandise?

but how do you know people buying them don't like the band (even if it's 'ironic' or just liking the idea OF liking them, if that makes sense) anyway?

i can imagine some people, not just kids or people buying for kids, buy band t-shirts because of the design and without really knowing about the band but can't be that many really. this is even more of a facile 'want to look cool' statement tho isn't it? that sense of knowing what to buy but not really knowing why...

remember the 'little girls wearing Nico 'Chelsea Girl' t-shirt thing (altho i approved of this ha)

Uhm yeah, there were tons of high street chains selling classic rock tees (I presume they just bought a load wholesale).

i figure these are aimed at and bought mainly by teenagers

really? since when do those shops sell (official?) band merchandise?

since AGES, honestly. i doubt your "average" 14-year-old Miss Selfridge customer would have a clue/give a shit who Def Leppard/insert 80s hair metal band here are. it's just a noisy "cool" design that'll make her look a bit like Peaches Geldof or whoever.

I'm sure I remember even Primark licensing some lame/classic 80s band tee designs recently.

and As Matt DC has admitted, sometimes people buy band tees without even realising that's what they are!

nb this whole discussion is clearly on the wrong thread.

Someone was selling MC5 shirts a good few years ago and it was the only place that you could get MC5 shirts so I know loads of people that bought them as they had been desperate for years to get them.
I got mine online but it was probably the same shirt.

a putney

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/vcs3.jpg

so called because they were made in putney (not far from you actually, there's a website that gives the actual address of the place they used to make them, cottage industry style, deodor road, sw15).

http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/snaps/everynun.jpg

Hang on a second, I went to primary school at 49 Deodar Road!!

Oh, I didn't, it was 95-97 Deodar Road (since moved). My best friend at the time lived at 50 Deodar Road, though.

I've got a Synthi t-shirt but my god, I want a t-shirt with that nun on it.

I am currently wearing a T-ahirt of a band that I saw live but didn't like much. It's a pretty design and the band aren't well known enough for many people to even know it's a band T-shirt.

I have had it on since yesterday so should probably take it off soon.

This comedy character is getting a bit unrealistic

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/14/ed-miliband-turbine-farm-bronte-country-net-zero-climate-crisis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOZzFXolGJc

I was disappinted that they gave uncritical space to a think tank dedicated to "promoting economic growth" who has a vested interest in ripping up regulations requiring architectural principles that prioritise drafts, but i am interested in the idea of using heat pumps as a low-impact way of cooling (though as noted, the upfront expense is substantial)

https://www.londoncentric.media/p/why-london-homes-dont-have-air-conditioning

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 14 July 2025

This is so much more informative than that pathetic Guardian opinion piece.

requiring architectural principles that prioritise drafts

Drafts or draughts?

checkers

or is it chequers

Most of Europe is anti-AC, hardly just a British thing.

Of course, like Britain, much of Europe didn't used to get weather that demanded AC, and now does.

"Henry Hill is deputy editor of ConservativeHome"

Late to this but sounds like a magazine on how to decorate your home and garden like a Tory.

🗞️Bit of personal news

Very excited to say I'm starting, from today, as the new Scotland Reporter for @Telegraph based in Holyrood

DMs always open and email is in bio if you want to get in touch

— Jacob Freedland (@JacobAD82) July 28, 2025

this young fellow has worked his arse off to land this plum Scotland correspondent role at the Torygraph. Congratulations, young man!

I'm sure he'll do fine once his dad points out where Scotland is on a map.

I just want to see him giving a career talk at some inner city comprehensive school about how anyone can make it in the highly meritocratic world of UK journalism if they have enough grit and determination.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/07/world-leaders-keir-starmer-donald-trump-self-help

"As an overconfident 27-year-old when I took on a director role, I certainly had an urge to control everything. I had to work hard against that tendency in order to lead in a collaborative way. The phrase “holding uncertainty” was useful for me, because it meant I didn’t always trust my first reaction in situations, or the narratives my brain was telling me. It reminded me to take on board different opinions, rather than simply dismiss them. Of course I made mistakes, but I was also open to examining my own controlling and perfectionistic tendencies."

