NationStates Jolt Archive

In a locked thread Ashmora commented:
"what bugs ME is white people with dredlocks. while it looks cool it is a symbol of a religion that hates white people. that makes it a very stupid fashion statement no matter how cool it looks."

I should therefore like to draw your attention to this website:
http://www.knottyboy.com/learn/dreadhistory.php

There is a very detailed history of dreads on here. Reading it, you will see that whilst many (some might say most) people associate dreads with Rastafarianism, they go much further back than that and are not the sole province of 'rastas'.

Although I can understand the misconception, it is quite an insulting statement to make based on misinformation.

Thanks
Cyber

I still think it's a fashion faux pas.

My wife and I, whenever we go somewhere, will try to find the male or female "fashion faux pas" of the day.

You know what I'm talking about.

The hideously fat woman who has managed to squeeze herself into bike shorts.

The chav - need I say more?

The mall ninja in his camouflage clothing and Oakley sunglasses - if only he didn't weight 140 kilos - most of it in his gut and face.

Rarely have I seen a white person with dreads who looked great wearing them. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is quite rare.

White people with dreads...

... should wash their nasty-ass hair!

I still think it's a fashion faux pas.

My wife and I, whenever we go somewhere, will try to find the male or female "fashion faux pas" of the day.

You know what I'm talking about.

The hideously fat woman who has managed to squeeze herself into bike shorts.

The chav - need I say more?

The mall ninja in his camouflage clothing and Oakley sunglasses - if only he didn't weight 140 kilos - most of it in his gut and face.

Rarely have I seen a white person with dreads who looked great wearing them. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is quite rare.

Middle aged people who don't live near the sea looking like sailors ?

Middle aged people who don't live near the sea looking like sailors ?

And who can forget 14 year old girls dressed like whores...

And who can forget 14 year old girls dressed like whores...

Now thas just nasty

And who can forget 14 year old girls dressed like whores...


and christina has dreads as well

Now thas just nasty

I've always wondered if they left the house looking one way to fool their parents, and then changed into the whore outfit at the mall.

There's nothing like seeing a bunch of young white teenage males dressed in nine-day shitters (baggy pants) and backward baseball caps and Starter jackets and sunglasses (in winter inside the mall), and their girlfriends hanging out in red satin hot pants and ten meters of makeup and mascara.

I've always wondered if they left the house looking one way to fool their parents, and then changed into the whore outfit at the mall.

There's nothing like seeing a bunch of young white teenage males dressed in nine-day shitters (baggy pants) and backward baseball caps and Starter jackets and sunglasses (in winter inside the mall), and their girlfriends hanging out in red satin hot pants and ten meters of makeup and mascara.

I was the opposite I went through the Goth phase LOL

I was the opposite I went through the Goth phase LOL

Goth doesn't bother me as much.

Goth doesn't bother me as much.

no I was just mad at the world but no bother to anyone

In a locked thread Ashmora commented:
"what bugs ME is white people with dredlocks. while it looks cool it is a symbol of a religion that hates white people. that makes it a very stupid fashion statement no matter how cool it looks."

I should therefore like to draw your attention to this website:
http://www.knottyboy.com/learn/dreadhistory.php

There is a very detailed history of dreads on here. Reading it, you will see that whilst many (some might say most) people associate dreads with Rastafarianism, they go much further back than that and are not the sole province of 'rastas'.

Although I can understand the misconception, it is quite an insulting statement to make based on misinformation.

Thanks
Cyber

You are absolutely right it is a misconception and quite insulting misinformation that causes people to go around looking like total shit. I don't know about the religon part, I just figure they didn't have shampoo or a comb.

I'd grow dreads if my hair were right for it... as it is I have to live with long flowing ringlets.

meh dreads look cool on most people who have em - black or white. i have a fair bit of respect for white dudes with dreads cos it takes some guts to do

I've always wondered if they left the house looking one way to fool their parents, and then changed into the whore outfit at the mall.

Nope, they don't. I've seen younger chavs in transparent pants and short tops with their parents before. it's scary.

Seriously how does a white guy get his hair to go into dreads? Product?

http://dansego.com/matrix/Images/twins.jpg

:D

no I was just mad at the world but no bother to anyone

So far, I have thought of most Goths as actually having some fashion sense.

That, and I haven't met any smart mouth Goths in my life, while I've met plenty of chavs who need to have their head pounded down between their shoulder blades.

So far, I have thought of most Goths as actually having some fashion sense.

