Negative connotations of sunglasses after dark:
1) Person is high
2) Person is blind
3) Person is a liar
4) Person is “trying to be cool.”
Note: In the statement “trying to be cool” we see an obvious distaste for the sunglasses after dark (SAD) wearer, as though an attempt to be cool is a negative thing, or an attempt to be better than the viewer. Also inherent in the statement is the suggestion that the person is failing the task of coolness as he is in a constant present-tense state of ‘trying’ yet never achieving.
5) Person is mentally ill.
6) Person is lacking in self-esteem.
The eyes, it seems (and eye contact) are filled with a deep psychological power and have an intimate connectivity to others by nature.
Among men the eye contact works as a sort of mechanism for measuring aggression and therefore insuring proper placement in the pack. By blocking eye contact (not avoiding eye-contact) the male SAD wearer cannot be placed according to perceived strength. He becomes an unknown quantity. This is psychologically unnerving to other males on an animal level.
When a woman, on the other hand, sees a man wearing SAD she may feel an additional intimidation, as women use the eyes as a barometer as a person’s feelings. She may be repelled yet strangely enough captivated by the challenge of trying to get the SAD wearer to remove his shades.
Positive aspects of wearing SAD:
1) By avoiding pack placement you tend to avoid male conflict and contests of aggression.
2) The masking effect lends a bit of intimidation, which adds power to your side.
3) You have the ability to scan a room for danger without appearing apprehensive, which is viewed as weak.
4) You have the ability to scan your surroundings for females without appearing to do so.
a) See who is looking at you (they feel more comfortable looking because they don’t think you’re looking at them if your face isn’t turned in their direction).
b) See where the attractive women are, whom they are with, and if they have a boyfriend that will return in a few minutes, this makes it safer for you to approach.
5) An unreadable expression may lead to discomfort in others, yet this discomfort is not directed outwardly. The reaction given toward the SAD wearer is usually neutral.
6) The way the brow furrows is similar in both anger and sadness. The SAD hide sadness and intensify an angry brow, as the brain is attempting to make eyes out of dark lenses the psychological effect is angry brows over large black eyes.
So the perception of the glasses is greatly disparate between wearer and viewer. Interestingly enough, the act of wearing SAD seems to have quite an impact on the viewer, yet the viewers feelings/opinions have no impact on the SAD wearer. Thus the SAD seem to give the wearer a seeming “evil- (eye) power” over the viewer.
Well, Mr. Frank. For kids like me you forgot 3:
1. sometimes you just feel like it
2. sometimes you just wanna be crazy and funny
3. sometimes you just wanna see the world in pink
Good point Sophia, but perhaps women in general don’t feel the need to hunt that men do so their reasons for wearing SAD would be different. This was moreso notes about practical reasons than party reasons.
Funny point, Mr. Frank. when I wear sunglasses at night I do it at home. never at a party. i don’t reely understand about men and hunting.
oh! sorry. i read your comment again. i hear a lot when i do something this thing: its not practical. so that must be why i dont understand what your writing if you are writing about practicl reasons. by.
How do you read the Jack Nicholson and Hunter Thomposon dichotomy (dark wayfarers and tinted aviators)?
Nicholson is definitely going to be scanning the room for who’s looking at him. Plus he’s old-Hollywood and the Wayfarers were part of the premiere costume back then to protect the eyes from the flash bulbs.
Thompson was a gun-nut and Wayfarers would have obscured his vision. The tint might have also been more pleasant and less-restrictive than dark shades when he was high.
Dear Mr. Frank,
I have submitted the term SAD, “sunglasses after dark” to the official law enforcement glossary of terms used to characterize suspects in heists and burglaries. If accepted, you will share in the rewards, which rarely exceed a “warm glow” and a “shiny new dime.”
Sincerely,
Gabacho