Low standards: I cannot stand the low standards of dress (among other deficiencies) within the IT industry. How can one take him/herself seriously and bear any comparison or resemblance to the respectable business person, when he/she clearly can noteven iron a pair of khakis much less don a respectable shirt, tie, and slacks? I understand the vague notion of "being comfortable at work." And I almost concede the argument for help desk workers who must crawl beneath desks. But for those of us that must work with professional clients or alongside other respectable members of our own companies, how can we feel like or assert ourselves as anything but underlings when we look and act that way? Perhaps I am more interesting other aspects of my job (such as advancement and management) than the typical IT person (who may enjoy the technical aspects far more than I). Perhaps, I also simply like wearing a nice pair of slacks and a shirt and tie. But in an IT world that continually disappoints me with its low standards (in far more than in dress), assuming a business-like appearance is just one more way of indicating that I take seroiusly my job and responsibilities in a business environment.