GQ's Ignorant and Insensitive Remark

GQ recently published their list of the 40 worst-dressed cities. They ranked Boston as #1. As if their opinion really matters. I wouldn't have given it another thought, except for a lovely little blurb by the guy who wrote up the Boston piece - John B. Thompson. His bashing against Boston included this quote, “Due to so much local in-breeding, Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome.”

You won't find it mentioned in the online piece anymore. But the damage has been done. I read about it in the Boston Herald's article specifically mentioning that reference. By the time I went over to GQ's article that quote was already gone ... although I've yet to read anything from GQ on this issue, must less an apology.

In reading through the comments on the Boston Herald it seems a few people think this quote meant a "style-down" syndrome instead of a style "Down syndrome." I seriously doubt that. If that was the case why wouldn't GQ make a statement explaining that was how it was intended to be read? Why did they remove the quote online? If it was supposed to be 'style down' they would have put quotation marks around those 2 words, not capitalize the whole Style Down Syndrome. If they didn't mean "Down syndrome" there are plenty of other, more accurate, choice of words, or phrase. It was meant exactly as the put down was written.

Updated to add: According to Dr Brian Skotko's blog post about this, the full quote was actually, “Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome, where a little extra ends up ruining everything.” I think it's pretty obvious this wasn't intended as a "style down" syndrome as some suggest. A "little extra" is a not-so-subtle dig at those with Ds who have an extra chromosome.

This isn't about being politically correct either. This was meant as an insult. This was a disparaging remark. How else was it supposed to be taken? "Due to so much local in-breeding Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome." Really? Is this what journalism has come to? The author is that juvenile to think he came up with some kind of cool joke by making fun of Bostonians by saying their fashion style is like Down syndrome? What is that supposed to mean anyway? Is the breadth of his vocabulary so small he couldn't come up with anything else? Anything other than insulting the whole Down syndrome population?

Furthermore his ignorant and immature comment about "in-breeding" perpetuates disparaging, and untrue, misconceptions about Down syndrome. It attempts to make a connection between in-breeding and Down syndrome. Down syndrome is not caused by in-breeding (and this isn't the first time I've come across a reference like this).

Well GQ, here is my daughter proudly, and stylishly, sporting an extra chromosome and a Boston hat.