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Fashion Police: Flint Cracks Down on Sagging

Some people call it a fad. But for the city of Flint, Mich., that urban style known as 'sagging' is now a criminal offense.

Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jul 18, 2008 | Updated: 9:16  a.m. ET Jul 18, 2008

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  • Posted By: UFscholar @ 09/30/2008 3:42:16 PM

    Comment: Responding to flonnlagh:
    Since you feel it is appropriate to distinguish all urban people as African American I feel that it is necessary to educate you. "Urban" people are named so because of the distinct highly populated areas in cities in which they live. The modern construction of the term urban referring to black or African American popular culture is indeed a fallacy! Furthermore, urban populations: city dwellers include Caucasians, Asians, Hispanics; a wide variation of people. Please do not let YOUR "dreary and intellectually challenged life" manifest as IGNORANCE! Also, for your edification all African Americans are not "urban". Of those who are many of them wear well fitted clothing, and I might add my people look phenomenal! I hope you can now resume your more productive life.
    On another note: I am not a supporter of the "saggy pants" trend, however I feel that our society is taking the law too far to label a personal decision as indecent exposure (regardless of how much of boxers is showing). Furthermore, I feel that this is a biased decision and has clear influence by men who make many decisions in this country. For example a woman can wear tight clothing, shirts with V-neck to her belly button, pants that reveal thongs (or no undergarment at all) and gets ogled maybe even rewarded. Is excess cleavage and stripper like clothing not indecent exposure as well....?
    I guess that doesn't fall under the banned "urban" segment just yet.

  • Posted By: opinionateit! @ 08/25/2008 9:44:13 PM

    Comment: I'm a 40yo hipster and keep up with most of the latest fashions but this is just stupid! I see these idiots walking around takin a step,tugin on their pants,takin a step,tugin on their pants what a pain in the ass and a long way to go for fashion.I laughed at the idiots in the eights wearing those stupid tight ass biker shorts and I laugh at these idiots now pulling their pants up every 2 seconds.Oh, and *** the ACLU I'm gay and socially liberal and they can still bit my ass!

  • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 08/18/2008 6:43:48 PM

    Comment: Hm, I have no problem with this, I don't really like looking at other people's underwear.

    What's next, skip the pants altogether and run around in your skid-marked fruit-of-the-looms?? The line must be drawn somewhere.

  • Posted By: fionnlagh @ 08/18/2008 1:17:41 AM

    Comment: If the only thing from which Urban, African Americans derive their happiness is showing the rest of the population their undergarments then their lives must indeed must lead a dull, dreary, and intellectually challenged life. In which case I say, whine until your heart is content. The rest of can get back to our more productive lives. This town probably grew tired of the urban population promoting a fashion style which glorifies prison atire.

  • Posted By: NewsWeekUBetterNotSellMyEmailAddressOrIWillCutU @ 07/23/2008 9:54:21 AM

    Comment: So... This is from the same country that preaches to Islamic cultures that it's wrong to have women wear Burqas (Burkhas) But now, grown people can't wear pants without belts or show there boxers or thongs or what ever...

    What's next... You better have your shirt tucked in???

    Plumbers and cable guys... you better watch your back! Dick is watching you Butts!

  • Posted By: NewsWeekUBetterNotSellMyEmailAddressOrIWillCutU @ 07/23/2008 9:52:19 AM

    Comment: So... This is from the same country that preaches to Islamic cultures that it's wrong to have women wear Burqa (Burkha) But now, grown people can't wear pants without belts or show there boxers or thongs or what ever...

    Plumber and cable guys... you better watch your back! Dick is on watching your Butt! HA!

  • Posted By: LolaMines @ 07/22/2008 11:03:31 AM

    Comment: how stupid why are they doing that why cant people wear what they want what next are they going to banned black people from that area too

  • Posted By: LolaMines @ 07/22/2008 11:00:24 AM

    Comment: they should be focused on other things who cares about sagging pants thats like telling someone what color and type of underwear to wear and why are they getting on that maybe because its a urban thing they dont want black people to be happy.they dont have anything better to do

  • Posted By: observer101 @ 07/21/2008 7:32:06 PM

    Comment: Probably some liberal parents were offended because their children dress like this...So they assume we all should dress as THEY see fit...Liberal parents pay liberal lawyer which caused liberal law...Watch out you could be next!!

  • Posted By: TheVigil @ 07/21/2008 2:02:13 PM

    Comment: Just for what it's worth, regardless of whether or not sagging is a crime, I absolutely and firmly believe that jail time for these kids is going to do a thing to clean up the streets.

    People think that if someone gets put in jail they learn to act right and respect American values. But, no. What people really learn in American jail is that violence is okay, because the guards will beat people with willful abandon - and often they learn tricks from the career criminals they're housed with that just send them down a deeper path of criminality. Six months to a year of jail time isn't necessarily "hard time", but in Flint, I bet it's far from easy. My guess is that kids who were just rebellious or part of the hip-hop subculture going *in* to jail are going to assimilate into jail life, with prison gangs and entrenched hate for mainstream society, and come out way more messed up than when they went in.

  • Posted By: MaxConserve @ 07/21/2008 11:02:51 AM

    Comment: Someone explain to me how wearing your pants halfway down your butt is a fashion thing. I always thought they were too poor to buy a belt, might I suggest a piece of rope like Jethro wore. By the way, don't some men in prison wear their pants low in order to show that they are someone's girfriend. What does that say for all of these people that do that in the street.

  • Posted By: trimm25 @ 07/21/2008 7:54:45 AM

    Comment: I think people that were sagging pants basically look retarded, but that doesn't change the fact that there not breaking any laws. Police should have more important things to worry about than being fashion police.

  • Posted By: mr. t @ 07/21/2008 1:33:01 AM

    Comment: I UNDERSTAND THAT PANTS SAGGIN GETS OUT OF HAND BUT YALL WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG THING. ITS PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO POSE A THREAT AND THEY COME TO WORK EVERYDAY WEARING A SUIT AND TIE. YOU SEE IM FROM ATLANTA AND SAGGIN IS A COMMON TRAIT THAT EVERYBODY HAS BECAUSE HOW THINGS WERE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. TRUST ME MY MOM TRIED TO PUT ME IN SOME NICE CLOTHES BUT KIDS AT SCHOOL WOULD ACT SIMPLE AND MAKE YOU FEEL WORTHLESS. WEARING NICE CLOTHES IS GREAT DONT GET ME WRONG BUT WHEN SOMETHING SMALL LIKE THAT COULD HAVE A OUTCOME SUCH AS A HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING IS IN EFFECT YOU DONT WANT TO BE LOOKED AS THE OUTSIDER. IF YOU LOOKED DIFFERENT THEN YOU WERE POSED AS A THREAT. I STARTED TO DRESS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AS SOON AS I ENTERED HIGH SCHOOL. PEOPLE LIKE THAT NEED TO STOP CRITICIZING SO MUCH AND TAKE A WALK THROUGH A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS TO FEEL WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE THAT KID WHO IS DIFFERENT.

