Politicians fight against "pants on the ground"
Politicians fight against "pants on the ground"
Saying low-slung pants give their wearers a bad image, a state lawmaker is making the point with some images of his own.
Brooklyn residents awoke Thursday to the sight of two "Stop the Sag" billboards — and more were on the way, organizers said. The signs show two men in jeans low enough to display their underwear. The billboards were bankrolled by state Sen. Eric Adams, who also made an online video to send his message: "You can raise your level of respect if you raise your pants."
Adams is the latest in a series of politicians and other public figures to lambaste the slack-slacks style that has been popular in some circles since the 1990s and amplified by rappers and other avatars of urban fashion.
The dropped-trousers trend has been debated in TV shows, city councils, school boards, state legislatures and courtrooms and even decried in song: Larry Platt became an Internet sensation earlier this year after he sang his original song "Pants on the Ground" during an "American Idol" audition.
"Some people might not want to see your underwear. I'm one of them," President Obama told MTV News.
Dallas officials embarked on a "Pull Your Pants Up" billboard campaign in 2007. Some schools have tightened dress codes to get students to tighten their belts. Last summer, a St. Petersburg, Fla., high school principal resorted to ordering thousands of plastic zip ties to help students hitch up their pants.
Initially seen as invoking street credibility, the style has spread from inner cities to suburban malls — and into classrooms.
So does Tracey L. Collins, a former school principal who runs Fully Persuaded for Children and Families Inc. The New York-based organization aims to foster responsible decision-making and other social skills.
Lawmakers in some places have considered such measures but rejected or dropped them amid legal questions. A plan to fine people for pants that exposed their underwear stalled in the Tennessee General Assembly last year, after the state's attorney general said it was "unconstitutionally vague." A Florida judge ruled a similar city law unconstitutional in 2008 after a 17-year-old in Riviera Beach spent a night in jail after being accused of having his underwear exposed.
Adams says he doesn't aim to legislate, just educate.
"I don't want to criminalize young people being young people," he said. "I'm trying to make sure we stand up and correct the behavior."
Still, some of the style's partisans aren't sure it merits a politician's attention.
"I think there's other things going on besides someone's pants being low," said James Scott, 27, of Brooklyn, his jeans sitting jauntily low on his hips.
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- Posted on April 5, 2010
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ii think ur riqht celena♥ ii mean its nasty to see somee ones butt who wanna see there skin marks ? ii think thats qross who ever started saqqinq is dumb!! Boys that do that look funny and now qirls are staring to do that naaa hahaaa yu should be a follower be a leader..
-Sierra Lashey Luna♥
i totally agree i hate saggers they are gross. my brother sags and i hate it. His pants go down to his knees and i hate it .His pants fit him fine and he sags on purpose . i think you should get in trouble for it .
NOTE TO BOYS : Sagging is not cute, you see one boy sag and you follow it. You wouldn't do it if you really knew what that meant. So, STOP SAGGING. Most girls wont talk to a guy that sags.
I think its okay to sag ur pants a little bit , but when your pocets are all the way your knees thats just rediculous.... i dont sknow guys think its cool, butnote to guys 99% of girls find that unnatractive .
This is the thing that i do not get about boys.. be somebody and pull up your pants. no body wants to see someones butt. Be a leader and maybe people will start to pull up their pants too. Cause that is seriously nasty to sagg your pants. Be a leader and NOT a follower.... Yeah!! Who agrees...
My view on sagging pants.I feel when guys sag their pants below their butt there asking for attention.(If you know what i mean).Further more what is the use in sagging your pants? Seriously pull your pants up.Besides that its very disrespectful to women.Women do not like to see a guys butt hanging out.
Boys have something with pants on the ground they do it to look cool but i think that pant on the ground is lame because it makes they look like fools and girls don't like it :)
You should not sag its just weird,nasty,and gross pull up pants and tighten belts. It's so weird nasty and gross. And a tip don't wear skinny jeans when sagging.
i love sag it helps my swag and stuff like that and there nothing wrong with sagging so why do they complain so much a about it so much.
- I can relate to this type of this news today i had a discussion in one of my classes about saggy pants law requires educators to police indecent fashion style. I think when boys sag there pants and young lades or adults see it, its a sign of disrespect but on other hands when guys sag and another young teen sags too its a sign of respect. i guess wearing your pants under your butt means your cool or have swag in other cases men and found teens think its OK to show there cheeks but when someone looks or tells them to pull it up they get mad and ask why you are looking but you wouldn't have to look if they weren't down as far showing all of your features that nobody you don't know whats to see. Sagging your pants as a guy you might see your father do it or a friend or just someone off the street, i don't think men or young teens should follow what they see out in public when they know its disturbing and shows people what kind of person you are. Wearing your pants right shows people you have respect for yourself and others. On other hands when sagging shows how you don't have the kind of respect for yourself and people won't either if you don't .