Alright, we’ve all seen it; Guys whose pants are so low, they’re belted around their mid thigh, look like they’re full of something and the guy walks like he’s wearing a full diaper.
It’s been happening for quite a few years, but the trend seemed to be dying out – or so I thought. Then a few days ago, as the Spring Semester greeted us, I saw it.
A guy with pants so low, they could’ve been considered indecent exposure had it not been for the belt holding them to his thighs with all the effort in the world.
According to Wikipedia (that’s right, folks. We’ve reached a point where sagging pants has its own Wiki page and it’s listed as “fashion”), sagging was made popular in the 1990’s and was originated by Hip Hop artists.
Youth of today use it as a symbol of rebelling against the mainstream. Mostly in the ’90s, it was denim jeans sagging to expose plaid boxers. Now, however, it can be done to show off high end name brands or to show off fancy patterns and colors.
Wikipedia states: “in the fall of 2010 at Westside Middle School in Memphis, Tennessee, the policy on handling sagging pants is for students to pull them up or get ‘Urkeled,’ a reference to the character Steve Urkel of the 1990s television show ‘Family Matters.’ In this practice, teachers would pull their pants up and attach them there using zip ties. Students would also have their photo taken and posted on a board in the hallway, for all of their classmates to see.”
Have we as a society not advanced enough to weed out this trend? There was a point in time when there were even songs written about this epidemic – looking at you, American Idol audition guy.
What does saggy pants even say? I mean, certainly you can’t think that it looks cool or “hip.” Girls aren’t attracted to it, at least not any that I know of.
From a practical standpoint, it seems, at least from watching someone wearing their pants like this, impractical. It can’t be comfortable, and with that much of your underwear exposed, I don’t see how it isn’t against the rules to be out in public like that.
I decided to get a few quotes from friends of mine to see what they had to say on the subject. Most of these quotes are from male friends, so I feel they’re a little more versed on the topic.
My friend Blair Velazquez was quoted as saying, “I think it’s stupid.”
Steve Morehead said, “I think it’s unprofessional, especially if you’re interviewing for a job or coming to work.”
Another good friend of mine, Logan Stull stated, “I think it’s stupid and looks trashy. If your pants are too loose naturally, then fine, but if you’re doing it intentionally, then no.”
His girlfriend, Haleigh Stull, agreed “I think it’s dumb.”
While these are just a few examples of opinions, it shows the general mindset and consensus of the overall feeling about sagging pants.
So what does all of this mean? It means, PULL THEM UP AND USE A BELT. If you genuinely have to sag your pants because you’re experiencing pain at the feeling of fabric touching your lower half, you may want to consult a doctor.
Jeri Hensley
Graphic Designer