Post by thread:Fw: Pocket Protectors (was: "Re: [OT] 8 pictures o

Tim Kerby <spam_OUTPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote: > What are "pocket protectors". Here in Scotland, I have never heard > of them! Tim: They're soft plastic pouches that fit into your shirt pockets and into which you put your pens... The idea is that they'll protect your shirt from ink stains if your pens leak. The stereotypical pocket-protector wearers were engineers working for NASA during the Cold War... Their pocket protectors were as much a part of their uniform as the short-sleeved white shirts and the narrow, too-short neckties. While pocket protectors unquestionably serve a useful purpose -- just about everyone has had a shirt ruined by a leaking pen -- they've been so long associated with stereotypically unstylish, socially-inept engineers that only the MOST compulsive and anal-retentive among us are willing to be seen wearing one. It's not just that they give the wearer the unflattering look of someone who's terrified of a little inkblot on his shirt; there's also a certain stigma attached to the fact that no individual has ever actually PURCHASED a pocket protector... They're generally imprinted with some engineering-related company's name and given away as promotional items. It's sort of ironic, really... People who buy expensive shirts that might actually be WORTH protecting usually have enough fashion sense not to wear pocket protectors, while people who have no fashion sense (and are therefore willing to wear pocket protectors) generally buy shirts so cheap that they're essentially disposable anyway. Have you heard the phrases "Full Cleveland" and "Half Cleveland"? They refer to the peculiar style of clothing often worn by golfers (here in America, at least): A Full Cleveland is white shoes and a white belt; a Half Cleveland is white shoes OR a white belt. I've been thinking that the wearing of a pocket protector alone should be called a "Half Canaveral"... A "Full Canaveral" would involve wearing the pocket protector AND a pair of broken eyeglasses held together by a paper clip and a bit of scotch tape. -Andy === Andrew Warren - .....fastfwdKILLspam@spam@ix.netcom.com === Fast Forward Engineering - Vista, California === http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499

> They're soft plastic pouches that fit into your shirt pockets and > into which you put your pens... The idea is that they'll protect your > shirt from ink stains if your pens leak. They can also protect the shirt from having automatic pencils poke through the bottom of the pocket (at least I think they would--I do know I've had pencils poke through when I WASN'T using the protector) > The stereotypical pocket-protector wearers were engineers working for > NASA during the Cold War... Their pocket protectors were as much a > part of their uniform as the short-sleeved white shirts and the > narrow, too-short neckties. > They're generally > imprinted with some engineering-related company's name and given away > as promotional items. Or as identification badge-holders; assuming the standard attire has a pocket there, such things can hold ID badges much more nicely than the clip-that-never-quite-fits-anyplace thingie. > I've been thinking that the wearing of a pocket protector alone > should be called a "Half Canaveral"... A "Full Canaveral" would > involve wearing the pocket protector AND a pair of broken eyeglasses > held together by a paper clip and a bit of scotch tape. I thought a Half-Canaveral was either a pocket protector or pens actually in the pocket, and a Full-Canaveral was a pocket protector that actually had pens in it. Of course, I usually put pens/pencils in my hip pocket where I invariably sit on them, but at least I've had the luck that none have leaked.

It's not just that they give the wearer the unflattering look of someone who's terrified of a little inkblot on his shirt; there's also a certain stigma attached to the fact that no individual has ever actually PURCHASED a pocket protector... They're generally imprinted with some engineering-related company's name and given away as promotional items. I *like* pocket protectors as trade-show giveaways - they're slightly more clever than the average giveaway. A pen or screwdriver with a name/logo is sort of ho hum. A "nerd pack" with pocket protector, screwdriver, and pen (all with name/logo) is a nod to technical culture, such as it is. I wonder about the original purpose, though. Ink blots seem unlikely. The thought that they'd keep you from drawing on your shirt as you put things away, but I'd bet on the idea being to keep the points on those well sharpened pencils from poking through either you or your shirt. Or maybe chalk for scribbling on those blackboards... The only job I ever had that required "dress shirt and tie" was still software, and didn't have a lot of pencils and pens floating around, so I never wore one officially... BillW

