FACEBOOK QUESTION AND ANSWER OF THE MONTH by THORIN
Febuary 2012
Chris Benton wrote: How do you keep WJ from becoming the monster you seek to destroy?
Chris, this is a very good question. There are many ways we work to keep the trendies out and the wolves in. For one, we don't allow our artillery (T-shirts) to be sold in sellout chain stores (and yes, we have had many offers from many famous mall chains requesting to carry our brand). Two, we keep most of the sceansters out with the brutality of our graphics, and the unvarnished truth that each one of our shirts proudly screams off the back of the wearer. Third, real recognizes real, and most people don't even have the balls to speak their mind, much less proudly wear a slogan that boldly conveys their feelings for the world to read in such a blunt manner. We are not user friendly precisely because we want brother and sister wolves, not "customers" to represent what we stand for. We could tone it down and sell more, but "selling" is not our primary mission. Staying true and attracting minds of equal integrity is.
By our very nature we are a repellent to the fake, trendies, posers, and identity-less wanna-be's. Anyone who has ever walked in public and seen another in a WJ tee, or someone with a wolf paw tattoo is taken aback. And why? Because it is not common. Sure, it may seem rather large on a media site like Facebook, but just as you know, friend counts don't mean shit. 99% of the people who friend you do so to prop their own numbers up to inflate their own ego not to truly communicate with you. Very few "friends" on media sites are real friends. I have to admit, I am rather blessed because most of my FB kindred truly are down with the wolf mentality and are quite active on my page; most are genuine. I appreciate each and every one of them, even if I lack the time due to my creative writing to visit every one of their pages with the frequency that I know they deserve.
Also, to understand the wolf mentality you also have to understands its antithesis (it's polar opposite) the sheep mentality. The sheep buy what they buy specifically because everyone else is doing it. They are mimicking, not thoughtful, creatures, so therefore they are attracted precisely to whatever the hottest trend happens to be at that very moment. In a rush to adopt an identity (rather than cultivate their own) they are magnetized to the most prominent logos that they see reflected in their malls. They feel that if they follow the popular trends that they will become accepted and popular too. Underneath this foul logic lurks a person with low self-esteem who is trying (impossibly) to purchase some.
The sheep-minded majority think that if they buy expensive items, it will give them value and prestige (rather it just diminishes their savings and devalues their personal identity even further). This type of mentality is precisely what makes a sheep a sheep. They adorn themselves with large flashy logos (sheep badges) by companies that stand for nothing more than a costly band name that means little more than, "I can afford this bullshit logo, aren't I cool? I'm just like the rest of the in-debt posers pretending to be something they're not; I fit right in, everyone must love the way I refuse to acknowledge my own identity and trade it for social acceptance". The whole costume party is sickening to true wolves who silently watch the parade with inner-laughter and disgust.
Sheep cant think for themselves, they don't have the self-confidence for it, this is why they harbor a monkey-see-money-do attitude. They wear what there wear because it is popular, not because it reflects their personal tastes. This mentality nd drive to be "in fashion" is what keeps them away from WJ - we are the anti-fashion. Hell, sheep don't even know who they are, this is why they are attracted to trends in the first place.
The sheeple think that wearing an expensive brand name vicariously gives thems value. Ironically, it dilutes their true identity. So how does WJ differ? Well, we are not just a logo. We stand for a think-for-yourself mentality, and our brothers in arms are encouraged to wear only what is reflected by who they truly are inside. There are other brands that actually stand for something too. I am not trying to take anything away from them with this answer (but these companies, like WJ are few and far between).
Our shirts are statements, philosophies, and manifestos. We are wolf, and we are proud. We have not become the monster we seek to destroy because we stand for something higher than capitalism; we are a very different kind of monster. We are more than a trendy logo. If you are wolf, then we are you. We merely provide a means for YOU to wear what YOU THINK.
We avoid becoming the monster, because we are a different breed of monster altogether: We are mother fucking werewolves and we eat sheep for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Those that don't get it aren't suppose to, and that my friend is the very point. If you think that those who bare the wolf mark are all alike, then you don't understand the mark of the wolf at all. The wolf paw is the destroyer of labels. It is the anti-label that screams: I am I. WJ is no different, it's not meant to be a one size fits all brand. It is just as adamant about keeping the sheep out as it is in attracting its legitimate kindred. To learn more about the wolf mentality itself you will have to wait for a new edition of The Wolf in Wolf's Clothing to come out (the first two editions are now sold out).
WJ is different because we don't assign an identity, promote a fashion, or get involved in trends. We simply provide a means to allow our kindred to express who THEY are. We are not faux monsters, we a juggernauts and we only want patrons who understand what this very lengthy answer conveys. We don't want, need, or desire sheep dollars. Compromising our integrity is what would turn us into that which we despise. That will never happen, not on my watch!
January 2012
Dave D. Asked, "Hey Thorin, it looks like you only have a few tattoos. Why not more? Your work is in so many tattoo magazines I felt that you would be a bigger tattoo aficionado than this."