  • Posted By: Sheba_21069@yahoo.com @ 07/21/2008 12:42:53 AM

    Comment: ok this is for equalzierjane.....who care what race you are...all races are doing it. Also if your sons think that "sagging" is "ghetto" they need to go back to school and do some reasearch on what "ghetto" really is. its not a person or how a persons dresses, its poverity.... a place were lower class people live not by choice but its the only way. It dosent mean they are bad people they just got stuck in hard times. You say ghetto like its used only for blacks, let me tell you something poverity happens to many races, and areas so if you wanna say ghetto as a black thing why not have your sons say they want to be "rednecks" they were thier pants pretty low as well! By the way i'm white hehe..............Grow up!!!!!! who care what race you are.

  • Posted By: Words? @ 07/21/2008 12:32:34 AM

    Comment: This only makes me question justice and the formation of laws that grants it. The police cheif's logic behind this intrigues me.

  • Posted By: Sheba_21069@yahoo.com @ 07/21/2008 12:31:11 AM

    Comment: To take away somones right to dress the way they want should be the crime. How free is america if they are telling us what to do about everyting in our lives. I see it this way...I pay taxes, i'm the only one buying my chilrens cloths, and at te end of the day i swear i'm th parent to that child. So who is the government to tell my children how to dress. Yes if they want to provide the cloths for my children (which they wont) then i can see changing. Yes the youth should "pull it up" whe they are at certin areas like church or school. Other then that if thier actual butt is not hanging out then let them be. I agree with LouieE about the issuse with the times changing and the cloths changing with it. . 20 years from now when the "saggers" are older the youth then might do or wear something that they think is in appropate. Think back when you were young...what did you do or wear that others though was not acceptiable you still did it because it was your style. Only thing i can say is try and keep a open mind about everything and everone.

  • Posted By: LouieB @ 07/20/2008 11:45:54 PM

    Comment: Hummm??? style will always change through history. what might have seen obscene in the 50's with how the youth dressed is the same as now. I have sagged when I was young but my style of how I present myself today is different, and I have grown to dress nice. I think that youth will be youth and fashion will always have its times. So to prosecute someone how they present them self is wrong, sure I don???t like seeing it myself but I don???t like seeing a guy wear tight jeans either but that???s their choice as an American. I would say that you can???t treat one city/town with that law it???s not fair for them every one should be treated equal, that???s saying one town will make a law that you can???t wear flip-flops. I think it???s a stupid law, it is a waste of time and breath. focus on real criminals and have the law enforcement study more time on other problems. Let the parents deicide how they let their children be! And how people dress (sagging or not sagging) is not going to change how they act, a punk will be a punk. And I wouldn???t be so stereotypical.

  • Posted By: LouieB @ 07/20/2008 11:45:19 PM

    Comment: Hummm??? style will always change through history. what might have seen obscene in the 50's with how the youth dressed is the same as now. I have sagged when I was young but my style of how I present myself today is different, and I have grown to dress nice. I think that youth will be youth and fashion will always have its times. So to prosecute someone how they present them self is wrong, sure I don???t like seeing it myself but I don???t like seeing a guy wear tight jeans either but that???s their choice as an American. I would say that you can???t treat one city/town with that law it???s not fair for them every one should be treated equal, that???s saying one town will make a law that you can???t wear flip-flops. I think it???s a stupid law, it is a waste of time and breath. focus on real criminals and have the law enforcement study more time on other problems. Let the parents deicide how they let their children be! And how people dress (sagging or not sagging) is not going to change how they act, a punk will be a punk. And I wouldn???t be so stereotypical.

  • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 07/20/2008 10:00:17 PM

    Comment: "... the jeans of popular designers like Tommy Hilfiger were made too narrow for the black male body, says Professor Boyd of USC."

    Oh my god, what a load!

  • Posted By: observer101 @ 07/20/2008 9:48:14 PM

    Comment: What? Ban sagging?..Its so cool to see saggers try to run from the law...One hand on the pants, the other trying to keep their crooked ball cap on..Its hilarious..Even more funny when they run right out of their shoes they cant seem to tie either...They are so cool showing the LAX runway skid marks on the ass end of the underwear. Or watching them walk like penguins, bow legged and stupid, pulling their pants up every five steps like a toddler holding up a wet diaper...It makes me feel good to see that I can dress myself and they cant...But I would kindly extend my belt to them if asked..Maybe even demonsrate how it works.

  • Posted By: lrgvanman @ 07/20/2008 8:34:40 PM

    Comment: Now what? Now we have to be tolerant of slob dressing, too?

  • Posted By: theoldguy @ 07/20/2008 6:21:18 PM

    Comment: If a sagger came to me for a job he sure as hell would not get it with his ass hanging out. but now if a female came in for a job with her boobs hanging out is she a sagger I don't want to see some guys ass hanging it's not a thing of beauty ,but a womens boobs are what????

  • Posted By: blondelogic @ 07/20/2008 2:16:41 PM

    Comment: I dunno. I feel a little threatened when I stop at an intersection and am surrounded by men with their pants down, holding their privates, grunting and groaning. Of course, I'm a woman who doesn't worship our national obsession with pleasing the male sex drive, either...

  • Posted By: blondelogic @ 07/20/2008 2:14:40 PM

    Comment: I dunno. I feel a little threatened when I stop at an intersection and am surrounded by men with their pants down, holding their privates. Of course, I'm a woman who doesn't worship our national obsession with pleasing the male sex drive, either...

  • Posted By: book134 @ 07/20/2008 5:18:20 AM

    Comment: This really is just another stupid fad which will die out sooner or later. Passing silly & puritanical laws like they did in Flint is unnecessary oppression of a segment of the public. Don't they have more serious issues to consider than the way some people dress?

  • Posted By: roughnecking @ 07/20/2008 1:39:30 AM

    Comment: Oh by the way where in the hell race got into this because white ,black pink and every kind of color do this sagging so I would say it's not racial it's about growing up and quit acting like a punk.

