# Are kids wearing hoodies to look tough? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477 "2004-04-28T13:49:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/41 "2011-03-08T17:16:44Z")
> [@Trigonal\_Planar](#): > > As for wearing them in warm weather, well, guess what: I rarely wear shorts or t-shirts. And quite honestly, very few people CAN wear shorts without looking stupid. Some people, such as myself, have a very low temperature tolerance. I wear hoodies/long-sleeve shirts right up until the heat of the summer. My son and his friends wear shorts year round, even when there’s three feet of snow on the ground. He shovels the snow in shorts. Shorts and a hoodie and a parka, but shorts none the less. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/42 "2011-03-08T17:29:04Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Those are winter survival equipment where I’m from. Don’t dis the toque! Maybe if gangstas wore them, we wouldn’t have to take them seriously. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/43 "2011-03-08T18:35:56Z")
I have several bunnyhugs, including one straight from the University of Saskatchewan that actually has the definition of “bunnyhug” silkscreened on the front. I wear them to stay warm, but rarely have the hood up. I think it’s adorable when kids try to look tough while wearing a bunnyhug – kids can be so cute sometimes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/44 "2011-03-08T19:06:36Z")
This probably belongs in IMHO. Being moderator of that forum, the OP should have known that when posted he this seven years ago.😃 Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/45 "2011-03-08T19:18:02Z")
I kind of wonder what people wear besides bunnyhugs in an informal situation where it’s too cold for t-shirts but too warm for winter gear. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/46 "2011-03-08T20:11:05Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > You all got it wrong. > > It’s [Bieber Fever](http://www.panicposters.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/f63dc5ec28f3175f8a7f615bd217eb71/p/p/pp32243-justin-bieber-hoodie-poster.jpg). Now _that’s_ one tough looking dude! mmm ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/47 "2011-03-08T23:07:50Z")
I recently rewatched the whole “The Wire” HBO series and there were a few of the gangbanger corner boys wearing hoodies and I thought to myself “Ah, that’s what started it.\*” Seems like they were wearing them mainly to hide thier faces and not stand out when they commited violent crimes. Michael from the last seasons wore them when he started working with Snoop and Chris. \*Meaning the current fad for them, I realize that hoodies have been around for a long time. I had one in the sixties. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/48 "2011-03-08T23:33:11Z")
48 Hours had several suspects in hoodies. They are very effective at hiding the face from surveillance cameras. They had one suspect go into a mini mart to use a murdered guys atm card. All they got on the camera footage was the profile of the hoodie. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/49 "2011-03-08T23:52:45Z")
Hoodies: 1. are warm. 2. are extremely comfortable. 3. usually have pockets. 4. can be adjusted to a wide range of temperatures, climates and weather conditions in a few easy steps (zipped / unzipped, hood up / down). 5. are able to fulfill the functions of shirt, sweater and jacket all in one! 6. look cool on both dudes and girls. Hoodies are perfect garments. Really, why wear anything else, ever? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/50 "2011-03-09T01:15:06Z")
I’m wearing a hoodie right now. It’s nice and warm. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/51 "2011-03-09T01:26:01Z")
This is my image of a hoodie wearer: [Tough guy in a hoodie with a gun](http://s911.photobucket.com/albums/ac311/ebaillie83/?action=view¤t=IMG_0748.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/52 "2011-03-09T01:26:25Z")
[GIS for Gangster Hoodie](http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=869&bih=576&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=gangster+hoodies&btnG=Search) ---
**Author:** ![Peteryes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f475e1/32.png) [@Peteryes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peteryes)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/53 "2016-12-01T05:12:56Z")
The term ‘hood’ has a history, and it’s not a nice one. When I was young, a hood was a guy who you stayed away from, a dirt ball with a shady reputation. Sort of a ‘gangsta’. Being a hood or wearing a hood to me is a stupid person who calls attenton to himself in a negative way. If you go around wearing a hood with the hood covering your face, don’t be surprised if you get shot!! ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/54 "2016-12-01T05:40:17Z")
So what’s Robin Hood going to do then, huh? Answer me that! ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/55 "2016-12-01T05:50:29Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > So what’s Robin Hood going to do then, huh? Answer me that! Join up with Little Red Riding, the Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Adam Sandler to rule the hood! ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/56 "2016-12-01T15:00:16Z")
In my area, those who do this are criminals and thieves! Those types also like to wear black (can hide at night) and wear backpacks to hold the things they steal along with burglary tools. They are NOT college students carrying books! If you have a retail store, DO NOT allow these people to wear their hoodies while in your store (so their faces can be seen by the cameras) and make them leave their backpacks at the counter. If they don’t want to comply, tell them they can “shop” elsewhere! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/57 "2016-12-01T15:34:39Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > In my area, those who do this are criminals and thieves! In my area, they’re [dementors](https://images.pottermore.com/bxd3o8b291gf/6aFng4yY5UEUE2mAKk6SwC/d2f3071136751cff6c7f56e58ba66113/HarryPotter_PM_B3C20M2_HarryAndSiriusSurroundedByDementorsByTheLake_Moments.jpg?w=1200&h=600&fit=thumb&f=center&q=85) or [jawas](http://img.lum.dolimg.com/v1/images/jawa-bio-5_ca9cdd4e.jpeg?region=0%2C0%2C1280%2C828). ---
**Author:** ![DobbyDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@DobbyDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DobbyDay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/58 "2016-12-01T15:49:51Z")
Its funny cos where I live in the countryside of the UK, we just where hoodies because its so cold and usually wet!! Nothing strange about wearing it - its when its sunny and warm that people start to question the person. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/59 "2016-12-01T16:34:46Z")
> [@Peteryes](#): > > The term ‘hood’ has a history, and it’s not a nice one. When I was young, a hood was a guy who you stayed away from, a dirt ball with a shady reputation. Sort of a ‘gangsta’. Being a hood or wearing a hood to me is a stupid person who calls attenton to himself in a negative way Even though ‘hood’ is used in both contexts, the words have a completely different etymology. ‘Hood’ as a gangster or tough guy was first known to be used in an [1866 California newspaper](https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18661215.2.2&srpos=1&dliv=none&e=-------en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-hoodlum------) (scroll to near the bottom, the word is highlighted). The original source of the word is uncertain. “Hood” as a head covering has been in use since at least the 1200’s (Old English ‘hode’ = ‘hat’). English is a funny language - just because two (or more) words are spelled and pronounced the same doesn’t always indicate that they have a common lineage. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477/60 "2016-12-01T17:42:18Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > In my area, they’re [dementors](https://images.pottermore.com/bxd3o8b291gf/6aFng4yY5UEUE2mAKk6SwC/d2f3071136751cff6c7f56e58ba66113/HarryPotter_PM_B3C20M2_HarryAndSiriusSurroundedByDementorsByTheLake_Moments.jpg?w=1200&h=600&fit=thumb&f=center&q=85) or [jawas](http://img.lum.dolimg.com/v1/images/jawa-bio-5_ca9cdd4e.jpeg?region=0%2C0%2C1280%2C828). We’ve been having a lot of [Nazgul](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/lotr/images/4/49/Ringwraith(s).jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120227231100) troubles here on the East Coast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-wearing-hoodies-to-look-tough/242477.md?page=4)