Drugstore Cowboys

Here's a subject that most people find amusing. The "fake" cowboy. A "real" cowboy can spot a fake the minute he walks in the door. He doesn't even have to speak. Even if they try to dress just like them, it's easy to spot.  It may be a bit hard to explain, but it's a feeling you have.  You just know! It may be the way they walk. Or it may be their hands, or their face. Cowboys develop a certain walk that comes from the work they do (not just the bowlegged ones who ride horses all day). Their hands are rough and tough.  Their face is weathered. A lot of them have tan lines on their forehead from wearing a hat all day every day. And, by the way, the hat is a big telltale sign, too. It doesn't have to be a cowboy hat.  It could be a regular baseball cap. The boots really tell the most to me. I can spot them easily. They wear work boots.  Good, strong work boots with certain brand names. Tony LLama's, Justin, and other brands that cowboys favor. They can own expensive boots too, but don't wear them too often. The "real thing" will have certain nicks, gouges, cuts, or scrapes that are a direct result of the work they do. If you know what to look for, it's easy. The belt is another giveway (along with the buckle).
Then we have the "fake" cowboy. He dresses in very expensive boots, and And wears them everywhere, showing off. He wears expensive shirts, of a brand that no real cowboy would wear. He buys a hat that's "too nice". Maybe he wears jeans, but they are not the daily wear kind. He carries a hanky; not the bandannas that cowboys use. His socks are way too expensive. Most cowboys socks (and underwear) have holes in them from working in them so long.
This is all still acceptable to the "real" cowboy. It's a sort of compliment in a way. It's also amusing at times. The part that is NOT acceptable is when he tries to pawn himself off as the real thing. Especially if he is acting like, or talking like, he is a real working cowboy. Does he really think that others will believe him? It's insulting when someone does that. They don't look the same, or really dress the same, and they darn sure don't act the same.  The "drugstore" cowboy can give the "real" cowboy a bad name. If others, who don't know a thing about cowboys, see or meet these types, they tend to believe that "ALL" cowboys are like this. It soon spreads around. The real image of the cowboy is tarnished, and it's hard to repair.
Hey, it's ok if you want to look the part. Dress up and be a cowboy for a while. It doesn't hurt anything. As I  said before, it's a type of compliment in a way. But please don't tell others you are the "real deal!".  Don't lie to them about roping steers, riding bulls, or branding cattle, when you have never even been close to any of these things!. Keep the "drugstore" cowboy and the "real" cowboy separate, so there will be no misunderstandings. And never make the mistake of underestimating a cowboy.  They're neither slow, dumb, or ignorant. And they usually have more than enough common sense. Now, let's see if the Dallas Cowboys can have a good season!