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News & ArtsWednesday, December 3, 2008
Strangercrombie Strangercrombie: A Disclaimer
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Our annual gift auction went live about 10 minutes ago, and the issue with the catalog isn't even on the streets yet. But I wanted to get out in front of the annual scandal over the male models. Here are this year's Strangercrombie boys:
Ahem: I did not recruit this year's Strangercrombie models. I did not participate in any way in this year's photo shoot. The first time I laid eyes on this year's Strangercrombie models was after the issue—which I did not edit—was ready to go the printers. Don't get me wrong: I approve of the Strangercrombie models. But folks that are unhappy with the male Strangercrombie models—nearly hairless boys again?—should direct their anger at the staffers responsible for recruiting and shooting this year's models.
Finally, the underwear worn by this year's male Strangercrombie models—unwashed—can be bid on here.
2
Ummm, EW?! Do those boys eat? They look like they'd get blown away in a stiff breeze (and no, that's not a euphemism). How about finding MEN that have actually reached puberty as models?
3
Yes, Ebay prohibits auctions of used underwear, clean or dirty, and unwashed clothing of any type. Problem.
7
Why would staff set aside their own taste in favor of the boss's? It's unprecedented, really.
That aside, the fella on the left has the same lipstick strategy as my Aunt Agatha.
That aside, the fella on the left has the same lipstick strategy as my Aunt Agatha.
9
These guys aren't "models", they're people we spotted in Seattle who were willing to do these photos, for FREE, for the charity.
They're both well past the age of puberty, and though you can't tell in some of the photos, one of them is over six feet tall. Neither would blow away in the wind, I can assure you.
Lastly, might I add, they're humans. Real human beings! Think about that as you cut them to shreds with your mean and cunty comments based on their physical attributes.
This goes for the two girls that'll be soon be popping up in photos too. I checked. They're also both humans.
They're both well past the age of puberty, and though you can't tell in some of the photos, one of them is over six feet tall. Neither would blow away in the wind, I can assure you.
Lastly, might I add, they're humans. Real human beings! Think about that as you cut them to shreds with your mean and cunty comments based on their physical attributes.
This goes for the two girls that'll be soon be popping up in photos too. I checked. They're also both humans.
10
If you guys want to see real men, bid on the Men of Slog calendar. Joh is wearing nothing but bacon.
12
Like that test in Blade Runner? The tortoise lays on its back, its belly baking in the hot sun, beating its legs trying to turn itself over, but it can't. Not without your help. But you're not helping... I mean you're not helping! Why is that?
I bet some of them didn't pass. I bet you had to blast them. And it was fucking cool.
I bet some of them didn't pass. I bet you had to blast them. And it was fucking cool.
14
Why are you displacing blame without identifying those who chose?
just who are "the staffers responsible for recruiting and shooting this year's models"??????????
just who are "the staffers responsible for recruiting and shooting this year's models"??????????
17
for "CUNTY" comments - do you need a cunt?
Kelly 0, you all need to let the queens, old and young sort it out -- we ALWAYS do with little inference from mamas or sisters
by the way, unwashed underwear for the females at the Stranger might sell well at the front office - tons of horn dog straights would pay a lot - remember charity is the goal
Kelly 0, you all need to let the queens, old and young sort it out -- we ALWAYS do with little inference from mamas or sisters
by the way, unwashed underwear for the females at the Stranger might sell well at the front office - tons of horn dog straights would pay a lot - remember charity is the goal
19
@9 Sensitive much?
For two years in a row, we get waify and hairless male models, only. I'm sure that, had you looked for maybe 10 more minutes, you would have found somebody who had a bit more meat to them. But, instead, you or whoever the fuck picked out the models went with what YOUR assessment of attractiveness is, which seems to be heroin chic.
And, now you're getting all offended because the models (and, they are models for this shoot), who fit the look that was complained about last year, are getting the same remarks as last year. What you're REALLY getting offended about is that YOUR taste in physical attraction isn't the same as other people's. So, FUCK YOU for not getting diversity. There isn't a black guy in this photo. No Asian, no Hispanic. Its two thin white guys who fit the heroin punk chic that was oh so hip in the 80s, and again in the early naughts.
Get some color in these photos. Get some weight in these photos. And don't fucking bitch about our fucking comments.
For two years in a row, we get waify and hairless male models, only. I'm sure that, had you looked for maybe 10 more minutes, you would have found somebody who had a bit more meat to them. But, instead, you or whoever the fuck picked out the models went with what YOUR assessment of attractiveness is, which seems to be heroin chic.
