View from the cop

By Lindsay Rose

September 23, 2005 3:08 PM | Link to this

Hello father…Nice comment about the tongue piercing….I assume you were referring to me! That’s right, I have piercings and 3 tattoos, but I’m also in college and have responisibility, so I don’t see any reason as to why I can’t do what I want as long as it’s not affecting me or anyone else except for maybe the light reflecting off my piercings could blind someone or something like that….it’s possible…. Just thought I might argue with you since I am your daughter….that’s why I was put on this earth—to do things that annoy you and then argue about their validity.

Love you!

Linds

By LaTreka

September 23, 2005 3:11 PM | Link to this

Has anyone ever wondered how those individuals will be when they get older. It wouldn’t surprise me if they had back, legs, and knee problems before they turn fifty. It is ridiculous and it is a trend that should have never started.

By mamaj7104

September 23, 2005 3:23 PM | Link to this

I was jumping with joy when I read the article about an anti-sagging law being passed,until I discovered it was a joke. I am so in favor of that kind of law till you wouldn’t believe.My 17 year old Grandson wears his Dickie shorts so low till they actually look like long pants. I have begged, pleaded, shouted, threatened, and have bought him several belts to wear, but to no avail. I am an African American woman, but I am blue in the face from the ordeal and stress of seeing his pants on the ground, and his underwear showing.Since I haven’t been able to impress upon him how horrible he really looks(and neither has his parents), I am now hoping for some Divine intervention, to put me out of my misery.

By Brandon Rosser

September 23, 2005 3:46 PM | Link to this

Come on now, we all know what demographic this new law is targeting. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t sag and it is embarrassing to me as a 25 year old black male to see young men sagging, but I definitely do not think that it should be a crime. Who is going to be walking around with a ruler enforcing this law anyway? As long as you can’t see any genitalia, I don’t see what the problem is. This is supposed to be a “free” country, let people dress however they feel no matter how silly it looks. What a hypocritical country.

By MM

September 23, 2005 3:52 PM | Link to this

Det. Rose - You must be proud that your daughter is paying for her own education and thus free from these silly restraints that adults propose.

By Kemi Lane (ATL's Media Gossip is www.Keminications.com)

September 23, 2005 3:54 PM | Link to this

DETECTIVE ROSE, MY SON DOES THAT MESS WITH PANTS DOWN AND I TOLD HIM IT’S FROM PRISON.Belts are not allowed so inmates wear their pants like that. He stopped immediately!!! and How are you?

By Karen

September 23, 2005 4:23 PM | Link to this

I have heard that this “trend” began in the prisons. Apparently guys wore their pants low as a symbol of having been raped. Not sure how true this is… but this story has not been enought of a deterrent.

By Amy

September 23, 2005 4:25 PM | Link to this

I have often used the absurdly low pants as an object lesson for my now 9-yr-old son. ‘Do you see that boy trying to walk without having his pants fall around his ankles?’ ‘Mom, Why would he do something that silly?’ ‘Because he’s a teenager, they do stupid things when they try to be cool’ ‘Mom, I hope I don’t do stupid things when I’m a teenager’ Me too.
Thanks all you saggy baggy teens for providing my family with numerous opportunities for amusement.

By Cheer Shepard

September 23, 2005 4:37 PM | Link to this

Whoops! Looks like Linds’ cell phone service just got cut off! :-)

By The Answer

September 23, 2005 4:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Mr. Cop,

Anyone who wears boxer shorts knows that they can easily make their way into the valley of the rear. Unlike underwear, boxers have a seam in the middle! Take for example a pair of shorts, they have a seam in the middle. Do you notice how when most older people wear shorts they tend to have a daylong weggie? Well, that may be a good feeling for them. Younger generations are less prone to enjoy the feeling so you’ll notice they wear a sag even when they have a belt on.

It’s just a sign of the times, old-timer!(LOL) Think of when sagging pants became popular, after the popularity of boxer shorts rose! My grandpa still wears underwear so he doesn’t sag his pants either. What’s your preference? (Please don’t answer that ?) Old people don’t like video games either, so are you going to propose legislation against them too? Oops, I forgot Hilary Clinton already beat you to that! LOL

I’m just playing devil’s advocate here though. You are a joy to read!

By Not Really Concerned

September 23, 2005 4:52 PM | Link to this

Whoa, his pants are really hanging low. Somewhat?!? Get a real problem!

By Randall

September 23, 2005 5:04 PM | Link to this

I’m high school teacher and I have to look at sagging pants all day, although I refer to it as “drooping.” It seems to aggravate the kids more. One principal I worked for said that sagging started in jail as a way for inmates to tell who was “taken.” Don’t know if it’s true, but I like to watch the kids sneak off and pull their pants up just a bit after I tell ‘em that one.

