Conference quark::mennotes-v1

    
    Good topic, Andy!!
    
    Here in the US (New England & New York anyway), men carrying handbags
    or wearing shoulder bags usually solicits disdainful looks by others
    and they will usually make the assumption that the man carrying
    the bag is an effeminate gay.
    
    From my 8 business trips to Japan, it seems as though the hand/shoulder
    bag is used by men with no negative stares/assumptions.
    
    I, personally, wish that it would become socially acceptable for
    men in this country/area to carry some sort of bag of that type.
    My main reason for feeling this way is that often the things I
    feel I need to have with me fill my pockets and cause unbecoming
    bulges, unless I am willing to carry something like an attache
    case with me for them, which in purely social situations is odd.
    
    					Joe

    re: .2
    
    If you need a hand or shoulder bag, why don't you get yourself one?
    Are you afraid of criticism? 
    
    Every social trend and change starts with an individual or small
    group. Be the first on your block.
    
    -bs

    
    
    	Like Marge said, it is usually disguised as a sports satchel
    or a briefcase. Prior to my recently getting a briefcase, I used
    a backpack/daypack to hold all my stuff.. When the summer time comes
    around I'll have both the briefcase and the bag when on my motorcyle.
    I always carry an extra set of clothes so I can change into shorts
    on a hot day for the ride home.
    
    	BTW, the briefcase is ok but the daypack is better for going
    into stores. I can carry my checkbook in it. Bringing a briefcase
    into a store looks wierd.  I never get second looks with the daypack.
    That's probably cuz I'm wearing a leather jacket and cut off leather
    gloves and have a bike helmet. 
    
    							mike

    Shoulder bags such as mine are about $30. As I'll be out to N.E. in 3
    weeks, drop me a mail if you want one. We can go into a Boston Bar
    3 or 4 of us together?
    
    Now THAT Should be a real laugh.

     re .5:
     
     > Now THAT Should be a real laugh.
     
     Depends which bar you go into.
     
     --Mr Topaz

   
    
           ****  ANY BAR!  ****
        
    
    -bs

When I was in Europe (high school, exchange student), it seemed to me that the
 shoulderbags men and boys carried looked more like flight bags than purses.
  I don't recall anybody considering them "effeminate" when the Europeans car-
   ried them around in the U.S.

(Digression:  One of the European girls didn't have a purse.  She had cut open
 a stuffed animal - a puppy - taken out the stuffing, and put a zipper on it.
  That was her purse!)

I prefer a backpack/knapsack anyhow.  So does my SO (who's female).
 <_Jym_>

    I went to Europe a few times in my young impressional late teens
    and thought the satchels that men carried were practical and neat.
    I bought one in Italy and used it extensively over there, and a
    little bit here in University...but I would'nt walk into a DEC office
    with one now...I guess I don't have enough nerve to be the trendsetter
    here in Toronto. 
    
    However, in the French-speaking parts of Canada, especially Montreal
    and Quebec City, men with purses are not uncommon at all...and noone
    gives it a second glance. It's part of the French "Live and Let
    Live" attitude. I'm pretty sure that in Montreal, noone labels you
    regarding your orientation, based on your handbag. I think the French
    are a little more sophisticated when it comes to this sort of thing.

    	I have been carrying a shoulderbag for about two years.  Yes,
    I get a lot of 'funny looks' from the people of New England and
    odd comments from family members but so what.  The bag is convenient
    and why should I give a damn what people think!

	Whilst working abroard I carried various "posing pouches", I found 
them very useful kit, passport, diary, sunglasses, cigarettes, money, etc.
I would still use one, (I have a nice one at home), except that I have no use 
at all for one. My wallet, credit cards, car keys, and cheque book (bad 
practice) all fit neatly into my trousers pocket, and no bulges where not 
required!

Richard.

re: .11
>at all for one. My wallet, credit cards, car keys, and cheque book (bad 
>practice) all fit neatly into my trousers pocket, and no bulges where not 
>required!

Bad practice is right!  Gawd knows how many back problems come from
keeping junk in the back pockets, especially if you spend a lot of time
sitting (more especially in a car) during the day.  I had to give up
the checkbook in my back pocket when I had a long commute to Westminster
(it went into the briefcase instead), but I still haven't been cured of
the wallet yet.  That may take a few more chiropractor visits.

Who said back pocket?

Richard.

    
    If I have that much stuff to move around, I use a gym bag or backpack.
    The only things that live in my pockets are my keys and my wallet,
    which is never thick enough for me to notice.
    
