Comments on: Keep a Piece of Your Soul by REBELLING with Socks that Don’t Match http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match Struggles of a Self-Taught Coder Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Seth Godin @ The Art of Marketing | Biz Money Matters http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-16726 Seth Godin @ The Art of Marketing | Biz Money Matters Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:37:45 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-16726 [...] an example of doing MARKETING ART, Seth told the story of a truly REBELLIOUS new product idea called ‘socks that don’t match’ from MissMatched Inc. of New [...] [...] an example of doing MARKETING ART, Seth told the story of a truly REBELLIOUS new product idea called ‘socks that don’t match’ from MissMatched Inc. of New [...]

]]> By: Dennis Gorelik http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-15756 Dennis Gorelik Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:58:02 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-15756 So you mean that mismatching socks make you feel bold, daring, and risky? That's possible, but you can feel bold, daring, and risky by many other ways. For example, you may exposure one of your risky ideas to the organization you work in. That would make you feel bold, daring, and risky too, but also would have additional important bonus -- your idea would be evaluated by your organization. I don't see any significant upside of organization evaluating your socks. Mismatching socks just take away part of your focus. Sorry for overthinking this post :-) So you mean that mismatching socks make you feel bold, daring, and risky?
That's possible, but you can feel bold, daring, and risky by many other ways.
For example, you may exposure one of your risky ideas to the organization you work in.
That would make you feel bold, daring, and risky too, but also would have additional important bonus — your idea would be evaluated by your organization.
I don't see any significant upside of organization evaluating your socks.
Mismatching socks just take away part of your focus.

Sorry for overthinking this post :-)

]]> By: David Christiansen http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-15752 David Christiansen Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:02:49 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-15752 Well, Dennis, obviously for you there would be no value in this kind of rebellion. But... the whole world isn't made up of photocopies of you or me is it? Lots of people enjoy developing a sense of style and uniqueness that is all there's. What I really like about the socks from LittleMissMatched.com is the way they've looked at "matching" from a non-traditional point of view and created something unique and beautiful (you might find beautiful an overstatement - it's just socks after all). In other words, the socks "match" the same way a shirt might match your tie - they're not the same but they go together. I like that. But yeah, I agree the things you list are part of a person's identity, and in Software Utopia they would be the only things that mattered but... the fact is they're not. Let me give some examples. I'm 6'1" tall. That's above average height. Throughout my career I was able to get away with things that others couldn't. Part of that success was, undoubtedly, simply due to the fact that I am taller than most people. There are TONS of studies that show that height, attractiveness, build, etc are powerful social factors in how we are perceived and valued in the workplace. Somedays, when I was feeling abused or unenergetic, I would wear a suit and tie to work (the dress was business casual). On those days, I noticed that people behaved more formally around me. I would try to use that to my advantage sometimes. Clearly, these superficial aspects of a person don't supercede abilities or history. But that doesn't make ignoring them wise either. So... socks. Socks that don't match, but do, feel bold, daring, and risky, without actually being any of those things. So... if you want to feel that way, and wear something fun, that's what it's about. Also, this post was meant to be fairly tongue-in-cheek. It wouldn't be a good idea to overthink it. Well, Dennis, obviously for you there would be no value in this kind of rebellion. But… the whole world isn’t made up of photocopies of you or me is it? Lots of people enjoy developing a sense of style and uniqueness that is all there’s.

What I really like about the socks from LittleMissMatched.com is the way they’ve looked at “matching” from a non-traditional point of view and created something unique and beautiful (you might find beautiful an overstatement – it’s just socks after all). In other words, the socks “match” the same way a shirt might match your tie – they’re not the same but they go together. I like that.

But yeah, I agree the things you list are part of a person’s identity, and in Software Utopia they would be the only things that mattered but… the fact is they’re not. Let me give some examples.

I’m 6’1″ tall. That’s above average height. Throughout my career I was able to get away with things that others couldn’t. Part of that success was, undoubtedly, simply due to the fact that I am taller than most people. There are TONS of studies that show that height, attractiveness, build, etc are powerful social factors in how we are perceived and valued in the workplace.

Somedays, when I was feeling abused or unenergetic, I would wear a suit and tie to work (the dress was business casual). On those days, I noticed that people behaved more formally around me. I would try to use that to my advantage sometimes.

Clearly, these superficial aspects of a person don’t supercede abilities or history. But that doesn’t make ignoring them wise either.

So… socks. Socks that don’t match, but do, feel bold, daring, and risky, without actually being any of those things. So… if you want to feel that way, and wear something fun, that’s what it’s about.

Also, this post was meant to be fairly tongue-in-cheek. It wouldn’t be a good idea to overthink it.

]]> By: Dennis Gorelik http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-15751 Dennis Gorelik Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:24:58 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-15751 What's the point of creating identity by your looks (assuming you are not an actor)? Developer's identity is defined by his ideas, programs, blogs, relationships with colleagues etc. By socks? What’s the point of creating identity by your looks (assuming you are not an actor)?
Developer’s identity is defined by his ideas, programs, blogs, relationships with colleagues etc.
By socks?

]]> By: PoLR http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-15726 PoLR Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:25:23 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-15726 For years I have been the laughing stock of many friends for my inability to every wear matching socks. I can now forward on this article and prove to them its just the 'cool' in me that made me do it! For years I have been the laughing stock of many friends for my inability to every wear matching socks. I can now forward on this article and prove to them its just the ‘cool’ in me that made me do it!

]]> By: David Christiansen http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-15725 David Christiansen Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:01:16 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-15725 I got the idea from Bones (tv show, one of the two I watch). Agent Booth wears weird socks, and his shrink once claimed that was a way of creating an identity for himself in an otherwise indistinct group (like plumage on a peacock). The idea appealed to me, and I started looking for weird socks. But... maybe it means nothing to you. That's cool - it would kind of defeat the point of creating identity if it worked for everyone wouldn't it? I got the idea from Bones (tv show, one of the two I watch). Agent Booth wears weird socks, and his shrink once claimed that was a way of creating an identity for himself in an otherwise indistinct group (like plumage on a peacock). The idea appealed to me, and I started looking for weird socks. But… maybe it means nothing to you. That’s cool – it would kind of defeat the point of creating identity if it worked for everyone wouldn’t it?

]]> By: Dennis Gorelik http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-15724 Dennis Gorelik Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:35:14 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-15724 I'm missing the point to wearing different socks? To make a statement to the corporation that your soul is not fully dried up yet? I’m missing the point to wearing different socks? To make a statement to the corporation that your soul is not fully dried up yet?

]]> By: David http://www.techdarkside.com/keep-a-piece-of-your-soul-by-rebelling-with-socks-that-dont-match/comment-page-1#comment-15723 David Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:03:50 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=278#comment-15723 Great site. Like being outside again and free that is cool. Waiting for the axe to fall here. Great site.

Like being outside again and free that is cool. Waiting for the axe to fall here.

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