Monday, March 20, 2023

What Do Socks Say about the Person Wearing Them?

How many assumptions do we make each day based on the most trivial observations?

By Roberta Vriesema, Representative

It was a long day of bargaining, and we were waiting on the employer to present their last pass of the day. We had exhausted all sorts of topics related to the workplace earlier that day and, collectively ready for a break, we stumbled into a discussion about socks.

One of the members had walked in early that morning with a swanky pair of new shoes that we had all admired. Someone else noted that I was wearing a pair of CLAC-branded socks.

Soon we were deep in discussion about socks: graphic socks versus. plain socks, matched socks versus unmatched socks. Is it easier regarding laundry to have all socks of one colour and type, or is it easier to have all unique pairs of socks? Thin socks versus thick socks. Work socks versus pleasure socks—What?!

Sock ethics! If all your socks are the same, when one starts to wear out, you can match it up with any other sock. But if they are all unique socks, you’re going to create a lot more waste.

We talked about the online retailer John's Crazy Socks. Medical socks or compression socks—do the benefits outweigh the difficulty putting on and off?

We talked about socks as acts of love and memories of socks knitted by grandparents.

Can we just talk about the spelling of the word socks?

Do you notice people’s socks? If you do, do you make assumptions about socks?

What are your thoughts on mismatched socks? Do you assume the wearer doesn’t care about their appearance? Or do you question who folded their laundry? Or wonder if they even noticed? Are you judging the wearer?

Have you ever heard of someone referred to as “that crazy sock person?” Are socks part of their identity? If so, what does that mean? Are they more fun than you? Are they subtly subversive?

When the employer returned with their bargaining response, they were surprised to see the energy present in our room. I deliberately didn’t share that it was because we had just spent a half hour in discussion about socks. Let them think we were ready to go another round!

That discussion sits with me. How many assumptions do I make in my day based on the most trivial observations? Are there ways for me to become self-aware of those assumptions, without having to be called out? By the time I get called out on an assumption, it has likely gone on too long. It is a deep question with different answers for all of us.

Let’s end this yarn here before the metaphor unravels. For now, I wish you all warm, dry, cozy comfortable socks!

What Do Socks Say about the Person Wearing Them?

You might be interested in