That, and I haven't met any smart mouth Goths in my life, while I've met plenty of chavs who need to have their head pounded down between their shoulder blades.

Goths are usually very passive and helpful. Personality traits usually say that they are shy and non confrontational

I should therefore like to draw your attention to this website:
http://www.knottyboy.com/learn/dreadhistory.php



Hmmm. Doesn't mention that other European tradition of dreadlocks: anybody else here know where the phrase 'jolly jack tar' came from?

As for dreads on white folks in general - there are few sexier things a woman can do with her hair.* Aside from that lumping all hairstyles that involve dreads together as one with the Rastafarian tradition is missing the point entirely. Frex, claiming that a 'convoy cut' (shaved head apart from long dreads at the back) is identical with the uncut hair of a Rastafarian is ludicrous.


* presuming she doesn't end up with crap dreads.

Goths are usually very passive and helpful. Personality traits usually say that they are shy and non confrontational
Not the ones at my old school. They were just as hostile as the 'ghetto' kids. Not as stupid but as hostile. Then again they were all most likely poser goths.

Not the ones at my old school. They were just as hostile as the 'ghetto' kids. Not as stupid but as hostile.

generally, so there will always be exceptions but from what I've seen this is the norm.

generally, so there will always be exceptions but from what I've seen this is the norm.

I'm not sure when Goth started, but back in the ancient times, I wore all black all the time and hung out at Black Sabbath concerts. Not saying I'm Goth, but I tend to see them as the standard manifestation of suburban teen angst.

Sorry, Marilyn Manson wasn't around then - so we had to make do.

I would agree that Goths are generally passive. Yes, some may be angry, but they're not bothering anyone.

My boyfriend is pretty Goth, and he's shy and introverted.

interesting article, it reminds me of other unrelated topics where people make a claim that because their practice is similar to some ancient practice that they are intimately linked

perhaps you can FIND me some whiteboy with dreds who is doing it in order to express his inner hindu guru nature and then ill believe he isnt making an assinine fashion statement that is really linked to a religion that hates him.

perhaps you can FIND me some whiteboy with dreds who is doing it in order to express his inner hindu guru nature and then ill believe he isnt making an assinine fashion statement that is really linked to a religion that hates him.

Ignoring the tradition of white sailors putting tar in their hair, leading to dreads, are we?

Aside from that you are basically claiming that because one particular group are the most prominent wearers of a particular style, all others not from that group that wear it are just making 'assinine fashion statements', yes? Lets look at this from a different direction - were the Rastafarian band Bad Brains just making an 'assinine fashion statement' when they traded their early jazz noodlings for a white-influenced punk/hardcore sound and wore clothes to match?

White people with dreads?

They are called hippies. I hate hippies.

They are called hippies. I hate hippies.

Or racecar drivers (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/raisingkahne098/brendan.jpg) Puke at will

interesting article, it reminds me of other unrelated topics where people make a claim that because their practice is similar to some ancient practice that they are intimately linked

perhaps you can FIND me some whiteboy with dreds who is doing it in order to express his inner hindu guru nature and then ill believe he isnt making an assinine fashion statement that is really linked to a religion that hates him.

What is it with the pointless aggression towards white people with dreads?
I am not saying that all white people who choose to grow their hair in dreads are doing it for 'spritual reasons'. What I am saying is it is illconceived, narrowminded and illinformed to go around repeatedly stating that dreads are, 'linked to a religion that hates him' as if that were the only truth.
I didn't say that dreads are not associated with Rastafarianism. What I was trying to point out was that this is not the only the association, just the lazy one.

When it comes down to it, dread locks are a fashion choice on one level. IOf you don't like them, then don't go out with someone with them, or don't get them yourself. But there is no need to behave so negatively to those who do have them.

And incidentally, for all the others who choose to be misinformed, if you wander about the site that I provided the link for, you will see that having dreads does not mean having dirty hair (necessarily).

You don't like them, feel free. There is no law that says you have to. But you can try behaving like adults instead of randomly insulting those who do choose to have them.

Blessings
Cyber

Or racecar drivers (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/raisingkahne098/brendan.jpg) Puke at will

Those are cornrows, not dredlocks.

Ignoring the tradition of white sailors putting tar in their hair, leading to dreads, are we?

