Posted by
Lesley Arfin
• 01.26.10 10:00 am


My question is pretty simple, but there may be some stuff to unpack in it. As someone who is turning 25 this August, should I start dressing completely normal? Right now I have weird hair and a kind of preppy thing, but although I can sometimes pretend that I am pseudo-respectable, it all really comes off as “not normal.”

My question is pretty simple, but there may be some stuff to unpack in it. As someone who is turning 25 this August, should I start dressing completely normal? Right now I have weird hair and a kind of preppy thing, but although I can sometimes pretend that I am pseudo-respectable, it all really comes off as “not normal.” At 25, is it time to start seeking more outward respectability? I’m moving to New York in June and am wondering whether I should start fresh as an “upright young man,” rather than the slightly-literary, alcoholic man-child I am now.

Solve my life please,
-SUPERBO CRISTIANO

Dear Superbo,

What a weird question! Of course you should not start dressing normal. Haven’t you ever read the bumper sticker “Y B Normal?” It’s only our bible over here at Street Carnage! If you want to grow up and be an “upright young man” allow that to happen through your actions. How you dress will follow accordingly.

XOX,
-LESLEY ARFIN
lesleyarfin.com

  1. ASK BARF: WHEN SHOULD I START HAVING A BABY?
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  5. ASK BARF: TRANSGENDERED ISSUES


Comments
  1. yikes says:

    this is the gayest thing ever. good advice, lesley. i’d have said the same, but 100x meaner.

  2. Jetpack says:

    Keep dressing weird. It’ll let you pretend you have a personality, so that while you’re at home being “slightly literary” and lonely, you can enjoy the illusion that the rest of the world just doesn’t get you.

  3. drippy dog dix and cum bubbles or something says:

    Wow, that 88-keys banner ad really has been up forever. I’m actually considering clicking on it, not today though.

  4. Coke Ennyday says:

    “slightly-literary, alcoholic man-child”

    in new york that is normal so just keep doing what you are doing

  5. Arv's Mom's Testicles says:

    wear gaudy colors or avoid display. it’s all the same.

  6. Anonymous says:

    response was just the right length.

  7. 1%er says:

    Why would you possibly want to move to New York to become normal. It doesn’t work that way. New York makes you weirder, more neurotic, and with that, more fun and interesting. It also slows down the maturity levels of you and your peers, so don’t bank on having any solid, worthwhile romantic relationships while you stay here.

  8. BuntingBoy says:

    ^Just keep telling yourself that

  9. no.thanks. says:

    maybe its because white folks age fucked up but im seeing on this site and platform a thing about making out 25 to be old as shit.
    if 25 is the time to become an adult then what the fuck is all that other shit from here on out?

    have a job, sure. pay bills on time, sure. but you should not be thinking about “hanging it up” at 25. what were you like a burnt out party kid at 15 and then sucking cock for single crack hits at 17?

    jus’ sayin, go talk a 50 year old if 25 is some magical ‘time to grow up’ age.

  10. imyar says:

    endearing advice. also when i see ASK BARF i LOLROFL every time.

  11. no.thanks. says:

    also, if you have to ask about dressing normal or not, i have to wonder how into it you really were. if it was all true self expression then you would be all “fuck it, fuck you and fuck this!” and not give a shit.

  12. gregor says:

    looks like fucking jerri blank

  13. Satan Davis Jr. says:

    I bet this was written by Zachery Allan Starkey.

  14. kure kure takora says:

    i agree 100% with no.thanks

  15. pheeb says:

    this was funny. i need to meet this weirdo

  16. ...suckers says:

    Normal is the new weird and I’m all fucking about it!

  17. John says:

    Only if you dress normal ironically. then you can get an ironic wife and have an ironic child and get an ironic job as a businessman and then have an ironic mortgage and ironic bills. then you can have ironic alcoholism, ironically beat your kid for ruining your ironic dreams, buy an ironic gun and blow your brains out, ironically. and then be all, “whatever.”

  18. Beef says:

    Her advice should have been, “Commit suicide for asking about shit that a person with balls and a brain could figure out for himself.”

  19. Zippy says:

    That picture looks like Yoko Ono. I’m sure she would be flattered by this reference. HAHAHA


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