"We need to let go. What have we got to lose?"

Cambridge, a post-doc, then a company director at 27. That's just life for a certain kind of person I guess.

in sheer terms of numbers these people have to be less than the populations of hundreds of little towns which most people have never even heard of, and yet

All the important issues of the day...

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/14/you-be-the-judge-should-my-girlfriend-stop-leaving-so-many-lamps-on-and-use-the-big-light-instead

The Guardian is like this factory that downplays monstrosities.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/sep/03/how-graham-linehan-gender-activism-led-to-comedian-career-and-personal-armageddon

The way they just drop in a brief mention of tweets inciting violence at the end without unpacking at all

Not to mention him going around accusing people of being paedophiles.

“I did it for my wife and daughter, even though we broke up,” he said. “I did it for them and I’d do it again.”

Says it all really.

This is despicable. Fuck calling this is a "peculiar metamorphosis"

Linehan, 57, is also said by prosecutors to have “deliberately whacked” a phone out of Brooks’s hand as she filmed him during a confrontation about the alleged abuse.

He and Brooks met at a Battle of Ideas conference on 19 October when the scriptwriter “approached her with his phone, recording her and calling her a groomer, and asking how many she had groomed”, the prosecution said.

Brooks subsequently called out to Linehan outside the venue and asked him why he had called her a “domestic terrorist”.

Julia Faure Walker, for the prosecution, said: “At this point Mr Linehan could’ve explained why he had called her a domestic terrorist, if indeed he had an explanation, or even ignored her … rather he responded in a way which is indicative of his extreme personal animosity towards her.

“He said ‘go away groomer’, ‘go away you disgusting incel’. He called her a ‘sissy porn-watching scumbag’ … He deliberately whacked the phone out of Ms Brooks’s hand.”

Brooks is 18.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/04/graham-linehan-trans-teenager-court

And was 17 at the time of the incident. Fuck you, Graham.

Be fair, he was just defending his ex-wife and daughter he might or might not have visitation rights to.

“She’s turned the weans against us!”

Funnily enough, he turned Limmy against him.

He and Rowling and this small - yet weirdly influential - handful of hateful people are SO angry and unhinged about trans people - just so far beyond what the vast majority of people give any thinking time to - that I do wonder if there's some sort of Rosebud-like explanation for it lurking in their past. Or if it's just that there's something so primal about the categories of men and women, something so bound up with sex and shame and family relationships, that some people's brain circuitry just seems to fry when presented with evidence that these categories they thought were stable are in fact not stable, or not in the way they thought they were. Or maybe some combination of both. I just wish they could somehow construct an off-ramp for themselves, a way to climb down from these ever more extreme perches they find themselves on. Instead I guess you just keep doubling down until you get arrested.

These cunts have hidden shallows tbh

Or, I should add, instead of getting arrested you pass legislation "defending women", one or the other

xpost lol yes I feel poorer for even having entertained attempting to peer into whatever inner lives are there

the funny thing is, Rowling has studiously ignored Linehan for years while he's ranted obsessively about her. I think she recognised that even by the standards of their "movement" he's completely poisonous

But as soon as the arrest happened, all of a sudden she's right in his corner

The Guardian has retracted the quotes from the anonymous ‘school friend’ of the suspect in the Charlie Kirk case saying he was left-wing after the guy they interviewed clarified that he didn’t remember him well enough to be quoted. Sterling work.

Lol.

Also ran a piece on the 'shock' of Trump refusing to talk about 'unity'. They are so useless.

All liberals know is to sit in their wealthy homes and panic.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/16/us-americans-republic-midterm-elections-democrats

Sometimes they just paste a Reuters article like this
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/08/germany-ends-fast-track-citizenship-mood-migration-shifts

Which includes lines like Attitudes towards immigration have soured dramatically in Germany, partly because of the strain high migration levels have placed on local services. written as tho it were incontrovertible fact.