  • Posted By: roughnecking @ 07/20/2008 1:29:17 AM

    Comment: Punks wear there pants around thier a## If you want to advertise your a punk wear a sign I don't want to see your a## to know this. Go David Go

  • Posted By: roughnecking @ 07/20/2008 1:27:18 AM

    Comment: I agree with David and the others pull up your pants and grow up. That is what sagging represents that you want to be a gang member or a worthlees piece of crap.
    Fish

  • Posted By: jonnieboy @ 07/20/2008 12:43:08 AM

    Comment: You guys are stupid. It's a constitutional right to be able to freely express yourself. Although I would not choose this as a personal style, I find nothing offensive about underwear showing. Why don't we put our efforts into solving world hunger or curing cancer? What a waste of effort.

  • Posted By: nohobohos1 @ 07/19/2008 4:52:30 PM

    Comment: True story. An acquaintance of mine has an Uncle who was a prison guard. When his Uncle observed the "sagging" trend, he was shocked. Because not only do they take your belt in jail, but the the lower you wore your pants in the prison culture was also a way of denoting that the sagger took it up the ---.
    I laughed, because so much emulating of the prison culture is supposed to be macho.

  • Posted By: equalzierjane @ 07/19/2008 3:53:36 PM

    Comment: i love this law! i live in flint , i am white and my two oldest sons sag like no tomorrow , they want to be ghetto and have said so thats why they do it. get over it people it doesnt look respectible and will never get you anything good in life to look that way. tie your dam pants up with a shoe string if ya have too. mabey it will get the point across to my kids that me and their father have been trying to get across to them for a year now.

  • Posted By: equalzierjane @ 07/19/2008 3:50:29 PM

    Comment: wow this cracks me up......... all these comments about how its singling people out whatever.... i live in flint , i am white, i have 4 sons....... my two oldest are my step kids who grew up in the ghetto. their father and myself have been telling them to pull up their pants since they have come to live with us. i am greatful for this law. mabey it will get the point across to them that their father and i have been trying to pound in their heads for a year now. They simply wear their pants like that to be like rappers and gang members that they have grown up looking up to! they have said this themselves and its just one of the many ways they try to immulate them. im very afraid that they are going down the same road. so i think this law is a good thing. teaches my kids to get respect and give respect you have to look respectable.... and no offense to all those who do it, but saggy pants just look sloppy, stupid, and thuggish.

    • Posted By: Words? @ 07/21/2008 12:22:22 AM

      Comment: I respect your objective for raising your sons, but not being able to sag their pants will not prevent them from going down the wrong path. It will only give them motivation to express themselves negatively in some other way.

    • Posted By: Words? @ 07/21/2008 12:21:21 AM

      Comment: I respect your objective for raising your sons, but not being able to sag their pants will not prevent them from going down the wrong path. It will only give them motivation to express themselves negatively in some other way.

  • Posted By: DTWgirl @ 07/19/2008 3:47:33 PM

    Comment: The saggers bug me because they look silly but I think he has gone too far. Is he going to start arresting women for showing cleavage or wearing shorts that show the bottoms of their butt-cheeks? Probably not, so it seems that he has unfairly targeted this group of individuals. The roots of this fashion trend aren't simply from hip-hop, but he would have a hard time proving that any of them are purposely supporting gang or prison culture by their fashion choices. Why not just round up all of the guys/girls with jailhouse tats? This is silly and he is headed for legal trouble...........

  • Posted By: DTWgirl @ 07/19/2008 3:44:14 PM

    Comment: I don't like the "saggers" because it looks silly to me, but I think he is probably going too far. Is he going to arrest women who wear shorts that are too short or show too much cleavage? I'm pretty sure he isn't, so it seems as if he has unfairly targeted a particular group and that spells trouble for him legally. All of these clowns aren't smart enough to analyze the roots from which this style of dress evolved (and it isn't just hip-hop), so he can't use that as the reason that he thinks it is a problem.........

  • Posted By: TrendyWhity @ 07/19/2008 2:25:43 PM

    Comment: I thought it was Eminem who started it all and isn't he white?

  • Posted By: uglylastslonger @ 07/19/2008 12:19:29 PM

    Comment: why is the person in the illustration white? he should be black. it wasn't white men that started this silly fashion, it was black in the ghetto throughout our major cities. come on now mr illustrator, you're a racist as far as i see it.

    uglylastslongerdotcom

  • Posted By: uglylastslonger @ 07/19/2008 12:15:01 PM

    Comment: why is that a white boy in the illustration? It should be a black. I've never seen white kids with saggy pants, only blacks. The illustrator is a racist.

    uglylastslongerdotcom

  • Posted By: Flintexpats @ 07/19/2008 11:35:42 AM

    Comment: With all the problems Flint has, baggy pants seems pretty trivial. Just read Flint Expatriates to get a sense of the issues facing what was once The Vehicle City.
    www.flintexpats.com

  • Posted By: Flintexpats @ 07/19/2008 11:33:15 AM

    Comment: With all that's happened to Flint in the past 20 years, baggy pants are the least of the city's many worries. For a look at what's happening in Flint, look no further than Flint Expatriates.
    www.flintexpats.com

  • Posted By: bduke52 @ 07/19/2008 10:05:42 AM

    Comment: I don't know the writer, but I grew up in Flint. Sagging is not just showing a disrespect for authority(although that disrespect may explain many of the problems rife in Flint today), but it is an emulation of gang style, ie. criminal activity. Momma couldn't afford to buy me clothes? Where's Daddy? Or maybe get a job and buy your own clothes that fit. Again, the style isn't about "showing what you got", it's gang wannabe.

  • Posted By: bduke52 @ 07/19/2008 9:57:22 AM

    Comment: I don't know the writer, but I grew up in Flint. The style is not just a "disrespect for authority" but an emulation of a gangster lifestyle, ie criminal activity. Also, how does a black police officer profile his own race? I think the profile comes from the style of dress, oft worn by gang members.

  • Posted By: techresmgt @ 07/19/2008 9:39:10 AM

    Comment: Let's see how many women this guy orders arrested for their 'hanging out' everything they own. There will not be one woman arrested.

  • Posted By: techresmgt @ 07/19/2008 9:37:29 AM

    Comment: Patently sexist attitude about this trend. Women go to work, play, on the street, with it ALL hanging out and nobody blinks. What up with this? Men better wake up; all the things women have accused men of being sexist and double standard about for the last 30 years, they NOW embrace. They are just trying to confuse and further manipulate men. As for this trend, there is no explanation other than stupidity and double standards by those they have been elected to apply the laws EVENLY.

  • Posted By: archmsu @ 07/19/2008 2:19:13 AM

    Comment: Flint? That's still considered a town? I thought it was a wasteland..............

