Are you working in your "underwear"?
by jawn_tech

We've all heard it. "That was written by some guy at home in his underwear."

We hear it being said by mainstream news, televison, radio, and even recently on NBC's Studio 60 program (in a fictional setting of course, depicting what typical dialogue may occur on the set of a similar production). What does it mean, exactly? One could say it's meant to differentiate that a website, blog, or article wasn't likely written by someone sitting in an office, behind a big oak desk next to a high-rise window overlooking Times Square.

But I think I get it. "In their underwear" is simply meant to question credibility and/or quality.

However, I am officially asserting that presumption to be made by the ignorant.

Why, you may ask? It brings to question just how much out there is produced by someone, somewhere, "in their underwear"; and whether it actually means it's less credible, or of less value.

Blockbuster movies, for example, are obviously produced somewhere such as a grand Hollywood Studio. Or maybe, (and often) not. In either case, of course so much of the production takes place in high-tech studios by very talented professionals. But the script, the story of what the movie is about --- where exactly was it written? By someone at an undisclosed location, an unknown setting, wearing unknown attire. Possibly in a Starbucks sipping lattes working on a laptop. Or even possibly, at home in their underwear.

Pulitzer prize novels that grace the bestseller lists -- exactly where did the authors write them, and what were they wearing?

When a politician calls in to a morning radio talk show to clear the air about statements made -- what was he wearing? We just don't know.

How many times have we heard of grammy award-winning artists write songs -- even recording them -- from hotel rooms? Only the imagination can tell what they were wearing, if anything at all.

Now back to mainstream news outlets. Despite where they are reported from, be it from behind a desk in a television studio, or on the magazine and newspaper racks at the grocery store. What can be said about the content of what was written, submitted by contributing writers?

Knowing, or not knowing this seems to point to the validity of the internet. After all, the convenience of the internet offers the credible and less-credible a level playing field, leaving the public to decide what is of quality and what isn't. Therefore the source must be what is judged, and not the location, and much less the attire. If the music, art, or media is of good enough quality, the public seems to consume it just the same (e.g., the popularity of JibJab). And if the news article, blog, or website seems to cite credible sources -- in recent years the general public seem to show a willingness to embrace it just as well (e.g., the downfall of Dan Rathers).

Just for the record, I'm writing this from home wearing my jeans and my WPW sweatshirt. However, I am not wearing shoes. Just please don't tell the news networks.

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Are you implying that people only wear underware at home?

Geez, I have been doing it wrong all these years!

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