# Can someone explain the rationale behind "low" pants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630 "2009-10-29T16:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/61 "2009-10-31T03:43:18Z")
If you’ll permit a question from a confused old suburban white guy… Why do they take away your belt in prison? It doesn’t seem like it would make much of a weapon. There’s probably an obvious answer, but durned if I can see it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/62 "2009-10-31T03:45:48Z")
So you don’t hang yourself. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/63 "2009-10-31T04:23:57Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > If you’ll permit a question from a confused old suburban white guy… > > Why do they take away your belt in prison? It doesn’t seem like it would make much of a weapon. There’s probably an obvious answer, but durned if I can see it. Jonny’s Answer is good and probably the main reason belts are taken. But a belt is also a chunk of metal and the end of a long thing. A sock filled with sand is a pretty effective weapon a belt is even better. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/64 "2009-10-31T04:28:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > So you don’t hang yourself. Ignorance fought. Also, thanks gazpacho. Didn’t think it would make much of a weapon, but I guess swung with enough gusto, it could do some harm. Thanks, ya’ll. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/65 "2009-10-31T17:00:00Z")
[QUOTE=pullin] Didn’t think it would make much of a weapon, but I guess swung with enough gusto, it could do some harm. [/quote] Rudyard Kipling wrote a [poem](http://www.daypoems.net/poems/1798.html) about a military brawl in which the weapons of choice were the participants’ belts: > [@](#): > > There was a row in Silver Street – an’ I was in it too; > We passed the time o’ day, an’ then the belts went whirraru! > I misremember what occurred, but subsequint the storm > A Freeman’s Journal Supplemint was all my uniform. > O it was: “Belts, belts, belts, an’ that’s one for you!” > An’ it was “Belts, belts, belts, an’ that’s done for you!” > O buckle an’ tongue > Was the song that we sung > From Harrison’s down to the Park! ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/66 "2009-11-01T12:15:52Z")
I imagine there could be many reasons why they do it, getting attention,for one, I can see baggy pants if they are comfortable,but one evening we were in a restaurant and the guys pants fell off to his knees, he had a pizza in one hand and was trying to grab his pants with the other. He was lucky he didn’t trip and fall on his face. Heck, they are the ones who suffer for their foolishness later on when they mature, it is just a sign of immaturity. I over heard one man saying to one with his pants low,“Is you ass better looking than your face, is that why you want me to see it?” the kid looked embarrassed but laughed it off. A lot of kids just want to be different than their parents, and it is a far better thing then joining gangs and shooting people for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/67 "2009-11-01T13:56:12Z")
I’m sure most baggy pants tied at the groin related accidents go unreported. I suppose there must be an element of living on the edge to it all … your pants might fall down at any moment, plus you’ve reduced your ability to run considerably and if someone wants to mug you, they’ve just to give your pants a tug and you’re half way to being hog tied. My mum used to sing us a song which ended with: The moral of this story: Please meditate and pause, Never send your baby out with loosely waisted drawers ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/68 "2009-11-01T20:25:34Z")
Remember that thread a few weeks ago asking if there were anything that kids could do these days to shock their parents? Well, there’s the answer: pull your pants up. The OP mentioned jeans, but is it even possible to do it with jeans? I usually see it done with Dickies. It seems that jeans would be too tight to allow them to fall that far in the back. Here in SoCal it’s so ubiquitous that even kids who work in restaurants wear their pants that way. Walk into any Pizza Hut or Quiznos around here and half the employees will be slouching around in their boxers. Nobody seems to care or mind. And I should add that boxers are the _de rigueur_ undergarment—you simply do not do this with tighty-whities. Not sure of the reason, but my guess is that that would simply look ridiculous. ---
**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:** [November 1, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/69 "2009-11-01T20:39:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Why do they take away your belt in prison? It doesn’t seem like it would make much of a weapon. There’s probably an obvious answer, but durned if I can see it. > [@](#): > > So you don’t hang yourself. No, actually it is more of a weapon issue. A belt’s a surprisingly good weapon. If you’re planning on hanging yourself, a pair of pants or a shirt will do the job just as well. As for fashion, prisoners are not allowed to wear their pants low. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/70 "2009-11-02T05:04:54Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > The OP mentioned jeans, but is it even possible to do it with jeans? I usually see it done with Dickies. It seems that jeans would be too tight to allow them to fall that far in the back. [Yes.](http://www.lilith-ezine.com/articles/fashion/images/Saggy-Pants-Ban.jpg) [Of](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YQWjf-o0edE/SNynnbW3yQI/AAAAAAAABJ0/U__72k8umIo/s320/saggy+jeans+4.jpg) [course](http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/saggy_pants.jpg) [guys](http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x169/urmomishot222222/25ed.jpg) [can](http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5175862/273304-main_Full.jpg) [wear](http://www.thegrio.com/assets_c/2009/09/SaggingJeans_6416-thumb-400xauto-4193.jpg) [jeans](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5J8yHGyMzeI/RtiI7O81nKI/AAAAAAAAArk/lm1s0xItH4Q/s320/Jeans.jpg) [this](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tmz.com/media/2008/12/1228_saggy_stars_photo_launch_08a.jpg) [way](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.stylelist.com/blog/media/2009/01/3059334807_9d393b37f9.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/71 "2009-11-02T07:26:40Z")
> [@fandango](#): > > It’s fashion, it doesn’t need to make sense. > > Why bell bottoms? why zoot suits? Why not late '70s one piece jumpsuits for men? > > [http://onceuponawin.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/jump-suit.jpg](http://onceuponawin.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/jump-suit.jpg) Holy shit i want to be him Is there a fly on that thing or is he going to bone her through a velour condom? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/72 "2009-11-02T19:23:01Z")