  • Posted By: wallacexj9000 @ 07/19/2008 12:24:48 AM

    Comment: THank GOD? really, there isn't enough real problems in the world that you need to associate your god with one cops attack on cival rights? wow. No one wants to look at any of you stupid ignorant bastards either- but we live in the USA dipshits- you can dress as you please. these kids are covered and as goofy as it looks, its legal. so if i want to wear my Underware on my head and look silly- my choice, not illigal, why dont we start dealing with some real problems? DUM-AS*

  • Posted By: captcando @ 07/19/2008 12:23:24 AM

    Comment: All the people who wear this style are losers... It's the style of losers, prisoners, and criminals. Sounds like probable cause to me. If some idiot wants to call this racial profiling then they are saying all of that race are losers???? .... wear a belt, get an education and a job.

    • Posted By: bduke52 @ 07/19/2008 10:08:54 AM

      Comment: Couldn"t agree more.

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/18/2008 11:21:35 PM

    Comment: IMO, no man looks good in these most unflattering saggy jeans. Not even Brad Pitt.

  • Posted By: raine264 @ 07/18/2008 9:27:33 PM

    Comment: THANK-GOD.................... WHEN ME OR MY FAMILY IS OUT ON THE TOWN I DO NOT WANT TO SEE YOUR
    FU**ING UNDERWARE THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED UNDERWARE DUM-AS* IF THIS NEEDS TO B EXPLAIN TO YOU

  • Posted By: raine264 @ 07/18/2008 9:22:56 PM

    Comment: thank-GOD im 44 yrs old when i go out in puplic i dont want to see anybody underware thats why its call underware

  • Posted By: TheVigil @ 07/18/2008 9:01:18 PM

    Comment: By the way, jailing saggers won't do a thing. People act like there aren't gangs and murders in prison. 30 days to six months of jail time in a jail around Flint may not be the hardest of hard time, but I bet it's enough to join a prison gang, get raped, get abused, and come out way more *** up than when you went in. Kids who are just going into jail wanting to be cool and dress like rappers are going to be put with violent armed robbery suspects, lifetime thugs, and maybe murderers. People act like jail "cures" ***. It doesn't. Jail is MESSED UP, anywhere you go.

  • Posted By: saggers gone wild @ 07/18/2008 8:48:00 PM

    Comment: So somehow....MAGICALLY our society is going to improve because people are not wearign baggy jeans anymore? You really believe that? You cannot say it's "Indecent exposure" because many saggers wear basketball shorts under their pants......they also wear long t-shirts........this style has been around for about 20 years.....and you're spending a Friday night debating it? How do YOU dress? How DID you dress in high school? Where is YOUR yearbook photo? Also, please join SAGGERS GONE WILD (DOT) COM...Hot muscle guys in saggy pants 24/7

  • Posted By: saggers gone wild @ 07/18/2008 8:43:49 PM

    Comment: So you're supposed to dress as if you're going to a job interview 24 hours a day? How do you know saggers want a white collar job? Maybe they want to work as a mechanic or in another blue collar profession....they probably make more than you!

  • Posted By: TheVigil @ 07/18/2008 8:18:34 PM

    Comment: My mom had a very un-PC but earthy response response to this:

    "Do you know anything about Flint? It's an armpit. I can't understand why they don't all leave and have a better life somewhere else. The people I saw in the black neighborhoods just scared me. They were huddled around fires burning in their front yards."

    My guess is that that's because a lot of them can't afford heating. I would absolutely bet there are poor white neighborhoods around there too doing the same thing, so I don't think it speaks to race, just poverty. Flint's been *** up since the late '60s, she said. It needs economic help or "bulldozing", in her words.

    I can say for sure she didn't mean bulldozing anyone's home, just that things were so bad that they really could have a better life almost anywhere in Michigan at this point, and that poverty had reduced that town almost beyond habitability. And I can sympathize in a weird way, because the kind of unemployment situation that's producing something like this isn't good for anybody.

    We really need to transition our auto workers into some more profitable sectors until Motown gets its act together, if ever.

  • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 6:56:43 PM

    Comment: WHEN the illegals came to my ancestors land! i remained proud of my people!!!! We were not racists! When they killed all of our buffulo to kill my people!! we remained strong! when my grandfathers scalped people that were trying to kill us i was proud!!!!! stand stong real americans!! For when america is broke, with nothing let to offer again' all the knuckle dragging saggers will cry for freedom of their own countries!!! RED CLOUD

  • Posted By: Jeech @ 07/18/2008 6:15:45 PM

    Comment: "When the Nazis came for the communists,
    I remained silent;
    I was not a communist.

    When they locked up the social democrats,
    I remained silent;
    I was not a social democrat.


    When they came for the trade unionists,
    I did not speak out;
    I was not a trade unionist.


    When they came for the Jews,
    I remained silent;
    I wasn't a Jew.

    Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892???1984)
    When they came for me,
    there was no one left to speak out."

    • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 07/20/2008 10:04:40 PM

      Comment: Thanks Jeech, I wasn't aware of this beautiful thought.

    • Posted By: TheVigil @ 07/18/2008 8:35:32 PM

      Comment: Wow. That's just...wow. Never seen a better commentary on the police state.

    • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 6:31:07 PM

      Comment: STOP PULLING THE RACE CARD,,BUT IF THATS ALL YA HAVE TOO CLING TOO' WELL I QUESS THAT ALL YOU HAVE,,,BLAME SOMEONE ELSE FOR YOUR PROBLEMS,,,OOOOOOH WAIT HERE'S SOME MORE OF MY HARD WORKING AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS, SO YOU CAN FEEL BETTER ABOUT RACISIM, I AM AN AMERICAM INDIAN!!!WHO REALLY LOST IN THE RACE CARD ISSUE....

    • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 6:25:49 PM

      Comment: ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST COPIED IS(REV. JEROMIAH/JESSIE/SHAPTON!! NOW TELL ME WHO IS RACIST! NOT DON IMIS,,,,I TELL YA THAT MUCH...

    • Posted By: jasmith2002 @ 07/18/2008 6:24:58 PM

      Comment: THIS WAS THE BEST COMMENT I'VE READ THUS FAR!

  • Posted By: ewrgrgewg @ 07/18/2008 6:10:33 PM

    Comment: It's all about pride. When someone wears a suit to work they are prideful of their position and income. When someone wears nice clothes to a place of worship they are prideful of their God and religion. When someone wears a designer gown to a concert or play they are prideful of their money and taste. When someone wears some designer clothes to school they are prideful of their parent???s money and their own taste. When someone can???t afford nice clothes they are either: humble, ashamed of themselves, or envious of others.

