this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2024
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[–] Kbin_space_program@kbin.social 115 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I would like to point out that the image of the cowboy and wild west being the hot and dry southern states isn't that accurate.

The wild west was also Oregon country, now Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska.

In the latter four, even now, if you go too far into the wild unprepared they won't find you.

[–] KinglyWeevil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 years ago

Exactly, there's a whole bunch of "winter" cowboys in Montana and Wyoming, lol

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

props for RDR2 for outright beginning with cowboys in hip-deep snow

[–] Kbin_space_program@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

You can have that weather in northern Arizona though.

The closest thing we've had in a game to the temperate rainforests of the pacific northwest that a lot of the cowboys of the region had to fave would be the thick tropical jungles of Crysis and Far Cry.

[–] guyrocket@kbin.social 57 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I've found cowboy boots to be very slippery on snow or ice. This person's credibility is sinking fast...

[–] RemembertheApollo@kbin.social 30 points 2 years ago (1 children)

And the leather soles get mushy...and the salt used to melt the ice absolutely shreds the leather just above the stitching when it dries out. Western boots suck in the snow, and it's a quick way to ruin them. Even rubber-soled ones like some of Ariat's don't last, but they're better on wet surfaces.

[–] Godort@lemm.ee 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's kind of wild how tons of people in Alberta wear them considering the climate

[–] guyrocket@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

If they put hiking boot soles on them they could be OK. I suppose you could add "spikes" yourself for winter. Like these: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=shoe+spikes+winter&iax=images&ia=images

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Those are riding boots, or dress boots. They also make Western style boots with rugged soles for work. I have a pair and they're outstanding on all terrain, including snow. Here's an example:

https://www.ariat.com/P13324_M_FOO.html?dwvar_P13324__M__FOO_color=BROWN&dwvar_P13324__M__FOO_width=D_Medium

[–] Xanthrax@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If you step in mud, wouldn't your boot slide off?

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If you step in deep mud, and keep walking, then it could. That's not really a terrain feature where I live. Our soil has good drainage.

[–] Xanthrax@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago
[–] CptEnder@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That's some letterkenny shit rt

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I got them because we decided not to wear shoes inside our house, and unlacing my work boots several times per day was a real PITA. These take about two seconds to take off or put on.

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 8 points 2 years ago

You must not have enough points in style or cool.

[–] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I would very much like to breed this person with Cunk to see what kind of child we end up with.

[–] OpenStars@startrek.website 19 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Cowboys are... prepared to exist outside - whatever could they have been thinking!? :-P

Seriously, each of those elements was intelligently designed for the purpose that cowboys had for them. I use many of those same elements myself, while people prepared only to sprint from car to indoors have a whole other thing going on.

[–] xantoxis@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Just so we're clear, you're wearing a big cowboy hat in your car?

[–] scv@discuss.online 3 points 2 years ago

People in Montana do. Well, in their trucks, I don't remember any cars there. I usually take mine off, I'm too tall to wear it inside the car.

[–] Rozauhtuno@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The reverse of this is camels: they fitst evolved their adaptions to survive the cold, not the desert.

[–] BluesF@lemmy.world 23 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That isn't the reverse, it's the same deal - adaptations to one place turn out to be beneficial in another. Also, the desert IS cold at night, no?

[–] dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Arctic deserts are also a thing (e.g. Iceland). The similarities tell the whole story:

  • Poor access to liquid water
  • Need to insulate body from temperature extremes, wind
  • Food sources are sporadically available at best
  • Need to minimize contact with ground or insulate feet

This is not to suggest that polar bears are similarly adapted to the Sahara. Rather, it's not a huge shift, but it's still a change.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 years ago

in a similar vein rainforests do not have to be tropical, there are several temperate rainforests in europe of which the southwestern norwegian coast is apparently one

[–] RemembertheApollo@kbin.social 9 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Like a greentext...just made up BS. Really, the "cowboy" was the only one dressed appropriately for weather?

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

Nothing ever happens!*

^(*if you never leave your house)

[–] Mac@mander.xyz -2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

And according to this person being dressed up for the cold is wearing clothes that are designed to be worn in warm weather. Dumb.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 15 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Cowboy gear was outdoor working gear, this is completely believable if the guy was in actual work clothes.

Y'all just city af.

[–] Umbrias@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

What makes it dumb is that the clothing described wouldn't have been what kept them warm and unfazed, that would be the layers underneath the made up cowboy's attire.

What makes it silly is that cowboys exist across the very snowy north and have since cowboys have existed anywhere.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz -2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

A cowboy hat, banana, a duster, and boots is how i understood the description which is warm weather garb.

You're just too city to understand that.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Bro never heard about long johns and thinks dusters are exclusively warm weather gear 💀

(Also the description specifically mentions a poncho, not a duster, but ponchos are also useful for cold weather)

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

Ah yes, the classic winter garb: a ~~duster~~ poncho and a cowboy hat. Lmao

[–] crushyerbones@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Not American but doesn't central America get cold as fuck at night? I would assume that's what cowboys dressed for since you can always remove clothes but you can't exactly create them from thin air at night.

[–] Katrisia@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

I'm not an expert, but I believe it's more of a North American thing (Canada, U.S.A., Mexico) due to the mountain systems along the three countries. The Rocky Mountains, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Velt, etc. are all part of the North American Cordillera. This, and the occasional deserts.

I'd guess ponchos, jorongos, and similar pieces of clothing were adopted by non-native settlers (Spanish, English, etc.), including non-native cowboys, because they are good against the changing weather during the day and the cold nights, as you said.

I mean, Central America must have cold spots along their own mountains and South America has the Andean Mountain Range (enormous system), but I do not know about their traditional clothing, except they share the poncho, and I do not know which of their clothing we still wear to this day.