The Shirtless Guy

I read today of the "Shirtless Guy" on the campus of Chapman University in southern California (0f course). This lad's 15 minutes derive from cruising campus with only painted nipples north of the equator. Even odder, a campus club "Dedicated to the Fellow Without a Shirt" has formed with over 500 members. Let's give these club members the benefit of the doubt, despite the LaLaLand locale, as just having a bit of quirky fun.

Having taught at San Diego State for 9 years I am no stranger to the "dude" mentality, or lack thereof. But what prompts SG's particular form of narcissism? Such a plastic pursuit of individualism is innocuous enough despite the distasteful disregard for others, i.e., bad manners. As contrived and self-absorbed though this "self-expression" may be, I suppose it isn't hurting anyone else beyond its obvious incivility. Then again, it isn't helping anyone else either.