    When a person ???sags??? they are prideful of their body and sexuality. They think, perhaps subconsciously, that everyone else want???s to get in their pants. Of course it is not true, but I think that???s what they are proud of. People don???t like feeling ashamed of themselves or envious of others. Internal humbleness is seen as weakness by other people. These people want to feel prideful of themselves for some reason. If they have a good body, that???s something they can be proud of. This is just a style, yes. But why are styles popular? I think styles serve some deeper emotional need. Styles indicate you fit into a social group???s hierarchy. There???s no one social hierarchy. People usually choose a social hierarchy in which they believe they can compete most successfully. If you ???sag??? you want to move up the social hierarchy of people who value body and sex above all else. It???s a style of dress which people like because of the way it makes them think about themselves. They feel successful in their chosen social hierarchy.

    Therefore, if you want to stop ???sagging???, the most effective way is not to make it illegal! The most effective way to stop ???sagging??? is to help these young men build something to be proud of ~besides, only, their bodies and sexuality. Then, they will choose to compete in a different social hierarchy.

  • Posted By: Tacocat27 @ 07/18/2008 6:08:01 PM

    Comment: Their ass is not hanging out, if it was I think there would actually be merit to this law. They are wearing boxers, you know that piece of fabric men buy that covers all their "bits and pieces" down there. We're attacking sagging and still women are allowed to dress akin to prostitutes in public? I've seen teenage girls wear less clothing than saggers! This is absolutely ridiculous and offensive to everthing freedom in America stands for....and don't get me started on the people claiming its unhygenic! THEY ARE WEARING BOXERS, unless your so filthy that your funk has the power to portrude through your underwear, how is it unhygenic? How is it any different than a woman wearing a mini skirt to the grocery store? People are so judgemental these days, just because you aren't a slave to the trend doesn't mean you have the right to prevent others from following it. Leave it to parents to critique their childs wardrobe, but to go to the extreme to make it illegal...well that just makes me ashamed to claim I live in a country that allows supposed "freedom of expression."

    • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 6:16:14 PM

      Comment: EVERYONE WHO DISSAGREES WHIT THE LAW MUST BE A PART OF THIS ISSUE,,,MEANING YOU. OK TELL ME YOU THINK ITS GREAT WHEN YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE OUT IN PUBLIC,AND YOU SEE A DUMBASS PULLING AT HIS PUDD WITH HIS DIRTY BOXERS HANGING OUT....WHAT THE F--K IS WRONG WITH YOU AND EVERYONE WHO THINKS THIS ATTIRE IS GOOD TOO LOOK AT....THAT MY QUESTION!

      • Posted By: TheVigil @ 07/18/2008 9:17:59 PM

        Comment: I see something I disagree with, go, "That's dumb," and then I go get on with my life. You see something you disagree with and start a moral panic about the degradation of society.

        You want to make a difference, go clean up the jails. Fix poverty. Make schools where they can go and actually learn their way into a job someday...

        • Posted By: bduke52 @ 07/19/2008 10:16:04 AM

          Comment: It's not the schools. You have to want to learn, regardless of the school. It's the parents instilling in their children values, etc. that will improve things, give them esteem and pride in their accomplishments.

      • Posted By: Tacocat27 @ 07/18/2008 6:49:23 PM

        Comment: What the heck is wrong with you that you think you have the right to tell everybody how to dress? Just because you don't like something we all must agree with you? How very open-minded of you. I never said I found this fashion trend attractive, far from it, but thats beside the point. Sagging pants doesn't affect your life or mine in any manner, its not indecent exposure by any means. Oh and you see the capslock key over there in the left hand side of your keyboard...all you have to do is click it and then POOF you sound less like a ranting lunatic :)

        • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 6:59:29 PM

          Comment: THANKS FOR THE INFO MEXICO!

          • Posted By: Tacocat27 @ 07/18/2008 7:09:58 PM

            Comment: you're very welcome, I'm always willing to help out illogical trolls

            I'll consider it my good deed for the day

  • Posted By: sonshyne @ 07/18/2008 6:02:40 PM

    Comment: what's the difference between seeing the form of a butt through boxers and being able to see the form of breasts through shirts? absolutely nothing. Sagging pants is one of the least offensive things i see people wearing in public these days....

    On another note, America's laws are getting stupid. The government is overstepping its authority when it tells you how to dress in public and to not play with your Iphone while crossing a street in New York. Are you an idiot for getting hit by a car on a street because you were texting instead of watching where you were walking? Yes. Are you an idiot for sagging your pants so everyone can see your boxers? Possibly, but that depends on the person. The point is, you can't make laws to make people not be idiots, they're just going to have to learn that on their own. We already have indecent exposure. Let's just keep the law as it is, no bare asses and it's all legit.

  • Posted By: Jeech @ 07/18/2008 5:46:40 PM

    Comment: I personally abhor the sagging - I think it is childish, immature, and just not good to look at....but if you're going to let the KKK demonstrate in this country, why stop people from dressing the way the want?

    • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 5:51:58 PM

      Comment: CAUSE WHEN YA WALK IN GROCERY STORES,ITS ABOUT CLEANLYNESS' ITS A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS,,BUT IF THE PLACE SMELLS LIKE ASS,,WELL THAT JUST MIGHT COST THE STORES CUSTOMERS...WAKE UP DUDE..THE LOOK IS NOT FIT FOR PUBLIC! CLEAN IT UP AMERICA!!!

  • Posted By: xookoful@bugmenot.com @ 07/18/2008 5:43:06 PM

    Comment: I'll bet Albert Einstein's pants were above his ass and not below it! What can we say of those who keep their pants below their ass? Any Einsteins in that group? Not even a snowball's chance in hell. You are correct. Great minds keep their pants above their ass! Those w/ pants below their ass, not-so-great minds.

    • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 5:45:22 PM

      Comment: FREAKIN
      GREAT BRO!!!

  • Posted By: urohw @ 07/18/2008 5:36:50 PM

    Comment: Ooooo, I don't like how you dress. Ooooooo we all need uniforms to wear in public. Oooooo, my opinion counts and your isn't worth anything. Want a perfect example of why you are all wrong? Albert Einstein. Dressed like a slob, didn't keep his hair neat, looked like he was homeless. Only one of the great MINDS of all time. Judge people by the way they look, and you will be wrong.

    • Posted By: jasmith2002 @ 07/18/2008 6:27:49 PM

      Comment: A brilliant perspective!

  • Posted By: xookoful@bugmenot.com @ 07/18/2008 5:32:03 PM

    Comment: Just kill 'em all; kill 'em all. Like ducks on a pond.

  • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 5:28:54 PM

    Comment: MAYBE BAROCK OBAMMA CAN CONVINCE THE YOUTH IN THE USA, ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!! OF BOXERS HA HA!!!!!