    DFW

    re: .12
    
    You must have a thick wad of money in your wallet if it gives you
    back problems! (|))
    
    -bs
    

re: .15    
>    You must have a thick wad of money in your wallet if it gives you
>    back problems! (|))
Yeah, a thick wad of four dollar bills!
:^)

    
    RE: .16
    
    >Yeah, a thick wad of four dollar bills!
    
    If you have four dollar bills, you'd better get rid of them fast
    as only $1, $2, & $5 bills exist (on the low end of the paper
    currency scale)  :-) :-)
    
    				Joe
    
    (Just struck me as funny early in the morning.  Thanks for the smile!!)

    
    I got one for christmas from my Mom. I accecpted and said it was
    nice but I never figuered I would use it and I even joked about
    it with my brothers later. It has a shoulder strap and a handle
    and you see them at Ptown on the cape. It turns out that its a
    great thing to have when I go skiing and I have a handfull of 
    ski equipment and have to carry other stuff to the lodge i.e.
    hats,gloves, scarfs and most important, food. I don't think I
    would carry it around with me but niether do I feel wierd about
    carrieing it anymore.
    

	 I have been carrying a shoulder bag since high school. It was
	a hand me down from my Dad who carries one. He is Czech and 
	apparently it is common for European men to carry one.
	 I get a lot of comments from macho types and a lot of propositions
	from gays. Neither bothers me much.
	 Last Christmas, my Dad bought be a new one and I use it as my 
	my briefcase here in Dec. It has both a shoulder strap and a 
	carrying handle and in a more formal atmosphere I might tuck
	the shoulder strap into the bag. Then it just looks like a different
	kind of briefcase.
	 I like it, my SO likes it. That's all that counts.
	-Tom

    "Shoulder bag": interesting term...
    
    I always carry a bag over my shoulder, however it is a canvas "carry
    all" that at various times has carried camera gear, fishing tackle,
    clothing (I can pack for a week in it), work going to/from office, and
    occasionally firearms (it is large enough for an Uzi submachine gun
    with no awkward bulges to explain...)
    
    The only time it has ever ellicited comment is occasionally from DEC
    security personnel who ask me if I have a camera in it (though none
    has ever asked me to open it when I said "no")
    
    At other times I have carried various other styles including a leather
    map case that looks very similar to the shoulder bags I have seen men
    carry in Italy.
    
    On the other hand a few years ago somebody gave me a shoulder bag that
    was described in the accompanying literature as a "man's shoulder bag",
    but which looked distinctly like a handbag I'd given my Mother the previous
    Christmas - that present was consigned for redistribution.
    
    /. Ian .\

    After going to Europe on DEC business I purchased mine over a year
    ago.  I love it.  Before I had to always wear a suit coat EVERYWHERE
    and going around the French Rivera in June in a full suit is
    rediculous.  I looked like a dumb American who didn't know any better.
    
    Sure, I get lots of strange looks, but I can really appreciate why
    Europeans, Japanese, Canadians, and most women carry them.  They
    are PRACTICAL!  I get a kick watching the reactions of people who
    don't know me when they see me carrying mine.
    
    Also, as mentioned earlier here, it is quite "macho" to carry the
    designer canvas bags or backpacks, but a shoulderbag?......
    
    When my wife and I travel outside the US, noone gives me a second
    glance.  But, go to the grocery store in shorts, a tank top and
    sneekers with a shoulderbag; oh boy the stares.  If the "starees" only
    knew how convienant it really is (keys, wallet, change, check (US
    spelling) book, sun glasses, notebook, calendar and pen, gum, etc. I
    now only wish I had gotten one much earlier then I wouldn't have had to
    wear three piece suits or sport coats quite so often especially in the
    hot summer. 

    When traveling, I can also carry passport, local currency (usually
    large or bulkie by US standards), and travlers checks in addition
    to what is already there for daily use.
    
    /TEB

    My old so carries a leather pouch with belt loops.  Closed with
    velcro.  As useful as a purse, got lost less often than my purse,
    and a bit more compact.
    
    Lee

    Men's purses are adverised as "pouches" here in Canada. After
    deliberating for some time I finally bought one. In the summer it
    gets pretty hot and the only reason I was wearing my suit jacket,
    hot as it gets, was to carry all my stuff (wallet, calendar, keys,
    bankbook etc.).
    
    Now that I've got it I really like it, and can't get used to stuff
    in my pockets any more. For the first while I was very self-concious
    of carrying it. Now I carry it most places.
    
    Word of caution to new pouch users - Since you're not used to carrying
    one, you'll probably forget it a lot. Get used to not putting it
    down in stores. Keep your keys in it so you'll remember it when
    leaving your car and remember that you left it in the restaurant
    when you try to get back into your car.
    
    By the way, my wife gave me some money to buy a gift for myself,
    so I bought the pouch. She hated it.