William Chops Westfield <PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote: > I *like* pocket protectors as trade-show giveaways You're scaring me, Bill. > I wonder about the original purpose, though. Ink blots seem > unlikely. Not with fountain pens... > The thought that they'd keep you from drawing on your shirt as you > put things away, but I'd bet on the idea being to keep the points > on those well sharpened pencils from poking through either you or > your shirt. Or maybe chalk for scribbling on those blackboards... Yeah. Pocket protectors have always been worn almost exclusively by engineers, even though members of most other professions also use pens. The reason may have to do with the fact that many engineers carry a LOT of pens -- different colors, etc. -- along with small screwdrivers, pencils, and other sharp items. Engineers also USE their pens a lot more than most other people... I mean, when's the last time your lawyer said, "Here, let me draw it for you."? -Andy === Andrew Warren - .....fastfwdKILLspam.....ix.netcom.com === Fast Forward Engineering - Vista, California === http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499

At 09:52 PM 10/17/97 -0500, you wrote: >> They're soft plastic pouches that fit into your shirt pockets and >> into which you put your pens... The idea is that they'll protect your >> shirt from ink stains if your pens leak. I got to thinking. The reason the young nerds don't know what a pocket protector is is because companies give out free T-shirts. Obviously the marketing types think T-shirts are cool. And Microsoft is the biggest violator! If they _really_ wanted to market to us, they'd be giving away free sandals or white button-up shirts. You know, the kind that are designed especially to hold pocket protectors. Heh, next ESC we'll know which companies listen to the PIC list <G> Andy ================================================================== Andy Kunz - Montana Design - 409 S 6th St - Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Hardware & Software for Industry & R/C Hobbies "Go fast, turn right, and keep the wet side down!" ==================================================================

From: Andrew Warren <EraseMEfastfwdspam_OUTTakeThisOuTIX.NETCOM.COM> >The stereotypical pocket-protector wearers were engineers working for >NASA during the Cold War... Their pocket protectors were as much a >part of their uniform as the short-sleeved white shirts and the >narrow, too-short neckties. Look at some Dilbert cartoons - they give the idea. {Quote hidden}>While pocket protectors unquestionably serve a useful purpose -- >just about everyone has had a shirt ruined by a leaking pen -- >they've been so long associated with stereotypically unstylish, >socially-inept engineers that only the MOST compulsive and >anal-retentive among us are willing to be seen wearing one. >It's not just that they give the wearer the unflattering look of >someone who's terrified of a little inkblot on his shirt; there's >also a certain stigma attached to the fact that no individual has >ever actually PURCHASED a pocket protector... They're generally >imprinted with some engineering-related company's name and given away >as promotional items. Stigma? I thought it was a recognition badge. >It's sort of ironic, really... People who buy expensive shirts that >might actually be WORTH protecting usually have enough fashion sense >not to wear pocket protectors, while people who have no fashion sense >(and are therefore willing to wear pocket protectors) generally buy >shirts so cheap that they're essentially disposable anyway. There are shirts that are fixable? >Have you heard the phrases "Full Cleveland" and "Half Cleveland"? >They refer to the peculiar style of clothing often worn by golfers >(here in America, at least): A Full Cleveland is white shoes and a >white belt; a Half Cleveland is white shoes OR a white belt. No, but there's a white shoe brigade in Queensland, OZ. Seemed to refer to a certain group of ppl with erm, 'unwholesome' political influence. >I've been thinking that the wearing of a pocket protector alone >should be called a "Half Canaveral"... A "Full Canaveral" would >involve wearing the pocket protector AND a pair of broken eyeglasses >held together by a paper clip and a bit of scotch tape. A nuisance - don't use glasses in that range - I can focus as close as the end of my nose. Its distance thats the problem. Of course, engineers *always* use AR coatings on their glasses for the extra few % of transmittance - regardless of the fact that they take fingerprints like crazy... MikeS <mikesmith_ozspam_OUTrelaymail.net>

