In your metaphor, VW, which is actually pretty close to a point, I'm actually arguing that the dude in the shirt is trying to have it both ways.
He's trying to wear the shirt ironically AND unironically to cover all his bases, which is what bothers me a lot more than if he was just doing it ironically. He wants to be able to say "isn't it awesome that I'm not really trying, isn't it indie and lofi and pure and unaffected?" to the hipsters and "fuck you, of course I'm not trying, THAT'S THE POINT that I'm affecting!" to squares.
THAT'S the attitude I hate. From ON THE ROAD to BLITZKRIEG BOP to... the kinds of bands Dan likes to champion... more than anything, that's the attitude I hate. The pose that is supposed to defend from all attacks by hiding under the equivalent of, okay fuck this is nerd, rotating your shield frequencies to keep the Borg off. You know? Shifting ablative irony armour that allows you to hide from all responsibility in your creative choices by always keeping your level of sincerity vague.
Like the asshole who starts talking about the Muppets in the way where he is skirting whether he actually likes the Muppets or whether he is ironically posing a guilty-pleasure attachement to a childhood memory, in case you are the kind of person who thinks that any sincere attachment to a "kiddie" property is uncool.
