where did we go wrong

We will just be wearing fluids, a shit tone of sunscreen.

At some point in the 19th century and maybe towards the early 20th century a cane was a common accessory for well-to-do individuals even if they never needed it.

The first ever mixed martial arts system, bartitsu, made heavy use of walking canes as weapons specifically because of how often people carried them.

It's a device that can be made fancy and beautiful that serves as a weapon when needed, and is an assistive device for the disabled. We're talking 1914, so it's not the most disabled the men of the western world have been, but four years later will be.

And even without the war, you're in a time where there's no joint replacement, and there's a lot of people with injuries from industrial accidents and people who've had diseases of industrialization. You have the beginnings of recreational sport (a good way to get injured if you don't know how to prevent it) and not much other exercise except walking places. The newfangled "safety bicycle" is still a death trap by modern standards but compared to a pennyfarthing without pneumatic wheels it earns its name. Also there's no antibiotics so you've got a lot more people sporting a single leg than in modern times, especially if you're in America where veterans of the Civil war are still around at the time.

I think navigating an urban landscape a century ago was just generally more challenging than it is now.

Having a stick to fend off rats, dogs, or livestock would be essential.

Also muddy streets, gutters etcetera, are easier to navigate with a walking stick.

Finally just carrying a cool stick around with you while you conduct your affairs doesn't seem terrible. I find myself kinda wishing it was still a thing.

Class symbol with the added perks of beating the poors and mobility aid.

Weapon, balance wet cobblestone streets, ease on your legs from a long day waiting on the trolley. Pick upreach device. Also, another thing for people to sell, i.e. hat, pocket watch, bracelet, necklace, etc... that's mostly what "fashion" and "fads" are, a new gimmick to sell and distract people from the horror of everyday life.

Seriously though, a walking stick while hiking is a game changer. I'm not talking ski poles, those are mostly useless outside light balance stuff. I do so much with my walking staff and have never had a fall or trip while on the trail. A third leg can be a godsend sometimes, especially in muddy swampy sections. Creek crossings are a breeze.

clearly

Nowadays burning man is just like the tech bros corporate retreat, so if it’s today’s burning man we just skipped some steps toward technofeudalism

Rappers. It's rappers. Two P's. Please. Rap per.

But no tattoos or body paint on the women that would be too much!

Smoking indoors! Such depravity is not acceptable in 2025!

To be honest I don't like the hat as it feels out of place, it doesn't match the outfit at all or even the gentlemen in question, but maybe is just me and could be the fashion fad or craze of the 1950's the artist was going for 🫤