-----Original Message----- From: Bob Blick <@spam@bblickKILLspamSABER.NET> To: KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU <RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Date: Saturday, 18 October 1997 15:02 Subject: Re: Pocket Protectors (was: "Re: [OT] 8 pictures of piclisters") >I think you've got part of it, but I've asked people who actually used them >regularly - pocket protectors are to help you get dressed quickly - you can >have one full of junk(pens, pencils, screwdrivers..) and slide it into the >pocket of your shirt(like when you need to change your shirt, and you >choose one that was dirty a week ago but doesn't seem to smell so bad today). Ha! Someone who 'airs' their shirts! (on the premise that if you don't wear the same shirt 2 days running, ppl won't know it hasn't been thru laundry). Hmmm. Bachelor? On the pencils issue - getting 'pricked' by a 0.35mm pencil is painful - akin to carrying a hypodermic in ones pocket (I imagine<g>) MikeS <spamBeGonemikesmith_ozspamBeGonerelaymail.net>

-----Original Message----- From: Andy Kunz <TakeThisOuTmontanaEraseMEspam_OUTFAST.NET> To: RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU <PICLISTEraseME.....MITVMA.MIT.EDU> Date: Saturday, 18 October 1997 22:07 Subject: Re: Pocket Protectors (was: "Re: [OT] 8 pictures of piclisters") {Quote hidden}>At 09:52 PM 10/17/97 -0500, you wrote: >>> They're soft plastic pouches that fit into your shirt pockets and >>> into which you put your pens... The idea is that they'll protect your >>> shirt from ink stains if your pens leak. > >I got to thinking. The reason the young nerds don't know what a pocket >protector is is because companies give out free T-shirts. Obviously the >marketing types think T-shirts are cool. And Microsoft is the biggest >violator! Hmmm. There's *no* way I'd go out wearing a Tshirt (unless I had another shirt over it) To put it delicately, they don't flatter my figure <VBG> Do marketing types wear Tshirts - no! They wear SUITS! MetaCrawler (search engine web site) Have a survey, with a Tshirt competition for inducement. The sizes were (I think) XXL and MetaXXL . <g> > >If they _really_ wanted to market to us, they'd be giving away free sandals >or white button-up shirts. You know, the kind that are designed especially >to hold pocket protectors. Or Dilbert ties, prints. MikeS <EraseMEmikesmith_ozrelaymail.net>

On Fri, 17 Oct 1997, William Chops Westfield wrote: > > The only job I ever had that required "dress shirt and tie" was still > software, and didn't have a lot of pencils and pens floating around, so > I never wore one officially... I switched to black jeans to avoid the problem of pen leaks... a pocket protector just doesn't work with jeans :). Pierce Nichols "I have a work order for the immediate demolition of your reality tunnel." -Bob, RAW Construction Corp. =========================================================================== Geek Code v2.1: d?H+sg+a-w++v+c++UHS+P+L+E+N+K!WM--!V-po+Y+t+5+j+R+G!tvb+++ D+B---e+u*hf+r+*n-y+

HA! Bob Blick has hit the nail squarely on the head, and revealed himself to boot. It is speed indeed, and the need to keep all that stuff together, that drives the utility of a nerd pack. Follow this essential truth a little further and you'll find the true reason that Alan Turing chained his coffee cup to the radiator next to his desk. It wasn't a sign of his underlying paranoia and impending breakdown. He just knew that the damn thing would be there when he wanted a cup, instead of sitting on top of the cpu inside a cabinet in the next building. --Tom Rogers

