Imitation is the highest form of flattery, the age-old line goes.
Well, it's also a damn good sign of being a societal tool.
Thanks to Lance Armstrong's widely-accepted and horribly duplicated LiveStrong wrist bands, a craze has been hugging the wrists of Americans coast-to-coast.
It was a novel idea: a cheaply-made rubber band-like wrist accessory that showed one's support for a cause.
Emphasis: support for a cause.
It was bad enough when, last fall, Nike faced a severe shortage of the bands, announcing delays that rivaled that of a new Apple product or Michael Jackson on his way to court. But as the laws of supply and demand would have it, the situation worsened.
The large popularity of the product sparked the brilliant idea for some investors to purchase mass quantities of the bands (or impostures) and remarket them on such online auction sites as eBay. Often, the bands sold for 15 to 20 times their $1 worth.
Just when we thought American Eagle and Abercrombie could climb back up on their respective trend-setting hills, a new fad has begun to sweep across the nation.
Even crappier rubber band-like wrist brands.
I should preface the rest of this column by noting that Ball State's men's golf team has decided to create a red "Audience of 1" band in memory of student Justin Cross, who died of cancer earlier this year. The proceeds from this band will go toward a memorial scholarship: a noble and worthy cause.
However, many impostures have popped up everywhere from shopping mall kiosks to gas station counters in the interest of making a buck for (often something other than) charity.
With so many colors and meanings attached to the plethora of impostures, it is pretty well impossible to distinguish causes.
Needless to say, a bright pink band that has "I Think I'm Pretty" engraved into it probably does nothing to support a cause or charity, outside of a collection agency for Anna Nicole Smith.
I'm just guessing, of course.
The problem with most of these fakes is not just their cause, though -- it's a matter of the support behind them.
Much like any other fashion craze, these bands are becoming a sign of the times and not of the support they should stand for.
Armstrong started the trend with LiveStrong, and soon "support our troops," AIDS awareness" and "breast cancer" awareness bands sprouted up.
Beyond those basics, no one really knows what most of the bands mean. In fact, the only support a lot of the bands show these days is that of a silly and sadly abused trend.
No longer are people purchasing these bands with the intention of donating to a cause and proudly displaying their support of it. Most people are stockpiling various colors to match whatever outfit they have on. Some are so ignorant, they're purchasing or otherwise obtaining these bands with complete disregard to what they champion.
Check your wrist: You could be in favor of a nuclear war against Uzbekistan, and it's all because you thought the navy blue was the pimpest.
As we well know, it's what we Americans do best. Still, it does not make it right.
It would be nice to think people will stop wearing these bands as objects of a twisted stylistic society, but it would be unrealistic.
Instead, to those who have, might or will purchase these bands: Know what you're buying.
It's one thing to buy something for its appearance when it comes from a major clothing dealer, but when it's for the purpose of charity, it's downright wrong.
Otherwise, you're really no better than the people who don't support it at all.
At least they believe in their stance.
Write to Dave at
heydave@bewilderedsociety.com
Visit http:/www.bewilderedsociety.com
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