Every profession, job, trade, industry…every “thing” that you do has its own culture and flavor, its own set of features that allow the participants to be differentiated from members of other groups. In most cases, these features are so utterly unrelated to the actual performance of the “thing” that it’s pretty ridiculous. Sometimes even comical.

These features can be physical traits, a type of clothing, a way of speaking, even the music that plays. Either way, these various artifacts are closely linked to the image of the participants that they begin to form secondary levels of the base identity, the base identity that is constructed on the actual execution of the “thing”.

I think I am in danger of being vague so let me provide some examples.

My brother and I were ranting recently about half pipe snowboarding at the Olympics, how the guys rip down the pipe with their pants around their knees, and rocking out to an iPod. I mean, What!? They are pulling some crazy stuff, (see: Shaun White), wouldn’t you want some snug pantaloons?

Shaun White!

Painters wear white. Why? No one knows. Trust me. I googled it. That’s good enough research for anything Look at the mania is this thread. They just do, they always have. It doesn’t really make sense, but it’s ingrained in the culture.

What about those MMA guys. You know. In the UFC? Most of them have some mad tattoos. Based on my extensive boxing experience, (one hour last Friday morning), I know that it’s really hard to see and throw punches when you have sweat in your eyes. You know what would make it easier? A big ass orange tiger on some guy’s back. Just sayin’.

Alright, I could give you some more examples but to be honest, there is hockey on TV. Comment below with your best example of useless cultural features…