Hi Well, thanks for the explainations. I have never seen anyone in the UK wear these even at trade shows. At Robotix 97 in Glasgow I saw none either and that was an international show with all the best robotics experts world wide. Maybe they were embarassed to wear them! Anyway, they sound really useful, my shirt pockets are always full of sharp things like propelling pencils etc. Maybe a UK licence is needed? Tim ------------------------------------------------------------------ Personal Web Pages: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/tim.kerby/ Email: RemoveMEtim.kerbyEraseMEEraseMEukonline.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------

William Chops Westfield wrote: > > > I *like* pocket protectors as trade-show giveaways > > You're scaring me, Bill. > > Cisco once (very early) gave away little plastic slide rules at a trade > show. That was cool... > > Real Parts are better, though... > > BillW I'm sure you wouldn't have chomped off your wrists if they gave you a router... -- Friendly Regards Tjaart van der Walt RemoveMEtjaartspam_OUTKILLspamwasp.co.za _____________________________________________________________ | WASP International http://www.wasp.co.za/~tjaart/index.html | | R&D Engineer : GSM peripheral services development | | Vehicle tracking | Telemetry systems | GSM data transfer | | Voice : +27-(0)11-622-8686 | Fax : +27-(0)11-622-8973 | | WGS-84 : 26010.52'S 28006.19'E | |_____________________________________________________________|

Justiepops, remember when I asked you what a pcoket protector was...? I have a subscription to the PIC mailing list, where someone started talknig about pocket protectors. Here's an amusing post to the thread: {Quote hidden}> They're soft plastic pouches that fit into your shirt pockets and > into which you put your pens... The idea is that they'll protect your > shirt from ink stains if your pens leak. > > The stereotypical pocket-protector wearers were engineers working for > NASA during the Cold War... Their pocket protectors were as much a > part of their uniform as the short-sleeved white shirts and the > narrow, too-short neckties. > > While pocket protectors unquestionably serve a useful purpose -- > just about everyone has had a shirt ruined by a leaking pen -- > they've been so long associated with stereotypically unstylish, > socially-inept engineers that only the MOST compulsive and > anal-retentive among us are willing to be seen wearing one. > > It's not just that they give the wearer the unflattering look of > someone who's terrified of a little inkblot on his shirt; there's > also a certain stigma attached to the fact that no individual has > ever actually PURCHASED a pocket protector... They're generally > imprinted with some engineering-related company's name and given away > as promotional items. > > Have you heard the phrases "Full Cleveland" and "Half Cleveland"? > They refer to the peculiar style of clothing often worn by golfers > (here in America, at least): A Full Cleveland is white shoes and a > white belt; a Half Cleveland is white shoes OR a white belt. > > I've been thinking that the wearing of a pocket protector alone > should be called a "Half Canaveral"... A "Full Canaveral" would > involve wearing the pocket protector AND a pair of broken eyeglasses > held together by a paper clip and a bit of scotch tape. - Andy. --------------------------------------------- Andrew David, Software Manager, Ultronics Ltd. RemoveMEAKDavidTakeThisOuTspamUltronics.co.uk ---------------------------------------------

-----Original Message----- From: Wynn Rostek <RemoveMEwarKILLspamPALMNET.NET> To: PICLISTSTOPspamspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU <spamBeGonePICLISTSTOPspamEraseMEMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Date: Monday, 20 October 1997 11:50 Subject: Re: Pocket Protectors (was: "Re: [OT] 8 pictures of piclisters") >At 01:14 AM 10/18/97 -0800, you wrote: > >> Engineers also USE their pens a lot more than most other >> people... I mean, when's the last time your lawyer said, "Here, >> let me draw it for you."? Unless he was talking about drawing a cheque from *your* trust account, payable to him. :( > >I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't answer a technical question >without drawing... Ah, the heady aroma of Xylene from whiteboard markers! Responsible for much creativity, that! MikeS <KILLspammikesmith_ozspamBeGonerelaymail.net>