Aside from that you are basically claiming that because one particular group are the most prominent wearers of a particular style, all others not from that group that wear it are just making 'assinine fashion statements', yes? Lets look at this from a different direction - were the Rastafarian band Bad Brains just making an 'assinine fashion statement' when they traded their early jazz noodlings for a white-influenced punk/hardcore sound and wore clothes to match?
hey, bwo, if you can find me some whiteboy putting tar in his hair in order to honor a white sailor tradtion, then same same as the hindu thing i started with.

i dont know thing one about bad brains, i doubt it was a fashion statement, maybe it was selling out. but really if they had to wear a punk uniform to get noticed then either it was selling out or it was an assinine fashion statement. music should speak for itself eh?

Seriously how does a white guy get his hair to go into dreads? Product?

Lots of back combing and twisting. Braiding them first can help. I also find that sugar wax is very good at helping caucasian hair take into dreads.

Blessings
Cyber

Ignoring the tradition of white sailors putting tar in their hair, leading to dreads, are we?

http://images.quizilla.com/C/CaliginousRae/1059895116_QuizJSGrin.jpg

:D

What is it with the pointless aggression towards white people with dreads?
I am not saying that all white people who choose to grow their hair in dreads are doing it for 'spritual reasons'. What I am saying is it is illconceived, narrowminded and illinformed to go around repeatedly stating that dreads are, 'linked to a religion that hates him' as if that were the only truth.
I didn't say that dreads are not associated with Rastafarianism. What I was trying to point out was that this is not the only the association, just the lazy one.

When it comes down to it, dread locks are a fashion choice on one level. IOf you don't like them, then don't go out with someone with them, or don't get them yourself. But there is no need to behave so negatively to those who do have them.

And incidentally, for all the others who choose to be misinformed, if you wander about the site that I provided the link for, you will see that having dreads does not mean having dirty hair (necessarily).

You don't like them, feel free. There is no law that says you have to. But you can try behaving like adults instead of randomly insulting those who do choose to have them.

Blessings
Cyber
i only said it because you brought it up. it isnt MY thread. i was just quoted. i have the same low level ccontempt for whiteboys acting like gangsta rappers too.

i only said it because you brought it up. it isnt MY thread. i was just quoted. i have the same low level ccontempt for whiteboys acting like gangsta rappers too.

But it was a serious question. So, are you assuming that white people with dreads are trying to be black? Cos, of all the white people with dreads I know, this ain't the case. In fact, of all the white people I know who choose to have dreads, they do it cos it looks cool. Or at least, I should say, *they* think it looks cool. You apparently think it looks assinine.
And, in fairness, I only quoted you onto this thread because the thread you made the initial comment was locked and I was unable to respond to you there.

Blessings
Cyber
With cyber dreads. Not particularly rasta, since they are uv pink

hey, bwo, if you can find me some whiteboy putting tar in his hair in order to honor a white sailor tradtion, then same same as the hindu thing i started with.

My point wasn't that people were wearing dreads in order to honour that tradition: the exact opposite in fact: that white folk with dreads are (for the most part) not wearing them to honour the rastafarian tradition. Dreadlocks have long (15+ years) been appropriated from that culture.

i dont know thing one about bad brains, i doubt it was a fashion statement, maybe it was selling out. but really if they had to wear a punk uniform to get noticed then either it was selling out or it was an assinine fashion statement. music should speak for itself eh?

The band were noticed on the basis of their music. They were themselves appropriating a nascent part of white (although heavily shaped by Jewish prime movers) culture. How come no condemnation should be leveled at them for doing so?

It seems to me that you last sentence indicates that you consider music to be an artform of some kind, but not fashion - am I right?

My point wasn't that people were wearing dreads in order to honour that tradition: the exact opposite in fact: that white folk with dreads are (for the most part) not wearing them to honour the rastafarian tradition. Dreadlocks have long (15+ years) been appropriated from that culture.

ok so they are just making an out-of-style fashion statement, can i have contempt for them for THAT?



The band were noticed on the basis of their music. They were themselves appropriating a nascent part of white (although heavily shaped by Jewish prime movers) culture. How come no condemnation should be leveled at them for doing so?

It seems to me that you last sentence indicates that you consider music to be an artform of some kind, but not fashion - am I right?
i dont have contempt for them becasue i dont know a thing about them.

And who can forget 14 year old girls dressed like whores...

I forget all about them when I see the 12 year old ones. I just had a daughter a few weeks ago. I shudder to think at what age she's going to want to start dressing like that.

ok so they are just making an out-of-style fashion statement, can i have contempt for them for THAT?

Dammit, it's not a fashion statement, it's a business advertisment. The white guy with dreadlocks is the guy you go to to find out where to get weed when you're in an unfamiliar locale.

ok so they are just making an out-of-style fashion statement, can i have contempt for them for THAT?

