If someone asks 'Why do you wear that?', what do you reply?

[toxickun]

the name says it all, suppose your wearing a goggle or something steampunk and a random person out of the blue walks up to you and ask. why do you wear goggles? what would you replie?

(and if you replie with the word "steampunk" and they ask, what is it? what will you replie then.)

*curious question cuz im a unique individual who wears regular steam-punk goggles to college*
.

[Hez]

Because I like them/it and it's fun to be a bit different sometimes.

[toxickun]

ah very nice. thank u >x<

[Secundinius]

I was asked this question once at the renaissance faire and I simply said: I'm a time traveler, m'lady. Judging by your attire, I'm sure you're well aware. It seems you've donned some articles of clothing from the twenty first century amidst your personal travels.

It was too easy to mess with the one woman working the ren faire that wasn't in costume.

[GabrielCrimson]

i don't think i've ever had any comments beyond, i like your cravat/pocket watch/shirt. or when at a convention '' who are you cosplayed as'', alot seem to think i'm from harry potter for some reason.

If someone asked it would depend on what they were wearing aswell. If it was someone in a football jersey and trainers. It'd be a case of pointing out that in the same way they love sport or their team, I dress up for the very same reason. I mean 9 times out of 10 they're not on their way to play football, and i'm not on my way back in time..... sadly 

[Major Willoughby Chase]

<snip>
or when at a convention '' who are you cosplayed as'', 
<snip>

Likewise, although of late I have taken to replying "His Majesty George V, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India", which generally seems to do the trick.

[Dr Fidelius]

I never get asked that. Being a rather large, pompous, middle-aged man I suppose I may have earned the right to be eccentric.
Or it could be because my "Steampunk" outfit is my normal clothes. I have worn vests, bowties, suspenders and nice hats for decades. My weakness for tweed was a sign of incipent fuddy-duddyism, now it seems that I am cool.
I purchased and painted a pair of goggles to wear to events to differentiate being "dressed up" from just being dressed. And I have been wearing the goggles less often lately because there is not much reason for an academic to be wearing them. Unless the chance of encountering spitting cobras is higher than usual.
In short, I don't wear anything as a badge of belonging to the Steampunk community. I wear clothes that show I am a bit of a retronaut but I feel no need to stand out in a crowd any more than my natural aura of awesomeness produces.

[OswaldBastable]

<snip>
or when at a convention '' who are you cosplayed as'', 
<snip>

Likewise, although of late I have taken to replying "His Majesty George V, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India", which generally seems to do the trick.

Ok I just gaffawed like an idiot, brilliant answer 

[Corroded Alloy]

Some years ago I had just walked past two teenage girls when one of them called out "why are you wearing that coat?" Being naturally shy it would have been easier for me to keep walking, however I stopped, turned around and said "Why? Do you have a problem with it?" They didn't answer a word but stood looking crestfallen and rebuffed. I feel horrible for doing that. They probably liked my coat but didn't know how to express themselves. It probably took them a lot of courage to speak to me. Because of that I realized I needed a more friendly and witty answer to that question.

In future If I do get asked "why do you wear that?" my reply shall be "Well what else can I do with it?  Smoke it? or maybe eat it?"

Since coming up with that answer I haven't been asked that question.

[Hez]

I think a friendly/funny answer is a great way to open people up rather than increase their xenophobia.  If we are dressed very differently than the norm it would be silly for us to expect people not to notice.  Their asking gives us a chance to educate or at least get them used to the idea that different isn't necessarily scary. 
A great answer from a young man to girls asking might be something along the lines of "So pretty girls (or beautiful women depending on the age) will notice me." then smile, tip your hat and keep walking. 
Avoid this technique if they are accompanied by large males.

[Captain Marcus Stahlsturm]

I have been asked why I had goggles around my neck. I simply told them that at high altitudes when piloting an airship the wind can render you pretty much blind and wearing them allows me to better spot fat merchant ships coming from the colonies. I explained how The Isabella was tethered not far away and was undergoing repairs after we were ambushed by Imperial ships and I was looking for new crew as many had been lost after she took a hit to the fo'c'sle. I then asked them if they were willing to join my crew as deck hands. Needless to say they looked pretty lost, then one of them exclaims 'He's a steampunk! I've seen your type before, you're like future victorian guys or summat aint you?' after this I spent about ten minutes educating the poor fellows what steampunk was and why I liked it so much. It was helpful that one of them knew the basics about it and was helping translate my words into commoner language

[Corroded Alloy]

I think a friendly/funny answer is a great way to open people up rather than increase their xenophobia.  If we are dressed very differently than the norm it would be silly for us to expect people not to notice.  Their asking gives us a chance to educate or at least get them used to the idea that different isn't necessarily scary. 
A great answer from a young man to girls asking might be something along the lines of "So pretty girls (or beautiful women depending on the age) will notice me." then smile, tip your hat and keep walking. 
Avoid this technique if they are accompanied by large males.

That is a great answer. I will use that one time. Thanks for that.

[rovingjack]

For adventure!

These arn't goggles, they are caps with which I contain my excess awesome when it begings to overflow.

I wear these clothes because if I didn't everybody could see my naughty bits.

Isn't this what muggles where these days?

So that I don't upset the time space continuum.

Good question, I'll have to get back to you on that after a bit of research.

My word how did that get there?

[Hez]

My word how did that get there?

LOL

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

<== See the text below my name...  

[Evelyn Adler]

It depends a lot on the way the question is asked.
If I'm somewhere in full steampunk garb, I see myself as an Ambassador of Steampunk (sorry if that sounds pompous). So if someone asks me why I am dressed that way, I explain very friendly the concept of Steampunk.

Unfriendly reactions (rarely happened so far) I chose to ignore or answer with a flippant remark, along the lines of what other posters have already mentioned.

Why dress in a way that draws attention to yourself, if you're not prepared to live with the reactions? If I don't feel up to attention, I can simply dress in jeans and something like that and be invisible.

[Capt. Dirigible]

In future If I do get asked "why do you wear that?" my reply shall be "Well what else can I do with it?..."

Be careful giving that reply..because some smart-arse will always answer :

"Well give me a match and I'll put it out of it's misery!"

[GabrielCrimson]

For adventure!


Isn't this what muggles where these days?

amazing, if ever the situation arises, I fully intend to use this  

[Arceye]

Never been asked this exact question, but somebody once said 'Aren't you too old to be a Punk', which is sort of a version of the question?

I replied by asking him what the age limit was.

The questional sputtered and walked away.

[toxickun]

i like the quotes
"So that I don't upset the time space continuum."
"My word how did that get there?"
"For adventure!"
and the " zeppelin high altitude" quoetes i hope to use them someday the next time a person ask me the question, what if my answer gose out something like


"because im a steampunk" and they question: whats a steampunk? then what would u say?

[Major Willoughby Chase]

I'd probably say something like this

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,66.0.html

[toxickun]

thank u for the information ._. this just taught me a bit more about steampunk then i already know

[toxickun]

thank u for the information ._. this just taught me a bit more about steampunk then i already know
(actually a lot.) how interesting wow! i love steampunk.. xD

[rovingjack]

"because im a steampunk" and they question: whats a steampunk? then what would u say?

What is steampunk? Why good people, it's Punk in which we've steamed out all the wrinkles.

[VampirateMace]

I usually reply, "Would you have talked to me otherwise?"

It's quicker than explaining what Steampunk is or going into a long explanation of how time travel creates a blinding light, for which I need the goggles to protect my eyes...