“Ms. DoRight, Is there some sort of rule about people who sag their pants? There comes a point when it is too much. People used to complain about women walking around with low-slung pants, but I think men have created a much bigger problem. There is this guy who sits in front of me in humanities lecture, and seriously, when he sits down, half his underwear hangs out of his pants.”
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Ms. DoRight,

Is there some sort of rule about people who sag their pants? There comes a point when it is too much. People used to complain about women walking around with low-slung pants, but I think men have created a much bigger problem. There is this guy who sits in front of me in humanities lecture, and seriously, when he sits down, half his underwear hangs out of his pants. This is just weird. I can’t stop looking, but I know I should look away. If he wears his pants like this, it’s not rude for me to stare, is it? Of course, I’m not going to say anything to him, but it wouldn’t be rude for someone like his mom or his sister to say something, would it?

Thanks,

Hating Sagging

Hating Sagging,

You have a legitimate complaint here. I have noticed this as well, and I think it might be an epidemic of sorts. When people think of epidemics, a disease usually comes to mind, but the term can also apply to societal problems. In this case, sagging pants should be considered a societal problem.

If a person’s pants are so low that more than an inch or two of their underpants are showing, it gives you the freedom to stare. Of course, staring is not the most polite thing to do, but it is also not polite for a stranger to show everyone his bunched up, baggy drawers.

It doesn’t even matter if they’re silk. Fancy fabrics can really only get a person so far.

The best solution to this epidemic is to keep staring at anyone who sags. At times, you can even point.

However, this is not a solution in the normal sense. Generally, a solution solves a specific problem. In this case, staring or pointing at a person’s underwear will not solve anything. You might make them blush, but you probably won’t make them pull up their pants.

Any time I come across this situation, I want to give those sagging pants a good yank. Most likely, this is a temptation that many have to fight. Don’t worry; if you ever think about this, it does not make you a pervert. It means you are fighting for social justice.

Like most fights for social justice, pulling down someone’s pants-even if those pants are halfway down-can get you arrested.

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