The style is called jailin’. When you are busted, they toss you in a cell after taking away shoelaces and belt so that you can’t hang yourself. As a result, your pants slide down. Street thugs somehow got the idea that it was cool to walk around with your pants down like that as if you had just gotten tossed in jail. Wannabe wanker copycats picked it up, then Hollywood got hold of it and now we have to suffer with butts hanging out everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/73 "2009-11-03T15:26:13Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > Mohawks are silly. Tight jeans are silly. Two polos at the same time are silly. I saw a woman in an office wearing a tartan skirt inspired by [punk rock bondage pants](http://www.crashbangboomonline.com/red%20tartan%20bondage%20pants.JPG). Now, it just doesn’t get much sillier than that. Why do we wear this mess? Because it marks us as members of our groups and because we think it looks good. Silly clothes don’t really even ping my radar. (Hey, I’ve been to my share of Pride parades. And I live in St Louis, which has silly from the hood to the hoosiers.) I save my derision for clothes that put serious limits on physical movement or pose a health hazard. If your pants are so droopy that you lose the use of one arm by having to constantly hold them up, and you can’t even run for the bus, that’s just stupid. If you wear heels so high you can’t run or keep your balance, or a skirt so tight you can barely walk or even sit down comfortably, that’s stupid too. When I was a teenager (back in the stone age) the cool thing was to wear your coat unbuttoned/unzipped in the winter. Pretty damn stupid at 30 degrees below zero. As for the rest of it, no biggie. Fashion comes and goes. Oh, and get off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/74 "2009-11-03T17:16:15Z")
My understanding is that certain looks were developed by prison gangs to make themselves distinct. When in prison, your attire is uniform, so you can’t set yourself apart by colors or clothing styles. So all that is left is how you wear your clothing. Hispanic gangs wear their shirt buttoned at the top button, then open all the way down. So someone picked wearing their pants saggy, pulled down below their butt cheeks. Why? It’s distinct. This look carried over into the streets, with the bangers wearing their clothes the same way in the street as well as the joint. Pop culture being what it is, the look carries over into music, and thereby gets spread through the urban teens. Now everyone has to do it. **Washoe** said: > [@](#): > > And I should add that boxers are the _de rigueur_ undergarment—you simply do not do this with tighty-whities. Not sure of the reason, but my guess is that that would simply look ridiculous. Someone didn’t get the memo. [![](https://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/hipsterrunoff/photographs/zac_efron_011908_13-thumb.jpg) ](https://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/hipsterrunoff/photographs/zac_efron_011908_13-thumb.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/75 "2009-11-03T17:47:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > So you don’t hang yourself. And we’re discouraging this because…? ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/76 "2009-11-03T18:34:56Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > For what it’s worth, I think my older co-workers look absolutely ridiculous with their “high pants”. > > Men wearing jeans (yes, jeans!) pulled up so they button above the navel. > > Cuff length set so that socks are showing when they are standing upright. When they sit down, they show about three inches of sock. > > …but I do think sagging is pretty silly. What if they’re cool socks? ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/77 "2009-11-03T18:52:46Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > [http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/hipsterrunoff/photographs/zac\_efron\_011908\_13-thumb.jpg](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/hipsterrunoff/photographs/zac_efron_011908_13-thumb.jpg) I wonder if this is related to emo, skinny-pants kids picking up the ass-display trend. Boxers don’t fit under skinny jeans. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/78 "2009-11-03T19:00:47Z")
> [@CrazyChop](#): > > Where and when this all started anyway? I recalled seeing it in Japanese/Taiwanese shows before. No idea that kids over at the US are doing that too. Well, they were doing it when I was in junior high (about 1991), specifically with the boxers showing above the waist thing. (On days when we didn’t have to wear our uniforms, that is) But they weren’t QUITE as baggy, or as falling down. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/79 "2009-11-03T19:45:20Z")
Wearing Levis at lower hip level was a fad when I was in high school way back in the late 50’s. No underwear showing though. The fad was brought on by the Chicano crowd. They were called Pachucos. The fad caught on and soon every guy was copying it. Including me. I guess we thought it was cool with the girls. I think the gals thought it was pretty silly though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/80 "2009-11-03T19:59:05Z")
My husband tutors some disadvantaged youth, and he said that one of the kids he tutors stopped sagging when his two-year-old niece laughed at him. So there is hope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630.md?page=5)