  • Posted By: tintuctuan @ 07/18/2008 5:24:24 PM

    Comment: You dont' see engineers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc. dress like that, and why is that? I see people who dress like that and I am like: "what the hell?" You know what, it is a public nuisance. I am glad somebody has the gut to do something about it.

  • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 5:22:30 PM

    Comment: DONT JUST BEAT ON FLINT MICHIGANS DOOR... HEY DOWN HERE IN BOCA RATON FLA THE SAME LAW APPLIES,,I HOPE ITS A NATIONAL SWEEP..CLEAN IT UP AMERICA....NO ONE LIKE TO SMELL THE A--CRACK OF SOMEONE ELSE!!!

  • Posted By: urohw @ 07/18/2008 5:21:36 PM

    Comment: Wow, I can't believe that we even have to have this converstaion in AMERICA, you remember, the land of the free. Free to express ourselves in any way which is not offensive to others. If a pair of boxer shorts offends you, you have bigger problems than men wearing their pants too low. BTW, I'm a 45 yo white male, and I remember that when I was young we had fashion issues with the "adults". Funny, I turned out ok. First you judge people on their appearance, what will it be next, the color of their skin, religion, sex? Should we just ban everyone who isn't just like you. Shoot me first PLEASE.

  • Posted By: tintuctuan @ 07/18/2008 5:20:56 PM

    Comment: Something that has been around for a long time does not mean that it's okay. Slavery existed for thousand of years until the '60 the US made it right for the people. I personally think they are a bunch of lazy people and nothing good come out of those people.

  • Posted By: tintuctuan @ 07/18/2008 5:18:17 PM

    Comment: Something that has been around for a long time does not mean that it's okay. Slavery existed for thousand of years until the '60 the US made it right for the people. I personally think they are a bunch of lazy people and nothing good come out of those people.

  • Posted By: urohw @ 07/18/2008 5:14:29 PM

    Comment: While we're at it can we outlaw other modes of dress that offend. If you don't dress hot, you should be arrested and forced to become more hip. Maybe we should go back to the old days when you couldn't show anything. Or arrest people for dressing slovenly. Or should we mandate that everyone MUST dress as sexy as possible. Women should wear Burka's. And if you don't, it's the dunking tank for you.

  • Posted By: raynero @ 07/18/2008 5:13:25 PM

    Comment: After having read your article on the intent of the city of Flint, MI to make "sagging" a criminal offense, I could not resist commenting. Granted, I believe that every urban city of America has issues more important that the fashion practice of "sagging". However, "sagging", no matter its origin is personally demeaning to men of color and offensive not only to White America, but to people of all cultures and etnicity. What statement are we making to African-American culture? Are we saying that we are intent on exposing ourselves in public at any cost? Are we willing to pay the price of unwarranted police harassment over the issue of "sagging"? Is jail time, a fine, loss of employment worth the price of a belt? Are we calculating the cost of our insistence of perpetuating a fashion that degades and dismisses us a Black men? "Sagging" exposes our underwear and behinds (Butts). I challenge all men of color or others that believe "sagging" is okay to check our love of self. Do we continue to dismiss ourselves and bring injustice from an unjust system upon ourselves? By the way, what about our own wives, daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts and female cousins? Do we believe that our propensity to "sagging" brings glory or reproach upon them? Would or do we think its qute for our women to expose thier underwear or butts in public? If we do, then we have no moral compass.

    It is a shame that a city would take such drastic measures to enforce the proper wearing of pants. Would it not be easier for individuals to buy a belt and use it in the right way? Yes, civil rights should not be violated to get young men to pull up their pants. But, how long do we as African-Americans allow the fashions of the world to dictate our cultural, ethical and moral standards? We appear to desire to want to continue slave mentality. Though we are physically free and have freedom of choice, this does not give us license to promote and practice degrading and enslaving habits or fashions. We must be men and women of responsibility and accountability. The system is flawed, but we should not be willing to ignore the extreme consequences of disregarding the system.

    We need to pull our pants up without the assistance of city laws or regulations. We must want to do the right thing.

    • Posted By: bduke52 @ 07/19/2008 10:21:42 AM

      Comment: Excellent response! Unfortunately, those that should see this probably won't.

  • Posted By: 2Chicago @ 07/18/2008 5:13:23 PM

    Comment: Hey they need to focus on the economy. If they arrest people for "sagging" where are they going to house them? The city is lay off police officers and closing the city jail. I do not like that style however, this city is in crisis because I am in Flint. I grew up in Chicago and reside in Virginia. I have to say this is a sad city with nothing in it.

  • Posted By: 2Chicago @ 07/18/2008 5:10:02 PM

    Comment: why don't they try to find a way to get jobs and other economical resources for Flint, Michigan. Where are they going to house the people when they get arrested? They are laying off cops and closing the city jail!!!!!

  • Posted By: finch @ 07/18/2008 5:00:32 PM

    Comment: hey ding-dong they are exposing themsleves and its not a right to dress how ever you wish if you're walking around with you're ass hanging out. what ever happen to decency? and you should know better that the freedom we have has come at a great cost to others so its OK to walk around with you're ass hanging out because someone died for the right of freedom of clothing expression???

    • Posted By: Tweetin @ 07/18/2008 8:28:00 PM

      Comment: I can only assume this was in response to my comment.
      How eloquent of you to call me a ding-dong for disagreeing with you. It certainly proved what a well thought out argument you have on the matter.
      If they're rear ends are showing then by all means that IS exposure and cause for arrest. However I've seen much worse attire than the top of someone's boxers showing. It's not a style I choose to wear, however my personal choices are MINE much like that choice belongs to them. I could care less if it's a way of profiling a specific race or whether you think it looks stupid, and if they choose to wear their clothing and it inhibits their ability to find a decent job, that is their problem and if that was their concern they'd dress according to societal 'norms'. It IS a right to choose your own clothing as much as it is a right to choose your own hairstyle, religon, or whomever you choose to support politically.
      Yeah, you're entirely correct. They fought and sacrificed so that constitutional rights could be taken away because "you don't like it".

  • Posted By: finch @ 07/18/2008 4:58:37 PM

    Comment: hey ding-dong they are exposing themsleves and its not a right to dress how ever you wish if you're walking around with you're ass hanging out. what ever happen to decency? and you should know better that the freedom we have has come at a great cost to others so its OK to walk around with you're ass hanging out because someone died for the right of freedom of clothing expression???