I think it would be much more appropriate to have contempt for those who make in-style fashion statements.

White people with dreads...

... should wash their nasty-ass hair!

Years ago I knew a couple white guys with dreads. It worked on them. Looked really good.

Where I come from, white people with dreadlocks are called Jafaikans (jah-fake-ens) or Waspafarians.

I noticed someone I took to be American using the word "chav" further back, now I know what it means in England, can you enlighten me to what it means in the US? I'd be intrigued to know if its the same, and if it is what the story behind it is, because it's only a fairly recent part of the argot this side of the pond...

I say let anyone wear whatever they want. Being white and having dreads isn't a big deal because they aren't Rastafarians. They don't have to honor the tradition. They can just like the hair!

And the 12 -14 yr olds that look like whores. If I had a girl that age, no way in hell would I let her dress like a slut and wear 2 lbs of makeup! Even if I had to follow her around all day. :p People take childhood for granted. I think it should be prolonged as long as possible. You never get that innocence back.

I am still prolonging my childhood... :D

I noticed someone I took to be American using the word "chav" further back, now I know what it means in England, can you enlighten me to what it means in the US? I'd be intrigued to know if its the same, and if it is what the story behind it is, because it's only a fairly recent part of the argot this side of the pond...

What does it mean in England? I don't even know that...

I say let anyone wear whatever they want. Being white and having dreads isn't a big deal because they aren't Rastafarians. They don't have to honor the tradition. They can just like the hair!

It's an interesting one, I have no problem with people wearing their hair anyway they choose, it's their call. I wonder what people would think if people started wearing payot for purely fashion reasons...?

What does it mean in England? I don't even know that...

It means this (http://www.chavworld.co.uk/chav.htm) ...

A young person, often without a high level of education, who follows a particular fashion; Chavs usually wear designer labels including the chav favourite 'Burberry', and if they’re girls, very short skirts, large hoop earrings and stilettos.

Chavs see branded baseball caps as a status symbol and wear them at every opportunity. Normally found hanging around shopping centres.

It means this (http://www.chavworld.co.uk/chav.htm) ...

Burberry might not be so bad if it didn't all have that freakin' plaid on it!!!

Rarely have I seen a white person with dreads who looked great wearing them. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is quite rare.
The Twins in the Matrix looked pretty spiffy, but that had more to do with clothes and attitude than the dreads. The dreads just made them look even more exotic.

The problem with white people and dreads is that most white dread-wearers dress like they just crawled out of a dumpster...and smell like it, too.

I noticed someone I took to be American using the word "chav" further back, now I know what it means in England, can you enlighten me to what it means in the US? I'd be intrigued to know if its the same, and if it is what the story behind it is, because it's only a fairly recent part of the argot this side of the pond...
chav is not used in the US.

so its just a way of making fun of people who didnt go to college?

The chav - need I say more?

Whispering Legs says he/she is from Virginia - so clearly at least one person in the US uses "chav"!

And, no, it's not just a way of making fun of someone who didn't go to college; it describes a large (growing) group of people with a particular identity in England.

Whispering Legs says he/she is from Virginia - so clearly at least one person in the US uses "chav"!

And, no, it's not just a way of making fun of someone who didn't go to college; it describes a large (growing) group of people with a particular identity in England.
i think he picked it up here

does a chav call himself a chav?

do they have any other common characteristics than lack of education and a certain style of clothing?

are they lower middle class too?

are they all white brits or does it cross racial and ethnic lines?

are there pakistani chavs?

i think he picked it up here

does a chav call himself a chav?

do they have any other common characteristics than lack of education and a certain style of clothing?

are they lower middle class too?

are they all white brits or does it cross racial and ethnic lines?

are there pakistani chavs?

Fair enough if he picked it up here, I thought it unlikely to have crossed the Atlantic, which is why I asked what it meant over there. They're usually lower middle to working class, yes. It crosses racial and ethnic lines, indeed. Oh, and most would probably describe themselves as chavs.

We're now wildly off-topic though. Apologies.

The problem with white people and dreads is that most white dread-wearers dress like they just crawled out of a dumpster...and smell like it, too.

Ah yes, the crusty dreads. Not to be confused with the (frequently synthetic) cyber dreads or the rivet dreads a la al jourgensen.

Blessings
Lucrece

Ah yes, the crusty dreads. Not to be confused with the (frequently synthetic) cyber dreads or the rivet dreads a la al jourgensen.
Very true. But you have rivetheads like me who prefer the shaved head/buzz cut. ;)

Ah yes, the crusty dreads. Not to be confused with the (frequently synthetic) cyber dreads or the rivet dreads a la al jourgensen.

