Why Do Some People Over-Use the Word "Dude"?

[Jeff Higgins]

For that matter, why do they use it at all? We have a fresh influx of junior engineers here at work, for example. Nothing worse than one of these bright young folks starting, or ending, every sentance with "dude". All they need to complete their image is their pants halfway down their ass and their hat on backwards. And yes, as an equally annoying (and potentially career-limiting) aside, they do wear hats at their desks. And shorts, and tee shirts, and flip-flops. What is this world coming to? I'm old enough to remember the "uniform" - starched white shirt and tie. Fridays were "no tie Fridays" and we thought that was pretty racy, dude.

[rpastir]

Dude...I don't know

[nostatic]

because, like, you know, it's like, come on dude, chill...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I can't think of the last time I wore a tie, and I'm quite happy about that, actually.

Although I don't wear shorts/flip-flops/t-shirts to work, I don't over-dress either. My work speaks for itself and my co-workers, boss and clients know I kick ass for them. It's paying off well. I think all too often formal dress is a "crutch" or a substitute for quality/valuable work by those insecure in their own abilities, however I also fully agree that grossly under-dressing (like you described) will ultimately get you not taken seriously, even if your work is stellar. You have to at least be reasonable about it. (Nice) jeans, a button-down shirt, a decent pair of comfortable shoes - most clients get that and don't mind. I wouldn't take a subordinate to a client meeting who looked like a total bum. "Business casual" still has to be "business appropriate", not "let's go to a rave when we get out of here, man".

[cstreit]

Frankly I never saw the reason for the suit and tie.

When I got out of college I worked as an entry level programmer for Kemper Financial. We had to wear a suit and tie every day. Wait, what? An entry level programmer that never saw the light of day much less a customer and they made us wear suits? What for?

If I wear a tie more than 4-5 days a year it was a bad year. Jeans, t-shirt, and sensible solid shoes for me thank you... Flannel shirt if its cold. Anything else is just jewelry and "fashion" if you ask me.

[Walter_Middie]

I remember the "uniform" well. Shirt and Tie. The reality was that a lot of engineers didn't realize that this was supposed to look good - and the tie was supposed to match something else that you were wearing. I can still picture poor old Jerry with his plaid Woolrich shirt and some other print tie. Yeow.

Then again, as a junior engineer in the early 80's, I wanted to emulate the top engineers that all wore shirts and ties. I still have a closet full of ties that I don't wear anymore. Who is the role model for today's young engineers? We must ensure that they can't spell, can't talk in front of people, and most importantly, their socks can never match anything else that they have on. What will we do if there is a generation of engineers that women actual want to date?

[austin552]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3440275073559966079&q=big+lebowski&total=470&start=100&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

[Jeff Higgins]

Hey, I wear jeans and a button down shirt to work every day. I spend too much time crawling around on airplanes and crap to wear "nice" clothes. If I actually showed up in even Seattle's well-known "business casual" my co-workers would think I was going to a job interview or something.

That said, when dealing with customers on their airplanes, a certain level of dress and decorum is appropriate. Language too. Especially foreign customers, who almost universally cannot take anyone seriously in shorts, flip flops, and a backwards baseball hat that keeps calling them "dude". There is a limit to everthing, dude.

[Tobra]

Lighten up Francis

[Wickd89]

I don't what your talking about, BUD!

[Joe Bob]

If ya don't understand it...ya never will.

It can be a verb, a noun, an adjective, an expletive, an endearment or any other descriptive force in the Californian language.....it depends on the inflection, the delivery the force of the hips.....

[alf]

The only times i wear a suit and tie are weddings, funerals and meeting government officials in China.

I wear shorts, tee shirts, flip flops to work when it is nice out. Then again I work in Software and I always wear my dress up flip flops. I use dude a lot. Dude.

[Joe Bob]

Of course when I write some asswipe a ticket....I do the Catholic English I was trained with. Pisses them off when I do the "please sign the citation, it's not an admission of guilt, just an acknowledgement of receipt that your scum bag company is ******* up the environment and making your sperm make U Turns in your testicles....."....but what do "I" know, I barely can get a phrase out w/o going DUDE....yer a douchebag......

But I'm now feeling better....

[slodave]

Dude, what does my tattoo say? Sweet, what about mine? Dude, what's mine say? Sweet, what about mine? Seriously DUDE, what does mine say?,

[HardDrive]

I say dude an awful lot. But I also say f*ck every 4th word, so folks tend to not notice that dude is every 5th word.

Yeah, I'm in IT

I actual dress pretty conservatively. Button down shirts and khakis or dress pant of some flavor. In fact I tend to wear a lot of Brooks Brothers clothing. I do technical training, and I am in front of engineers/managers all day. Companies pay top dollar for the training we offer, and I feel its simply unprofessional to wear gruby clothing when the people in the class are paying $500 a day to be there.

I don't care to wear ties (although I have some great ties and suits), but the lack of docurum in the North West is irritating. This jean in the office horse***** is just childish. I can understand if your an engineer, but why are ACCOUNTANTS wearing god damn jeans? Grow the f*ck up, take off your f*cking running shoes, and dress like a professional. These days, that does not mean you need to be wearing a tie, but running shoes and jeans?!?!?

Come on DUDE.....

[Porsche-O-Phile]

A comfortable employee is a happy employee and a happy employee is a productive one. Within reasonable limits, but I see nothing whatsoever with jeans. If I went to see a doctor, lawyer or accountant and they dressed like I do (a decent, clean pair of jeans and a respectable looking button-down shirt of some kind, maybe even a polo), I wouldn't give two turds or trust them any less. Some of the brightest individuals I've ever dealt with looked like just "average dudes", not pretentious slacks-wearing or tie-wearing ninnies.

[azasadny]

That's just like your opinion, man...

[stomachmonkey]

Hey Alf!

So what's the deal with Tiburon?

Thought you were heading down there.

Scott

[ChrisBennet]

I'm a software contractor. My "uniform" is jeans and a hawiian shirt with sneakers (Piloti driving shoes actually). I wear my nice jeans when I'm meeting a client for the first time (and a cashmere blazer and I tie).
-Chris

[Joe Bob]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
I'm a software contractor. My "uniform" is jeans and a hawiian shirt with sneakers (Piloti driving shoes actually). -Chris

My work uniform as well...except flip flops in summer and cowboy boots in winter.....