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On drooping trousers

Could the city, possibly, do anything about low-hanging pants? Mayor Yvonne Johnson asked City Attorney Terry Wood Tuesday night.

The mayor asked the question at the request of a resident, who noted a citizen effort in Winston-Salem to ban baggy pants.

The exposed-undergarment look is beyond the bounds of common decency, some argued.

"They are showing their whole backsides," Councilwoman Goldie Wells noted.

But unless the offender is exposing private parts, Wood said, there is not much the city can do about it.

Scoop wonders what council would think about the droopy drawers if they were haute couture (check out Thom Browne's Spring Fashion week show) instead of street culture?

Unfortunately for folks distressed by fashion disasters, the First Amendment protects purveyors of both good and bad taste.

Comments (6)

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Mark Binker said:

What's with the short knickers and long socks on those guys? I think you should send that slide show to the Mayor and say, "See, it could be worse."

**Shudders.**

Saundra said:

We have major issues with individuals on the police dept and they are not being addressed but baggy pants are an important subject to want to address.
I am confused where the priorities should be

Holden said:


You just gotta love these city council folks -
Better than a comedy club.

Amanda said:

It would be worth mentioning that council spent about two minutes talking about pants. Before that, they spent three hours having indepth discussions about a community garden project, downtown security issues and police procedures.

seems to me this is a jail fashion taken to the streets . . .

. . . anytime a gang member of thugs wants to ride the train on these thugs the trousers are always down and ready . . .

. . . when these scum get outta jail . . . some of them liked the ride thay got in jail and want to advertise to all . . . they are open for business . . .

. . . when these scum get outta jail . . . some of them liked the ride thay got in jail and want to advertise to all . . . they are open for business . . .
A couple of things...
1.) I would really like to know exactly who you are picturing when you use the word "scum". The definition states scum is an offensive term for a person or group of people regarded as contemptible or worthless. Since the majority of people incarcerated in Guilford County, the State of North Carolina - indeed the whole US of A are minorities, I can't help but imagine that you are lumping all youth who wear their pants sagging as "scum" you are assuming they have been to jail and as far as the open for business crack (no pun intended) does that mean they are trying to advertise their sexuality. Just what do you mean by that post.
2.) If they have been incarcerated and have paid their debt to society do they really deserve the lable of scum.
3.) The images that pop into your head when you say "scum" and the negative attitudes you have about youth in general are a small example of the larger issues people have with things they don't understand. I know plenty of people who have a problem with youth who dress in all black, wear black nail polish and are white as ghosts. "Goth" figures are a part of pretty much every social scene from High School to college. Those children are just trying to "find their way." I don't like riding down the road seeing the rear end of a child either. I am however not so self involved that I want to force my opinions on those of others. We seem to forget that we live in America and we have the freedom to express ourselves, while we are not free from the opinions of others the law can not be applied to fashion. There would be a whole lot of designers out of business. Besides whats worse saggy pants or a see through dress on the red carpet exposing erect nipples????

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