I am not sure this is the right section for this question…if it isn’t, I’m sorry…please feel free to move it.
I commute quite a distance to work each day, a portion of which is through what is referred to as a “rough” neighborhood. I frequently see cars driven by young male drivers (almost always black) where the driver is slouched WAY down in the driver’s seat. I’m frequently suprised the driver is able to see over the dashboard with how far down they’re sitting.
What I’m wondering is, why do they do this? Are they trying to “stay low” to avoid passing gunfire? Staying out of the sight of the cops so they can’t be identified? Or are they just imitating their pants, which they also wear very low, showing off their boxers?
It’s just to be cool, right? It’s not limited to blacks. People that are sometimes known as “wiggers” ::ahem:: do the same thing with the slouching and their pants and all the music they call “wrap” or something.
I just do this so I can wear my hat (a black fedora) in a car that has no headroom stock and even less with a sunroof.
Can’t do it on interstate trips though. KILLS my back.
It wasn’t intended to be offensive. I mean, it’s a legitimate question. How else should I have asked it? I mean, the people driving this way are usually always young black males. I don’t see older black men driving like this. And I personally haven’t seen other races or genders driving this way…
Seems to be more of a “being cool” thing than a “black” thing. One approach to better pin it down: have you ever seen 20-something black male – dressed in a shirt & tie – drive this way during rush hour?
Does vehicle seem to make a difference? Seems this style of driving is more difficult in a light pickup truck (small cab, can’t lean seat back) or an SUV (top of hood too high, need to stay more upright to see over).
Oh, I never had any illusions that I’d set some kind of record. That’s why I like this board - everybody’s competing to be smart rather than loud or morally superior. I’ve been outquipped many many times.
Well, you said it yourself, you mostly see it in the bad neighborhoods. Are there that many young Black males living in the ghetto who’re subscribed to the SDMB that you expect an answer from?
And yeah, I sure wouldn’t address it just to just young male Black drivers. I live in Los Angeles’ eastside. It’s mostly Latino here, and lots of people do it. I wouldn’t say there are many Black people living in this area. Heck, kids in rich areas do it, too. It sure isn’t to protect from bullets. My cousin got shot at right down the street and the bullets pierced the doors like nothing. MAYBE it started off with people trying to hide. MAYBE…
It’s hidden in an old Curtis Mayfield song…that goes something like:
I might not have a Cadillac
…blah blah…
hanging in the back
sunroof back
doing the gangster lean
Actually, it’s been my experience that all kinds of guys try to look cool by slouching in the car: Hispanics, Afro-Americans, Whites, Whiggers … you name the male group and it is not cool to sit ramrod straight up when you can look nonchalant with a “whatever” lean while in the car… sometimes it stays past adolescence
I’m a white guy and I’ll admit to be a car sloucher. My car slouching was a lot more pronounced back in high school, but the habit has still stuck with me on through college. I think my original reason was partially to be “cool” and partially because I found it sort of lazy and comfortable, like driving in a recliner. Sometimes I even took it to the extreme of putting my left foot up on my dash to the left of my steering wheel (that stuff doesn’t fly if you drive a stick.)
Anyway, I still do it pretty much because I slouch just about any time I’m sitting and that’s what feels comfortable.
