January 22
Comments migrated from WordPress:
Mark Atwood <me@mark.atwood.name> on 2016-11-28 00:28:23 wrote:
I recall more than one SFnal setting where clothing has become more or less optional, with no need for shoes or warmth and “modesty” is “obsolete” (oh god, all that horrible 70s sf…), and yet there still existed pocket belts and jewelry to signal both rank and style.
Alistair Young <athanasius.skytower@arkane-systems.net> on 2016-11-28 01:24:13 wrote:
I’ve read some of those myself from time to time. Can’t honestly say I ever bought it, though…
Specialist290 <specialist290@hughes.net> on 2016-12-03 09:07:39 wrote:
It strikes me that there’s one body plan for whom the “pockets” argument wouldn’t be all that strong: The marsupials and their analogues.
Alistair Young <athanasius.skytower@arkane-systems.net> on 2016-12-03 10:20:56 wrote:
Unless you’re very much into biotech, I’m skeptical of whether you’d want to use your natural pouch for storing your stuff.
Specialist290 <specialist290@hughes.net> on 2016-12-03 23:29:12 wrote:
Why not? Given local attitudes to in vivo gestation, it’s not like it’s going to get much use otherwise.
Specialist290 <specialist290@hughes.net> on 2016-12-04 09:47:53 wrote:
Look, I’m not trying to suggest that my ideas are the only option. I’m not trying to suggest that they’re even a commonplace option, or that there aren’t better alternatives (hovering companion “pack-drones”, Orion’s Arm-style utility brushbots, integrating your important gadgets directly into your body, paying someone to carry all of your gear for you, etc.).
I’m also not trying to suggest that pockets aren’t useful, or that they’ll be going out of style in the far future – they’re a cheap, simple, and low-tech solution to a common problem, as has been correctly mentioned before in this thread and elsewhere.
All I’m trying to say is that, with a little imagination and creativity, it’s not impossible to conceive of a solution to how to carry things with you if you don’t want to use belts or pockets for whatever reason or in whatever situation.
(And that includes situations with clothes as well as without – at least in our world, there’s something of an unspoken rule of etiquette that you don’t put pockets on formalwear – or, even if you do, you don’t use them except for small, thin objects like handkerchiefs and coins – because sticking bulky things in your pockets can spoil the silhouette of your outfit with unsightly stretching and bulging, making your outfit look ill-fitting and you look uncouth.)
1 reply
January 23
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Whelp. I am reminded of how many people on the planet haven’t interacted with marsupials. Because yeah, pouches aren’t even in the same postal code as pockets. Would someone temporarily stash something there? I can see that happening, in the same way that I have put things in my mouth when that was inadvisable but my hands were full. But it’s not comfortable or wise.
Sticking your fingers in a roo’s pouch is like sticking your fingers in someone’s nose, or yes in their vagina. It’s moist, you have to stretch the orifice and it very much feels like you shouldn’t be poking around there. (But it’s the only way to check for a joey and that was necessary.)