By Al Smith

September 23, 2005 6:05 PM | Link to this

This staute is so ridiculous and aims at people already under the microscpe of the police. You mean to tell me there aren’t more improtant things to legislate than saggy pants? This trend will effect mostly black & hispanic youth who again are already profiled. These legislators need to quit all of this posturing for votes and ACTUALLY focus on more important issues like EDUCATION!!!

By Amy

September 23, 2005 6:33 PM | Link to this

Amen, Lindsay! :) Piercings and tattoos tend not to get in the way of walking, at least. (But I have to agree with your dad about the sagging pants, having been on the other side of my college years for some time now..) Here’s hoping you keep your father’s captivating sense of humor—and love of debate—for all your years to come.

By J

September 23, 2005 7:49 PM | Link to this

I work in a high school part time- there is nothing better than seeing a guy who thinks he is ultra cool have his pants fall down, and it is very hard to carry books and get a drink when you have to hold them up all the time.

By Shaun

September 23, 2005 7:51 PM | Link to this

Sagging or overly baggy clothes is simply the anti-culture of our times, similar to the hippy culture of 60’s or bell-bottoms of the 70’s. Parents, the sagging is simply a statement of your children not wanting to be like you. Unfortunately the trend started in the jail houses, with inmates having to wear generic sized clothes. Fortunately, everything that has a beginning has an end. As a former sagger of the early 90’s, I can assure you parents out there that your children’s pants will rise again.

By Swangirl

September 23, 2005 9:49 PM | Link to this

I find it interesting that as teenage boys’ trousers get droopier and roomier, teenage girls’ clothes get skimpier and trashier. There’s some kind of fashion inverse rule working here, I think.

By Sligogirl

September 24, 2005 2:45 AM | Link to this

Amazing! Today, I was just telling the high school kids that I teach(alternative/adult ed.)where the baggy pants “fashion” comes from!

I used to work in a jail and it was well known in the system that if an inmate was wearing his pants in a baggy fashion, it meant he was somebody’s “kid.”

By Sammy

September 24, 2005 8:15 AM | Link to this

Okay, did some of you actually read all of Steve’s article? It’s a joke, a thought, an “I wish.” Quit taking yourselves so seriously.

By gregg

September 24, 2005 9:59 AM | Link to this

Don’t bother with an “anti-sagging” law. It helps employers find out who is so stupid they don’t want to work. It doesn’t matter how hard working or smart they are, if they do one thing stupid all the time employers don’t have to look further.

BTW, you moms and dads, if you tried wearing this style around your kid for a week (don’t tell them how long), how long would the style last?

Vent and they think you’re an idiot… Letters to the Editor removes all doubt.

By jim

September 24, 2005 10:01 AM | Link to this

Sorry Linds, That comment about “tongue piercing” could have been made by thousands of fathers in Atlanta.

By Susan

September 24, 2005 10:03 AM | Link to this

Oh, come on! Quit making everything racial. Not only was Steve joking, but blacks are not the only ones wearing their pants like that. It has nothing to do with demographics. My son is white, and he does it, too. But he is not allowed in my house with his pants around his crotch. Where do we draw the line? What if they decided to “sag” their underwear, too? I agree. We need to stop this so-called “fad” before our kids are mooning people on the streets.

By Steve

September 24, 2005 10:17 AM | Link to this

I’ll vote yes on that legislation. I actually saw my nightmare come true the other day when one of those dufusses had to grab his pants before they fell past his knees. I laughed out loud at him and he didn’t like it. :(

By TES

September 24, 2005 10:35 AM | Link to this

Swangirl, That is soooo true! I’ve been saying the same thing. What’s up with that?

By Carol

September 24, 2005 10:47 AM | Link to this

Saggy pants, viewing tops of boxer shorts??? Get a life…we have more pressing issues to deal with. Six months punishment of wearing suspended tight pants producing uncomfortable wedgies will probably be a harsher punishment than those (charged)fake hurricane victims. Taxpayers not only will pay for their crimes, but for their innocent children in DFCS!

By RD

September 24, 2005 3:38 PM | Link to this

I know it’s illegal, but I sure would like to pop those guys in the butt with some paint balls.

By Sharon

September 24, 2005 6:42 PM | Link to this

Sagging is silly but honestly, it’s amazing to see the types of things that parents will get all worked up about. If the only complaint I have of my son when he reaches his teen years is that his pants sag, then I will count myself blessed!

By Kenn Ashby

September 24, 2005 8:32 PM | Link to this

Such a “droopy drawers” bill was introduced in the Virginia Legislature but later, uh, dropped citing poor taste was not a crime.

