Holy Crack

"Pants on the ground, pants on the ground. Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground."

-Larry Platt

The producers of American Idol completely revolutionized the idea of sagging pants when they allowed Larry Platt to perform his remarkably original song during season 10. This simple, yet catchy song demonstrated the "foolishness" of sagging pants and became a hit across the nation.

Sagging pants are considered a new "in" trend for the current teenage generation. Wearing jeans or sweat pants that fall on or below the butt-ox is seen by many males as a cool statement of fashion. However, if these men knew the history and danger of sagging pants would they continue to wear them?

In early history, sagging pants were used to distinguish the rich from the poor. Boys using hand me down clothing tended to have baggy clothes instead of the more popular tight outfits. As years progressed, the sagging pants soon became a symbol in jails across the nation. A man in prison with sagging pants was displaying his availability as a prostitute--who knew? Closer to our current generation, gangs later started sagging pants to hide weapons from their enemies and/or officers.

Overall the idea of sagging pants has a negative connotation. Men with currently sagging pants usually lack self respect and dignity. They are like small children with no regard of their bodies or what anyone else may see. These inappropriate dressers should realize that needing to lean backwards and waddle from side to side in order to keep their pants from falling to the ground does not look attractive or mature, nor will they ever achieve these titles if they continue to sag their pants.

Recently, some cities in our area have banned sagging pants from their ordinances. The city of Collinsville issued this as a law in July of 2011. As seen from the interview, the council decided to set a $100 fine and community service as punishment for excessive sagging pants. These punishments can increase all the way to a fine of $300. Community members argue that sagging pants is a symbol of originality and these young men (and possibly women) should be able to express themselves in their own way. However, many other community members have been repeatedly complaining of the indecency the display of ones undergarments displays on their town and therefore should be banned. Towns such as Flint have set up diagrams like the picture below the accurately show what is considered indecent exposure.

Additionally, one report was also made about the dangers of sagging pants. A 13-year-old boy died when he tripped over his sagging pants and stumbled down a flight of stairs. It is tragic that fashion can be deadly, but in this case it most certainly proves true. One can imagine what other tragedies could occur on various stairs, elevators or even escalators.

Sagging pants have a sketchy past and men should see the act as degrading when they sag their pants to indecent levels. These embarrassments and dangers should be seen as precaution. Sagging pants are unattractive and will always be unattractive, so gentlemen, I think it's time for a new fashion statement.