  • Posted By: badmukee @ 07/18/2008 4:54:00 PM

    Comment: Can I just say from a female point-of-view: pull up your pants, guys! Individual morals aside, it's just goofy-looking. That sagging, draggin-in-the-line look is nasty. Basically, if I'm not in a romantic relationship with you, I don't care to see your drawers. Ever. Period. The other day, I saw a young man trying to balance a struggling infant on one hip, holding her (precariously) with one arm while he used the other hand to keep his pants from dropping around his ankles. It was probably one of the funniest AND saddest things I'd seen in a while. I wanted to yell: pull up your pants and for God's sake, watch the baby!

  • Posted By: louie458 @ 07/18/2008 4:52:41 PM

    Comment: Another thing I find funny is that I always thought it was the cops that invented this fad. It would help them catch a perp on the run. How fast can a person run having to hold their pants up? That's be too funny to watch.

  • Posted By: Little Red @ 07/18/2008 4:52:37 PM

    Comment: Sagging, and any other crazy fashion thing, is all about getting attention. Saggers are sure getting a lot of attention with this discussion panel! I'm done posting, I have more important things to do - I have to make sure my daughter's packing the right clothes for her 2-week trip!! :-)

  • Posted By: JeromeTerrible @ 07/18/2008 4:50:50 PM

    Comment: Grammas with ugly Christmas sweaters are offensive. A-holes on Blackberrys at the grocery store are offensive. YOU HAVING ANOTHER UGLY KID IS OFFENSIVE! :-) AMERICA IS OFFENSIVE.

    AND THIS IS OFFENSIVE : SUCK MY BALLLLLLLLLZ cus they saggin too!

    • Posted By: TheVigil @ 07/18/2008 5:44:33 PM

      Comment: I actually laughed my ass off at this. Irreverence is one of the better responses to conformist thinking.

    • Posted By: saggin sucks @ 07/18/2008 5:13:50 PM

      Comment: well jerome, you know' if your jealous of the things other people have, maybe you should act like an american and dress with proper eddicate.that way you can get somewhere in this life..cause lord know they aint be no tuggin in heaven,,(DEAR MAMMA) WHAT A FU-KIN DUMBASS YOU ARE...CLEAN IT UP AND ACT LIKE YOUR SOMEONE OTHER THAN (SUB-HUMAN)

    • Posted By: GoGators#1 @ 07/18/2008 4:55:54 PM

      Comment: That's it JeromeTerrible, go on and show just how ignorant YOU are! Now we all know how all you can do is start lashing out with offensive language. Oh, and as a military man in the Air Force, all I can say is if you find the country which we military defend with our lives is offensive, you are most welcome (and encouraged!) to LEAVE it for those of us who LOVE America.

  • Posted By: aura_bryt @ 07/18/2008 4:48:07 PM

    Comment: there is a time and a place for everything....and most people are not teaching their children to understand this. if you are playing with your friends in a public location fine though i warn you right now when they fall down around your ankles i can and do withhold my right to laugh at you. though this shouldn't be allowed in school churches and other places that decide to have dress codes even some parks have dress codes

  • Posted By: finch @ 07/18/2008 4:44:25 PM

    Comment: this so-called "Sagging" clothing style is nothing more than a blatant dis-reguard of moral conduct! and it should be outlawed! Please..... who wants to see a kid or teenager or for that fact a grown man walking around with his pants down around his knees? its disgusting and disrepectful to others who prefer not to see the underwear of the offender! I cannot believe that it has been allowed to go on for as long as it has I say kudos to the police dept for atleast attempting to crack down on what others seem to ignore! what has the world to when its totally fine if I have to walk behind some one who thinks its just too cute to walk around with their ass hanging out? I wish more states and their city's would do the same and start cracking down on those offensive so-called saggers what a joke! a fad my ass this crap has been around longer than I care to recall and if it is a fad then shouldn't it have long faded by now??

  • Posted By: Tweetin @ 07/18/2008 4:43:43 PM

    Comment: How idiotic. Simply because you may not like a style doesn't mean it should be illegal, regardless of where it came from. People have the RIGHT to dress in whatever manner they wish as long as they're not exposing themselves. Perhaps I have an issue with anyone wearing polyester, maye I should lobby to have people wearing it arrested and fined. Remember that thing called freedom and the constitution that supposedly makes this country such a better place to live?

  • Posted By: maddi08 @ 07/18/2008 4:42:52 PM

    Comment: Jerome sounds like you have issues. Sagging is offensive. FYI: I am not fat and I am not a desk jockey.

  • Posted By: finch @ 07/18/2008 4:42:05 PM

    Comment: this so-called "Sagging" clothing style is nothing more than a blatant dis-reguard of moral conduct! and it should be outlawed! Please..... who wants to see a kid or teenager or for that fact a grown man walking around with his pants down around his knees? its disgusting and disrepectful to others who prefer not to see the underwear of the offender! I cannot believe that it has been allowed to go on for as long as it has I say kudos to the police dept for atleast attempting to crack down on what others seem to ignore! what has the world to when its totally fine if I have to walk behind some one who thinks its just too cute to walk around with their ass hanging out? I wish more states and their city's would do the same and start cracking down on those offensive so-called saggers what a joke! a fad my ass this crap has been around longer than I care to recall and if it is a fad then shouldn't it have long faded by now??

  • Posted By: maddi08 @ 07/18/2008 4:40:29 PM

    Comment: WAY TO GO DAVID DICK'S. I wish more towns would adopt that policy(law). We as americans need to put morals back in this country. What ever happened to the norms of society?

  • Posted By: JeromeTerrible @ 07/18/2008 4:39:33 PM

    Comment: BOOOO HOOOOOOO...OMG, I can't believe all of the complainers on this message boards. If you think my "sagging" is offensive, than I will come out and say that your EXTREMELY OBESE WAISTLINE IS OFFENSIVE. I've got reason to believe that a majority of you are OVERWEIGHT DESK JOCKEYS. Nobody is arresting you for the CocaCola and Twinkies in your hand. YOU ARE TAXING ME DIRECTLY WITH THE SUBSEQUENT HEALTH CARE COST HIKES. How about your pricks in your HUMMERS? Yeah, you folks are offensive to me!! Nobodies arresting you!

  • Posted By: gotnoplan @ 07/18/2008 4:37:59 PM

    Comment: can girls who wear too-tight shirts so their muffin tops hang out be next, please?

  • Posted By: halolass @ 07/18/2008 4:37:29 PM

    Comment: No one wants to see your underwear. It's indecent exposure. It may be cool, it may be in, but if your potential employer recognizes you for a fashion he/she finds distasteful no matter what you look like in a job interview, bye bye job.