Well Dave, I think that there are many reasons why people get tattooed. The worst reason of all would be because of fashion (to impress others). To me, a tattoo should represent something about the person who wears it, something timeless. The tattoo should be an outward expression of an inner reflection that the natural appearance of your body alone does not convey. Of course this is just my opinion. Like I said, there are many reasons people get tattooed. Some people love art so much that they want to wear it as a part of themselves.
I don't think that there is any one single justifiable reason to get a tattoo, but I think it should be well thought out when you do get one; it should hold some really deep significance of who you are at your core. My tattoos are the dripping wolf paws, and they are of heavy symbolical nature. The wolf paws are warnings to those who seek to control me, but they also act as my talisman and I turn to them for strength when those rare moments of self-doubt surface.
I am not the only person who bares this mark, but most of those who do bear it do so for the exact same reason that I do; they remind us to be true to ourselves, to live by a set of honorable values, and to maintain and cultivate the warrior spirit. To truly understand the significance of the dripping paw, you would have to truly understand the wolf mentality itself.
To me a tattoo is more than mere ink. Also the number of tattoos one has or does not have is not necessarily representative of anything other than personal taste. There are plenty of hardcore guys that have none just as there are plenty of posers fully sleeved out. I think that if anyone ever gets a tattoo it should be for them, not for anyone else. After all it is something that will be with you for the rest of your life. There are very few movements, symbols, or philosophies worthy of this rite. After all, how many 'Abercrombie' tattoos are out there? Thank God that most people can separate the trends from the real fucking deal.
By the way, dripping wolf paws are not "tattoos" they are marks. They are not painted on for fashion, but branded on for declaration; they are a visual manifesto. The paws themselves may be on the surface, but they are there to visually represent what lies deeper inside. Those that don't get this, frankly aren't meant to.
December 2011
Robert E Murphy asked, "Dude, have ya thought about putting together a street team? I'm dying to see more people wear this stuff."
Thorin responded with, "This will sound pretty odd, but no. The reason will sound even more odd: We want WJ to be for those who "feel" the brand. We don't want it to become a "fashion" or a trend. Just look at all of the Hollister, Abercrombie, Areopostal type stuff and ask yourself, "Other than a shallow logo that proudly advertizes that one has more money than personal identity, what do these brands truly stand for?" If you are truly honest with yourself you will conclude "A monkey see money do attitude, worn by those seeking acceptance by doing what is popular rather than what is personal."
I don't mind if WJ gets bigger, but it would have to grow because the philosophy behind it grows, and for no other reason than that. WJ is the one brand out there that is based on personal expression. People wear the designs that express who THEY are. Unlike the "cool" brands out there where people buy what others are wearing because they are void of their own personal identity. WJ is more custom built, embellished with phrases that let people express THEIR own viewpoints. I appreciate you asking to help promote the brand. I am greatly appreciative of your thoughts, but my question is this, how can it be done in a way that only attracts people who are looking for a way to express themselves verses trying to be like everyone else?
Chris Benton wrote: How do you keep WJ from becoming the monster you seek to destroy?
By our very nature we are a repellent to the fake, trendies, posers, and identity-less wanna-be's. Anyone who has ever walked in public and seen another in a WJ tee, or someone with a wolf paw tattoo is taken aback. And why? Because it is not common. Sure, it may seem rather large on a media site like Facebook, but just as you know, friend counts don't mean shit. 99% of the people who friend you do so to prop their own numbers up to inflate their own ego not to truly communicate with you. Very few "friends" on media sites are real friends. I have to admit, I am rather blessed because most of my FB kindred truly are down with the wolf mentality and are quite active on my page; most are genuine. I appreciate each and every one of them, even if I lack the time due to my creative writing to visit every one of their pages with the frequency that I know they deserve.
Also, to understand the wolf mentality you also have to understands its antithesis (it's polar opposite) the sheep mentality. The sheep buy what they buy specifically because everyone else is doing it. They are mimicking, not thoughtful, creatures, so therefore they are attracted precisely to whatever the hottest trend happens to be at that very moment. In a rush to adopt an identity (rather than cultivate their own) they are magnetized to the most prominent logos that they see reflected in their malls. They feel that if they follow the popular trends that they will become accepted and popular too. Underneath this foul logic lurks a person with low self-esteem who is trying (impossibly) to purchase some.
The sheep-minded majority think that if they buy expensive items, it will give them value and prestige (rather it just diminishes their savings and devalues their personal identity even further). This type of mentality is precisely what makes a sheep a sheep. They adorn themselves with large flashy logos (sheep badges) by companies that stand for nothing more than a costly band name that means little more than, "I can afford this bullshit logo, aren't I cool? I'm just like the rest of the in-debt posers pretending to be something they're not; I fit right in, everyone must love the way I refuse to acknowledge my own identity and trade it for social acceptance". The whole costume party is sickening to true wolves who silently watch the parade with inner-laughter and disgust.
Sheep cant think for themselves, they don't have the self-confidence for it, this is why they harbor a monkey-see-money-do attitude. They wear what there wear because it is popular, not because it reflects their personal tastes. This mentality nd drive to be "in fashion" is what keeps them away from WJ - we are the anti-fashion. Hell, sheep don't even know who they are, this is why they are attracted to trends in the first place.