Blessings
Lucrece

That's the sort you're most likely to encounter over here. There was a brief flurry of celebs with dreads, but I'm not sure most people (whatever colour) can carry it off. With the possible exception of Bob Marley, but he can do pretty well anything he likes as far as I'm concerned.

what bugs ME is white people with dredlocks. while it looks cool it is a symbol of a religion that hates white people. that makes it a very stupid fashion statement no matter how cool it looks.

Just a quick side-note ... Rastafarianism is a pseudo-branch of Ethiopean Orthodox Christianity and is against the white power structure, not just whites in general.

Rastafarians are predominately ex-Christians and comprise a wide racial grouping including Chinese, East Indians, Afro-Chinese, Afro-Jews, mulattoes, and a few whites.

Many early Rastas believed in black supremacy, but the doctrine was very short lived. Selassie (Ras Tafari) made a speech before the UN condemning racism of all kinds.

Source 1 (http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/rast.html)

Source 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafarianism)

Edit: Oh yeah ... and people can do what they like with their hair. It's theirs, after all.

are there pakistani chavs?

Well, there are in Leicester.

In a locked thread Ashmora commented:
"what bugs ME is white people with dredlocks. while it looks cool it is a symbol of a religion that hates white people. that makes it a very stupid fashion statement no matter how cool it looks."
As a student at an art college in Ireland, most of the guys surrounding me are white people with dreads. Well, maybe not most, but there sure are a lot of them!

Hey, thanks to the thread starter for posting that link. I'm thinking of getting dreads and can't afford it, and that page tells you how to do it yourself :)

i had dreads for a couple years. i dont understand why everyone thinks you have to be rastafarian to have dreads.

Hey, thanks to the thread starter for posting that link. I'm thinking of getting dreads and can't afford it, and that page tells you how to do it yourself :)
urr how can you not afford dreads, just leave it alone.

urr how can you not afford dreads, just leave it alone.

All the salons I've seen here charge about $200 for dreads, which is fair enough really, since it takes so long to do. So, no, I don't have that kind of money to spare Mr Gates. :rolleyes:

All the salons I've seen here charge about $200 for dreads, which is fair enough really, since it takes so long to do. So, no, I don't have that kind of money to spare Mr Gates. :rolleyes:
salon dreads??? you poor soul, if you insist on starting them then just get your (insert someone here) to do 'em. only takes an hour or two.

salon dreads??? you poor soul, if you insist on starting them then just get your (insert someone here) to do 'em. only takes an hour or two.
:rolleyes: Why do you think I was looking at the instructions? To find out how to do them!

Ack. I have yet to see a white person sporting dreads that actually looked good, by any stretch of the imagination. Perhaps if a white person with rich shining black hair did it...but no, every white person I've seen had mousey dull unhealthy-looking hair. And a ghastly pale complexion. In fact, if I were in a particularly catty mood I might go so far as to suggest that they were invariably people who would never get a second glance from anybody, and therefore needed a way to attract attention to themselves. Happily, I am not in such a mood today.

And who can forget 14 year old girls dressed like whores...


Ha, now you know why I dumped my last girlfriend....only she was 15 :p

I think it all depends. I've seen some that look just hideous. Then there's the dreaded "shitlocks" you know what i'm talking about!! looks like someone put logs of crap in their hair! I dunno what it is up here I think it might be the water but most of the time I see white teens with dreads or shitlocks that look hideous!! Now I'm no hair stylist; but if you're gonna go that way at least get it done by someone who knows what the hell they are doing!!!

XENON_PLASMA :cool:

Very true. But you have rivetheads like me who prefer the shaved head/buzz cut. ;)

Very true. I am not at all suggesting that all rivetheads have dreads *grins*.
I have to say, the boys I know with dreads are all going for that look.

Blessings
Cyber
Guess what kind I go for

Hey, thanks to the thread starter for posting that link. I'm thinking of getting dreads and can't afford it, and that page tells you how to do it yourself :)

Hey, no problem :)
And, at risk of sounding like an advert (really, I don't know the people who run the site!) Knotty Boy products are the best around. As I said tho, if you can pick up sugar wax (don't know where you are dude, but the Body Shop sells it-it's marketed for leg waxing) it is one of the best things to help your hair knot quickly, although it is a tad sticky!

Good luck!

Cyber

Thanks, I'll head to the Body Shop :)