  • Posted By: aura_bryt @ 07/18/2008 4:37:27 PM

    Comment: i cannot help but laugh about truth2Bfree's responce i did some research and found that this "style" started in prision where sagging ment you were the woman in the relationship...i personally inform them and tell them i have a freind who might be intrested in them giving them an address to the nearest gay bar so they can find what they are advertiseing for. usually they pull up their pants quickly.

  • Posted By: bobbost @ 07/18/2008 4:35:51 PM

    Comment: Perhaps all of the people complaining about this style of dress should consider their own clothing and hair styles when they were younger. What about hot pants for the 50's set? What about the first women to wear bikini's for those in their 60's? Would you have agreed that the police had the right to arrest you because your parents and grandparents didn't like your choices? Keep in mind that it was only 90 years ago that a woman that showed her ankles (yes ankles) on the beach could be arrested. While I think it looks stupid, it is their right to look like that. It is not hurting anyone else other than their unsensible sensibilities. Maybe all of the old farts who are complaining, should ask those of the generation before theirs what they thought about their dress and hair styles.

  • Posted By: bobbost @ 07/18/2008 4:35:22 PM

    Comment: Perhaps all of the people complaining about this style of dress should consider their own clothing and hair styles when they were younger. What about hot pants for the 50's set? What about the first women to wear bikini's for those in their 60's? Would you have agreed that the police had the right to arrest you because your parents and grandparents didn't like your choices? Keep in mind that it was only 90 years ago that a woman that showed her ankles (yes ankles) on the beach could be arrested. While I think it looks stupid, it is their right to look like that. It is not hurting anyone else other than their unsensible sensibilities. Maybe all of the old farts who are complaining, should ask those of the generation before theirs what they thought about their dress and hair styles.

  • Posted By: GoGators#1 @ 07/18/2008 4:35:13 PM

    Comment: I think it's awesome that someone is finally willing to take a stand on what is utterly rediculous wear of clothing. Exactly wear do we draw the line on "freedom of expression", as the ACLU puts it? Why do I have to be exposed to another person's underpants so he can "express" him or herself? And why are people already starting to say that the police are only using this as a way of profiling? The police chief himself is african american! Give me a break.

  • Posted By: Truth2BFree @ 07/18/2008 4:34:56 PM

    Comment: YOU IDIOTS. THE POLICE CHIEF IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO STOP A MIND SET. IT IS NOT COOL TO BE GHETTO!!!! WHEN I WAS COMING UP WE WERE TRYING TO MOVE ON UP LIKE GEORGE AND WEEZY, AND GET OUT OF THE GHETTO. THERE WERE REAL LIFE FATHERS LIKE JAMES EVANS OF GOOD TIMES TRYING TO GET THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF THE GHETTO. NOW BEING GHETTO IS RELISHED. THE KIDS LOOK UP TO THEIR GHETTO GODS LIKE 50 AND SNOOP, WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE GHETTO ANYMORE AND LIVE IN GATED COMMUNITIES. THE ONLY THING IS THAT KEEPING THAT MIND SET KEEPS YOU POOR AND IN THE GHETTO. AS A BLACK MAN I HATE THAT YOUNG BROTHERS DON'T HAVE ANY MORE RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES THAT THEY WOULD NOT WANT TO LOOK PRESENTABLE. I ACTUALLY THINK IT IS SOME KIND OF GAY DOWN LOW THANG. I MEAN WALKING AROUND WITH YOUR ASS HANGING OUT IS NOT REALLY STRAIGHT LOOKING. I HAVE A GAY NEPHEW THAT HAD TO PUT THE BEAT DOWN ON A SAGGER QUESTIONING WHAT HE WAS LOOKING AT. MY NEPHEW TOLD HIM "YOUR BIG ASS HANGING OUT THEM JEANS, YOU GOT IT OUT THERE." THE SAGGER ATTEMPTED TO FIGHT MY NEPHEW AND ENDED UP QUITE EMBARRASSED. ITS ALL A MENTALITY ISSUE. THE POLICE CHIEF IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP YOUNG BROTHERS. MAYBE IN THE WRONG WAY BUT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. MY SON IS NOT ALLOWED TO SAG, NEITHER ARE MOST OF HIS FRIENDS. BUT WE GO TO CHURCH AND HAVE MORALS AND SO DO MY SONS FRIENDS PARENTS. MORALS...NUFF SAID.

    • Posted By: GoGators#1 @ 07/18/2008 4:47:42 PM

      Comment: Truth2Bfree couldn't have put it very much better. The mindset of ghetto being cool is, if I may say so, counter productive to eliminating (or at least trying to) racism and the thought train that all African Americans are thugs from the ghetto. Let's face it, if you dress like a thug, act like a thug, talk like a thug...well, what do you expect people to think? First impressions are lasting ones.

      • Posted By: TheVigil @ 07/18/2008 5:46:58 PM

        Comment: There are saggers who are thugs, but the 90% of them who are just trendy or wannabes are gonna get jailed for no reason. You can't start presuming guilty; it's against the Constitution and it's meant to prevent abuses of power. This guy might think he's doing good for his city, but it's a slow slide towards an invasive police state once you start doing things like this.

        Thankfully, this is about on par with America's past violations of Constitutional principle, so I'm not going to worry too much.

  • Posted By: raynero @ 07/18/2008 4:34:22 PM

    Comment: While sagging in itself is a fashion statement for some, it is also degrading to men of color. It appears to adapt a style that promotes public exposure of what we call underwear or under garments. Underwear are designed to be adequately covered by outerwear (pants, shirts, etc.). It is a crime that it takes city legislation (even though misapplied by the police chief) to enforce proper wearing of outter garments to cover underwear. The crime is that parents continue to allow our young men & sometimes women to expose themselves in public. Is the cost of persistant unwarranted police harassment worth the cost of men of color simply pulling our pants up and yes using a belt? Think of how we can avoid additional escalated conflict by practicing fashion modesty in public. However, I do agree that no city or state should infringe upon the civil liberties of an individual or group of people because of fashion choices. My challenge to men of color is where is our moral compass. Because it may appear that sagging is hip and cool, does this mean that sagging is morally proper? Further, is this saying that we as black men conform to any fashion statement that comes our way. We have enough problems with disrimination and injustice in American and world culture to at least think about avoiding any additional harassment based on a preferred fashion. Is a potential criminal record, the time in jail, a fine, or potential loss of employment due to jail time, worth the cost of refusing to pull our pants up and to purchase a belt? Cost of belt: $9.95 to $20.00 (Pretty reasonalble don't you thing?). Cost of harassement by police, fine, jail time and time loss from employment: Irmeasureable. PLEASE COUNT THE COST BEFORE WE PRACTICE WHAT WE DO!!!