Would You Wear Your Bathrobe to Starbucks?
Posted: Saturday, April 23, 2011
by TeamAfro
AfroDaddy.com
I am a writer and like many writer's Starbucks is my best friend. I often go to Starbucks early in the morning seeking my inspiration through a tall house coffee and the goings on of the 9 to 5 crowd. A few days a go I was doing my early morning Starbucks thing and in comes a man (we'll call him "Mr. Morning") wearing nothing but a blue bathrobe, tube socks and slippers. His hair was freshly cut and you could tell from his demeanor that he was not some crackhead from the street and he seemed perfectly coherent in every way. He ordered his coffee (which took a few minutes to make) and stood patiently in the store until his order was ready. After he got his coffee he went to the the condiments bar for the complimentary dash of cinnamon and sugar and walked out.I am recounting this experience as a symbol of the degradation of our society. I am not an old man, but I find myself hearkening back to a time where people had humility about what they would and would not expose in public. People used to care about how they dressed in public. People also used to be have sex in their homes and not on the Internet for millions to download. Young adults used to get dressed up to go to a nightclub or a party and yes, people didn't wear their bathrobes to Starbucks.
I am not a prude and I am probably the most liberal person I know but I do have a problem with this trend in society. Without morals and values in place a society sinks into debauchery, lawlessness and eventual collapse. Many say that we are living in times very similar to the last days of the Roman Empire. I say they may be right. All I could think of when I saw the man in the bathrobe was the roman bathhouses full of gluttonous old men with their bellies full of food and their minds drunk off power and wine. They publicly displayed their nudity and debauchery while their society was 1 step away from destruction. America may not be that bad yet, but I fear we may be on our way. I love America and I am thankful to be here and I think that we can regain our moral center. I am also especially thankful that Mr. Morning's bathrobe did not come off.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Yes TeamAfro, I believe we as a nation are overcoming our odd behavior. I don't believe we are as bad a nation that we were in the 60s.
Unbelievable! Your story reminded me of the Seinfeld episode when Jerry falls asleep on the subway and wakes up to a naked guy sitting next to him. It's a crazy world! I would love to know the story behind Mr. Morning wearing his bathrobe in public. Isn't it funny that no one mentioned it? It's almost as though it's become the norm to see something so bizarre. Interesting story.
I enjoyed this article and well, aside from the discomfort you got from that man-in-bathrobe, I think he did somehow give you what you wanted that morning = some inspiration.
No venture no gain. I lol though !You're right about that one Hilda - no bathrobe, no article (smile)
The 'bathrobe' trend was pretty popular here in Austin a couple of years back, but people have tired of its . . . stupidity. Kind of along the lines of 'Look at me! I'm different!' Great job,
Interesting article that had me smiling during the whole first part--I could just imagine it happening as you so well explaned it. It's funny that no one even seemed to be shocked by it! I go to Starbucks every day but use the drive-thru so I haven't been as unlucky as you to have seen this kind of thing. As for the rest of the article--very thought provoking...thanks for a nice article.
Steve
Hi TA.
I have this thing about white "sneakers." I've never considered them to be proper footware out in public, even though that is my husband's favorite thing to wear on his feet. Just try to get him to give up his New Balance shoes!
I won't even go to the mailbox at the end of my driveway in my pajamas, though my neighbors do. I have, however, gone down to our "walk out" basement after dark in my pajamas to play some ping pong with my husband. I'm always hopeful that no one can discern what I am wearing in the light of the flashlight. :)
On the one hand, I do really think that if someone wants to go out in public in their bathrobe, they should have that right. But it doesn't stop me criticizing the young people I see walking around the mall or the grocery store in their house slippers. But we've been blurring the lines for some time between what you wear only at home and what is "proper" to be worn in public. I have a pair of Croc knock offs made by Land's End that I use for slippers. I would never wear them out in public because to me they are slippers. But a lot of people do.
Do I think that this looseness of clothing standards will lead to the downfall of our society? No, not really. But I do take your point. And it could be that it is indicative of other issues for which we really do need to take heed.
Great and thoughtful article!
Hugs,
DianneIt is interesting about people's sense of proper outdoor wear. You won't catch me going to the mailbox in my pajamas either Dianne (smile!)
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