# Pants- why bother? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2002, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274 "2002-08-30T12:52:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/1 "2002-08-30T12:52:07Z")
OK, I know for the past several years, it’s been kind of fashionable for the young guys, especially the African-American kids to wear the much-too-big pants with the waistband kind of low, the better to show off the oh-so-fashionable boxer shorts with the waistband pulled up to the level of the ribcage. Lately, howver, the boys seem to be taking the look to a new extreme. I am now seeing guys with the waistband of the pants below the butt. Kind of makes me wonder how they walk. This look is particularly hilarious when combined with the one=pantleg-rolled-up-as-though-you-accidently-wandered-away-from-your-Masonic-initiation look. At this point, wouldn’t the kids be just as well off to dispense with the pants altogether? I mean, once they aren’t even partially covering the butt, don’t they just become an accessory that constitutes more of a tripping hazard than a fashion statement? (BTW, Thea is grateful that the lipliner-with-no-lipstick look is finally going out of style- she was getting tired of women going around looking as though they rushed out of the house without finishing their makeup.) ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/2 "2002-08-30T12:58:52Z")
Perhaps the time is ripe for America’s youth to begin wearing kilts en masse? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/3 "2002-08-30T13:31:39Z")
Yeah, but 20 years from now they’ll look at some pictures and go :smack: , just like we do now. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/4 "2002-08-30T13:41:59Z")
Actually isn’t that look on the way out? It’s been around for at least 10 years… ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/5 "2002-08-30T13:48:43Z")
Actually isn’t that look on the way out? It’s been around for at least 10 years… ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/6 "2002-08-30T14:22:11Z")
Yeah it’s on the way out. Now we just need to wait for the new P. Diddy video to see whats next. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/7 "2002-08-30T14:38:15Z")
The jeans I’m wearing right now are that different from the jeans I wore 20 years ago. They just arn’t stiff as a board when I buy them and come in a shade of blue that, back then you had to own them for a year before they got that color. From MST3K Pants! Pants! Sing the praises of PANTS! nothing better shows your taste then what you wear below your waist. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/8 "2002-08-31T02:31:36Z")
This brought to mind the funniest image I saw awhile ago… I took an American Legal Systems course, and we went to observe juvenile court. They are allowed to go into court wearing their own clothes, but belts are probhibited. This boy walked into the courtroom with his hands in front of him in handcuffs, and had to hold up his pants with this pinkies…bet that made a great impression on the judge. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/9 "2002-08-31T05:53:57Z")
I just want to say that I’m a 16 year old guy who can’t understand how anyone can wear pants that low and keep tham up. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/10 "2002-08-31T09:28:58Z")
Well, they HAVE to wear pants of some sort. What would they clip their cell phone onto? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/11 "2002-08-31T10:36:34Z")
> [@](#): > > I just want to say that I’m a 16 year old guy who can’t understand how anyone can wear pants that low and keep tham up. It’s called a belt. B-E-L-T. Looks like a flatworm, with a buckle on one end? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/12 "2002-08-31T22:04:24Z")
I’m up for some radical new alternative to pants. I never wear 'em at home, but I keep them close at hand in case someone comes to the door. Sure, the pockets are handy, but the waistband seems always to fall in a spot where I end up getting a stomachache from them. I need to look into these new low-rise numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/13 "2002-08-31T23:12:02Z")
[old guy voice] When I was a kid, boxer shorts were what “old men” wore. Along with “wife-beater” tank-top-style t-shirts.[old guy voice] Seriously, though. No guy in his right mind wore boxers unless he wanted to get laughed all the way home. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/14 "2002-09-01T04:05:28Z")
Mr. Blue, that’s true. I used to laugh at my father. I’m 40 and I’ve tried the boxer route but, just can’t get used to all the bunching up. I use the tidy-whities or nothing at all. I’ll hang out in boxers or sleep in them, but that’s using them like regular shorts. Just me. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/15 "2002-09-01T08:02:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\* > It’s called a belt. B-E-L-T. Looks like a flatworm, with a buckle on one end? > > 😃 \*\* Yes, I’m familliar with belts. I’ve got one one right now. I just don’t see how they can wear their pants lo low and be comfortable, and still keep it up, even with a belt. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/16 "2002-09-01T23:15:04Z")
I get a kick out of watching them run in 'em. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/17 "2002-09-01T23:55:52Z")
This kid and his buddy get on the metro. It was during a heat wave, so the kid had his shirt completely undone. His pants were low, exposing the waistband of his (cheap brand) boxer-briefs. And those were low, too. I totally wanted to say, “Um, excuse me? Hi! I can see your pubes, kid.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/18 "2002-09-02T02:14:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mudshark \* > \*\* > > Yes, I’m familliar with belts. I’ve got one one right now. I just don’t see how they can wear their pants lo low and be comfortable, and still keep it up, even with a belt. \*\* Um, **Mudshark** … I want you to think about what you just said. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/19 "2002-09-02T17:07:20Z")
What’s really stupid looking, is when they ride their bikes. In order to sit, the butt has to come completely out of the pants, which puts the crotch area at their knees. So the legs of the jeans are all bunched up next to the pedals of the bike. ---
**Author:** ![Kakkerlak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@Kakkerlak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kakkerlak)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274/20 "2002-09-02T19:16:07Z")
Utilikilts are coming. UTILIKILTS ARE COMING ! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-why-bother/126274.md?page=2)