By Mandy

September 24, 2005 10:47 PM | Link to this

He was only stating something he wished was true. It’s NOT a law. And yes, the trend really did start in prsions. It meant they were available for sex. And as much as I hate this “trend”, it’s been around for at least 15 years. I don’t think it’s going anywhere.

By JOHNNY

September 25, 2005 9:58 AM | Link to this

ITS A SHAME THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWERS AND NONE OF THEM LEADERS. THAY WANT TO LOOK AND ACT LIKE SOMEONE OTHER THAN THEIR SELF.

By Hunter

September 25, 2005 10:58 AM | Link to this

I think guys wearing saggy pants are hot, especially white guys. Its a hot fashion statement, old folks need to lighten up, its the same as your bell bottoms back in the day.

By Mike

September 25, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this

As silly as sagging pants look, if there is a really is a correlation between oversized pants on boys and tight pants on girls, I’ll tolerate baggy pants.

But, as much as I like tight pants, someone needs to tell young ladies that having your thong underwear showing four inches above your low rise pants is just plain tacky. Wearing colorful underwear with white pants is tacky, also.

Also, Linds, bad haircuts and silly fashions can be changed with age. I’ll be your dad had thick black glasses and a flat-top at one time. Those tatoos are permanent.

By Greg

September 25, 2005 5:23 PM | Link to this

While I don’t particularly endorse sagging, I also don’t see it as any worse than bell bottoms or those jeans with holes we all used to wear in the eighties! Granted, I don’t have children,but if I did I would also endorse the ‘ole right of groundings and spankings, but if you really do think about it, it’s a fad and it will go away. Personally, I like the hip huggers and low waistline on ladies, but I guess that’s irresponsible and immoral to some. In conclusion…I could live without the sagging, especially on young kids.

By Charlie

September 26, 2005 9:17 AM | Link to this

I was a high-school teacher last year, and I always wanted to encourage some of the bigger male students who didn’t sag to jerk some of these guys pants down the last 8 inches to the ground to hopefully embarrass them. And while I don’t think it should be illegal (unless it is indecent exposure), I think schools and businesses have a right to enforce their standards on students/customers!

By Lindsay Rose

September 27, 2005 8:53 PM | Link to this

My dad never had thick glasses or a flat top… he was studly… and as you said about fashions changing with age—that should also go with acceptance changing with age…fashions change and so do people.. stop being stuck in the 60’s and lighten up! America is about diversity—so stop being so uptight and enjoy life and all of the differnces that we have the priviledge to experience! Ok I’m going to go shave my head now and dye it purple (sarcasm)

By Steve

September 28, 2005 2:35 PM | Link to this

Obviously my daugter and i differ on the piercing and tattoos but i like for her to stand her ground too. Thanks Lindsay! By the way, no check this week. ILY Dad

By dekalb-rez

September 29, 2005 11:12 AM | Link to this

re: sagging pants. stopped at a stop light last night, i watched a young man walking up lawrenceville highway at I-285 whose pants were not just sagging but would be considered “down.” he held on to the front up with just one hand but the back sagged down below his butt, exposing the entire backside of his boxer shorts. i don’t consider this “making a statement,” rather i think it is just plain bad behavior. i suppose we have to pass laws in hope that people will behave themselves.

By M2C

September 29, 2005 1:22 PM | Link to this

RE: Saggy pants, pick your battles people. My son is white, 17 and likes to wearsemi-saggy pants (just 2 inches of boxers showing) But in my presence a shirt must cover the boxer or I pull them down. He accepts and respects this. He is also planning a military career so I’m sure the saggy phase will end when basic training begins. Tip for parents of saggers and droopers: buy them only white boxers and dye them bright pink or make them yourself out of wool or barbie material, that just might raise the pants or at least an eyebrow or two. Take lots of pictures to show to your grandchildren so that when you kid complains that junior/sissy wants to where their underwhere on their head as a hat, you can say “Welcome to parenting!”

By Mike

September 30, 2005 4:43 AM | Link to this

IT WAS A JOKE GUYS. ITS NOT REALLY A LAW

By David

October 3, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this

so what? my cousin wears saggy pants and they even fall down sometimes. nice bunny boxers cos

By jennifer

October 3, 2005 2:17 PM | Link to this

You know, I just have better things to worry about than how far someone’s pants are sagging.

Even though I may not personally like it, who am I to tell them they can’t do it? It’s really not hurting anyone other than the wearer if they commit a crime (so sayeth Det. Rose).

By Alex

October 5, 2005 7:55 AM | Link to this

I have just read 50% of the comments so I heard both sides of the story..I am doing a research report on sagging pants and I honestly think its degrading people should have enough respect for themselves not to let their pants droop Im not for a law cuz we will have a lot of angry people here but Ill go for tongue piercings instead anyday !!