And, now you're getting all offended because the models (and, they are models for this shoot), who fit the look that was complained about last year, are getting the same remarks as last year. What you're REALLY getting offended about is that YOUR taste in physical attraction isn't the same as other people's. So, FUCK YOU for not getting diversity. There isn't a black guy in this photo. No Asian, no Hispanic. Its two thin white guys who fit the heroin punk chic that was oh so hip in the 80s, and again in the early naughts.
Get some color in these photos. Get some weight in these photos. And don't fucking bitch about our fucking comments.
20
Yeah Kelly O, you were just at the Eagle a few weeks ago- maybe you could have scouted for models there...
22
@19: Uh, whoa. It's a stupid photo shoot. For charity. No need to take it personally.
That said, Hernandez is in the Slog calendar! Hooray for racial diversity! (Please ignore the fact that he was cast as the Creepy Youth Pastor. That has everything to do with him being a good sport, and nothing to do with his heritage).
That said, Hernandez is in the Slog calendar! Hooray for racial diversity! (Please ignore the fact that he was cast as the Creepy Youth Pastor. That has everything to do with him being a good sport, and nothing to do with his heritage).
24
I thought that ripping real human beings to shreds with cunty comments was one of the unspoken commandments of Slog.
26
There's nothing wrong with these delightful young men, (though, they're not my cup of tea), but it's just a big bore that The Stranger staff can't come up with something more original than the usual skinny, hipster models...how about sexy beefy models, or drag queens, or soccer moms or DILFS and MILFS?
or Sloggers for that matter...people would go nuts to see Mr Poe and Fnarf modeling in the paper...
or do I mean rioting?
or Sloggers for that matter...people would go nuts to see Mr Poe and Fnarf modeling in the paper...
or do I mean rioting?
27
@26: That's why their modeling is limited to the Men of Slog calendar-- the world couldn't handle the riots that would break out upon viewing such awesomeness.
29
I'd bid on the Men of Slog calendar if it didn't make me feel creepy. I want to see a guy wearing nothing but bacon.
30
Bish, please. I'm sure the models got enough validation for their egos when they were asked to model in the first place- We here on Slog are only doing them a service by keeping the ego in check... lest they go all Naomi Campbell and start throwing cellphones.
31
There was an african american woman in one of the recent strangercrombie posts -- in a patriotic outfit, if I recall. So... that's some diversity, anyways.
By the way. Damn. Lara in a bacon bikini. Yowza.
By the way. Damn. Lara in a bacon bikini. Yowza.
32
What we need is to get back to the original intent: really hot, and probably kind of stupid, athletic men. It's called "Strangercrombie" for a reason, so let's bring back them A&F meatheads.
33
@31,
The women are frequently diverse. Not just in terms of race, but in terms of body type and variations of attractiveness. The men are almost never diverse. Not only are they always white, they are almost always boyish. We haven't had a non-twink Strangercrombie male model for at least two years.
Kelly O, next year, scope out the Capitol Hill Trader Joe's. At least half the male employees there will easily satisfy the Slog peanut gallery, unless there really is an unspoken rule that all male models satisfy Dan's standards.
The women are frequently diverse. Not just in terms of race, but in terms of body type and variations of attractiveness. The men are almost never diverse. Not only are they always white, they are almost always boyish. We haven't had a non-twink Strangercrombie male model for at least two years.
Kelly O, next year, scope out the Capitol Hill Trader Joe's. At least half the male employees there will easily satisfy the Slog peanut gallery, unless there really is an unspoken rule that all male models satisfy Dan's standards.
37
Maybe The Stranger has these young hairless models to serve as a slap in the face to those that don't like that look? A sort of "Fuck You, we want young gay-ish hairless men and thin, willow chicks to read The Stranger. All others Fuck off". That's the message I'm getting here.
38
The longer in the tooth Savage gets, the sillier this exercise becomes. Then, eventually, it will just be creepy.