The sheeple think that wearing an expensive brand name vicariously gives thems value. Ironically, it dilutes their true identity. So how does WJ differ? Well, we are not just a logo. We stand for a think-for-yourself mentality, and our brothers in arms are encouraged to wear only what is reflected by who they truly are inside. There are other brands that actually stand for something too. I am not trying to take anything away from them with this answer (but these companies, like WJ are few and far between).
Our shirts are statements, philosophies, and manifestos. We are wolf, and we are proud. We have not become the monster we seek to destroy because we stand for something higher than capitalism; we are a very different kind of monster. We are more than a trendy logo. If you are wolf, then we are you. We merely provide a means for YOU to wear what YOU THINK.
We avoid becoming the monster, because we are a different breed of monster altogether: We are mother fucking werewolves and we eat sheep for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Those that don't get it aren't suppose to, and that my friend is the very point. If you think that those who bare the wolf mark are all alike, then you don't understand the mark of the wolf at all. The wolf paw is the destroyer of labels. It is the anti-label that screams: I am I. WJ is no different, it's not meant to be a one size fits all brand. It is just as adamant about keeping the sheep out as it is in attracting its legitimate kindred. To learn more about the wolf mentality itself you will have to wait for a new edition of The Wolf in Wolf's Clothing to come out (the first two editions are now sold out).
WJ is different because we don't assign an identity, promote a fashion, or get involved in trends. We simply provide a means to allow our kindred to express who THEY are. We are not faux monsters, we a juggernauts and we only want patrons who understand what this very lengthy answer conveys. We don't want, need, or desire sheep dollars. Compromising our integrity is what would turn us into that which we despise. That will never happen, not on my watch!
January 2012
Dave D. Asked, "Hey Thorin, it looks like you only have a few tattoos. Why not more? Your work is in so many tattoo magazines I felt that you would be a bigger tattoo aficionado than this."
Well Dave, I think that there are many reasons why people get tattooed. The worst reason of all would be because of fashion (to impress others). To me, a tattoo should represent something about the person who wears it, something timeless. The tattoo should be an outward expression of an inner reflection that the natural appearance of your body alone does not convey. Of course this is just my opinion. Like I said, there are many reasons people get tattooed. Some people love art so much that they want to wear it as a part of themselves.
I don't think that there is any one single justifiable reason to get a tattoo, but I think it should be well thought out when you do get one; it should hold some really deep significance of who you are at your core. My tattoos are the dripping wolf paws, and they are of heavy symbolical nature. The wolf paws are warnings to those who seek to control me, but they also act as my talisman and I turn to them for strength when those rare moments of self-doubt surface.
I am not the only person who bares this mark, but most of those who do bear it do so for the exact same reason that I do; they remind us to be true to ourselves, to live by a set of honorable values, and to maintain and cultivate the warrior spirit. To truly understand the significance of the dripping paw, you would have to truly understand the wolf mentality itself.
To me a tattoo is more than mere ink. Also the number of tattoos one has or does not have is not necessarily representative of anything other than personal taste. There are plenty of hardcore guys that have none just as there are plenty of posers fully sleeved out. I think that if anyone ever gets a tattoo it should be for them, not for anyone else. After all it is something that will be with you for the rest of your life. There are very few movements, symbols, or philosophies worthy of this rite. After all, how many 'Abercrombie' tattoos are out there? Thank God that most people can separate the trends from the real fucking deal.
By the way, dripping wolf paws are not "tattoos" they are marks. They are not painted on for fashion, but branded on for declaration; they are a visual manifesto. The paws themselves may be on the surface, but they are there to visually represent what lies deeper inside. Those that don't get this, frankly aren't meant to.
December 2011
Robert E Murphy asked, "Dude, have ya thought about putting together a street team? I'm dying to see more people wear this stuff."
Thorin responded with, "This will sound pretty odd, but no. The reason will sound even more odd: We want WJ to be for those who "feel" the brand. We don't want it to become a "fashion" or a trend. Just look at all of the Hollister, Abercrombie, Areopostal type stuff and ask yourself, "Other than a shallow logo that proudly advertizes that one has more money than personal identity, what do these brands truly stand for?" If you are truly honest with yourself you will conclude "A monkey see money do attitude, worn by those seeking acceptance by doing what is popular rather than what is personal."
I don't mind if WJ gets bigger, but it would have to grow because the philosophy behind it grows, and for no other reason than that. WJ is the one brand out there that is based on personal expression. People wear the designs that express who THEY are. Unlike the "cool" brands out there where people buy what others are wearing because they are void of their own personal identity. WJ is more custom built, embellished with phrases that let people express THEIR own viewpoints. I appreciate you asking to help promote the brand. I am greatly appreciative of your thoughts, but my question is this, how can it be done in a way that only attracts people who are looking for a way to express themselves verses trying to be like everyone else?
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©Wicked Jester, Inc. 2012.