40
you can blame it on me.
i shot the photos, and i'm a dyke who likes girls who look like teenage boys. too bad for you, i think savage and i have the same taste :P
but seriously, realize that the choice of models is based on the opinions of multiple people, finding willing folks who's schedules worked with the timing of the 10 hour shoot, and arranging all this while figuring out props/concepts/ shopping for costumes within a tight newspaper deadline.
i'm sure that won't stop you from bitching, but as kelly said, these are human beings you're being so mean about, and they are friends of mine and friends of friends who are doing this for free. show some manners.
i shot the photos, and i'm a dyke who likes girls who look like teenage boys. too bad for you, i think savage and i have the same taste :P
but seriously, realize that the choice of models is based on the opinions of multiple people, finding willing folks who's schedules worked with the timing of the 10 hour shoot, and arranging all this while figuring out props/concepts/ shopping for costumes within a tight newspaper deadline.
i'm sure that won't stop you from bitching, but as kelly said, these are human beings you're being so mean about, and they are friends of mine and friends of friends who are doing this for free. show some manners.
42
@36, @38 -- If you would read the item, you would see that Savage had nothing whatever to with selecting the models.
43
They appear extremely charming, and very easy on the eyes. Which is about all you can say of a model at first glance.
44
I don't have a problem with the models. I'm just bitter no one took me up on my offer to host a champagne fountain party.
45
@19 Way to read into the comments. Kudos to your insight. *sigh*
@40 Way to have diversity among your friends. Kudos to the multicultural rainbow of relations you must have. Your life must be one big Bennetton ad.
@40 Way to have diversity among your friends. Kudos to the multicultural rainbow of relations you must have. Your life must be one big Bennetton ad.
47
They are adorable really. Just my taste actually and I see no reason to pretend it isn't.
I'm with 46 where can we get more pictures, or order the calender?
I'm with 46 where can we get more pictures, or order the calender?
48
I must heartily speak up in favor of putting more pictures of nearly hairless boys on all parts of The Stranger more often. This will make Jen Graves's articles less depressing, Mudede's philosophical ramblings more readable, and if they act out the things being described in Savage Love's letters, make Dan Savage that much more informative.
49
@42: Come now, that was obviously a lie that's part of a greater Savage conspiracy to um... you know... something.
52
THE LACK OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IS INFURIATING! I CALL FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE STRANGER AND ALL SLOG ACTIVIES AS WELL AS A CITYWIDE STRIKE AND DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH MUMMIA!
MEET AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING FOR A MARCH TO THE STRANGER OFFICE AT 9AM TOMORROW!!!
MEET AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING FOR A MARCH TO THE STRANGER OFFICE AT 9AM TOMORROW!!!
54
Dan- I can't believe you do this auction via Ebay! Meg Whitman donated money in favor of Prop 8 and was a major donor to the campaigns of Mitt Romney and John McCain.
55
@7 and other naysayers of the models.
I am childhood friends with the left one and he was infact wearing chapstick. His lips happen to be naturally red. He also happens to possess amazing eyes and particularly fabulous eyelashes. He's also very charitible with his time and happens to be compassionate to a fault. So I hope I have suffiently wagged a shaming finger at you.
So fuck off, he's not a model but should and/or will be and this certainly will be a good step in that direction for him and he certainly can use it.
I would personally like to thank those responsible for the choice.
I am childhood friends with the left one and he was infact wearing chapstick. His lips happen to be naturally red. He also happens to possess amazing eyes and particularly fabulous eyelashes. He's also very charitible with his time and happens to be compassionate to a fault. So I hope I have suffiently wagged a shaming finger at you.
So fuck off, he's not a model but should and/or will be and this certainly will be a good step in that direction for him and he certainly can use it.
I would personally like to thank those responsible for the choice.
56
I know one of the models. He's a delightful human being and looks much less waifish in real life.
Having said that: @40: I'm guessing you also like boys who look like teenage girls? This fetishization of youth and abnormal (i.e. non-normative, difficult to achieve) body types does a lot to explain the "Hot and Safe" article, and why "young, white, middle-class men are considered much more sexually desirable than men who are racial minorities, over 40 and poor."
It's sad to have gays, lesbians and liberals reiterating the same painful, damaging images foisted on women for years.
Having said that: @40: I'm guessing you also like boys who look like teenage girls? This fetishization of youth and abnormal (i.e. non-normative, difficult to achieve) body types does a lot to explain the "Hot and Safe" article, and why "young, white, middle-class men are considered much more sexually desirable than men who are racial minorities, over 40 and poor."
It's sad to have gays, lesbians and liberals reiterating the same painful, damaging images foisted on women for years.
58
it's so cute how so many commenters think that a local for-profit newspaper owes them a vote in which models they select for their charity fundraiser.
60
"these are human beings you're being so mean about..show some manners."
for real. can we go back to talking about how awful black people are now?
for real. can we go back to talking about how awful black people are now?
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