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Fashion Police?

Changleen

Changleen

Paranoid Member
Jan 9, 2004
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4249831.stm

US politicians fed up with catching an eyeful of underwear want to fine those who won't hitch up their trousers.
The Virginia state house has voted to outlaw the trend of wearing trousers so low that underwear hangs over the top.

Delegates said the habit, popular across the US and in other Western countries, was "coarsening" society.

But others hit back, urging legislators to remember their own "fashion follies" and saying the law would be used mostly against black people.

The house adopted the "droopy drawers" bill by a margin of 60-34.

If the state senate also approves, youngsters in Virginia showing too much of their boxer shorts or G-strings could be fined $50 (£26).

The habit, apparently picked up from rap and skateboarding culture, has become popular among boys and girls of all races, but particularly black youngsters.

Democrat Delegate Algie T Howell proposed the bill.

"It's not an attack on baggy pants. It's not about Janet Jackson. It's not about Randy Moss," he said, referring to the American footballer recently fined for pretending to "moon" opposing fans.

"To vote for this bill would be a vote for character, to uplift your community and to do something good not only for the state of Virginia, but for this entire country," he added.

Faux pas

Others were similarly offended by the current trend.

"Most of us would identify this as the coarsening of society," said Delegate John Reid, a Republican.

"Underwear is called underwear for a reason."

But Delegate Lionell Spruill, a Democrat, objected, calling it "a foolish bill".

He asked fellow politicians to remember their own former fashion faux pas, including Afro haircuts, platform shoes and shiny polyester "shell suits".

"Please, let these kids express themselves," he urged, before warning there could be a sinister side to the bill.

"This is going to be a bill that targets blacks. You know who they are going to stop," he said.
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I bet Paris Hilton doesn't get a fine.
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
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valve bouncer said:
Good luck with enforcing that one.
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well, that's the problem, isn't it? It'll be a selective enforcement-type law, where it'll only be used as an excuse to stop people for other reasons than their clothes entirely...and create more problems than it purports to solve.

I mean, a law against dressing like a moron? You've gotta be kidding me. This is absurd. I could *possibly* understand, or at least envision, local schools enforcing a dress code (still problematic, IMHO), but a STATE LAW? Good god, these people just don't understand anything, do they?

Yeah, if we pass a law, people will all start wearing tucked in teal polo shirts, braided leather belts, and khaki docker pants at their bellybuttons with short hems! Why didn't we think of this before?

MD
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
MikeD said:
Yeah, if we pass a law, people will all start wearing tucked in teal polo shirts, braided leather belts, and khaki docker pants at their bellybuttons with short hems! Why didn't we think of this before?

MD
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you hacked my web-cam.

i read this yesterday, & well before i read the last sentence, my first thought i had was of je$$e jack$on descending on the olde commonwealth trying to shakedown somebody, somewhere, for something.

the real problem here is all the white kids who make it look stupid (don't they always?). This seems on its face to be something driven by perceived gang attire; as it's been pointed out, we can't exactly arrest gram-gram for her un-natural hair color, or fat chicks who have their guts sticking out of clothes they shouldn't be wearing. Doesn't really matter if burly would hit it or not.


[this soon to be filed under "racial profiling"]
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
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Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
56,405
22,487
Sleazattle
The law will never stand against the constitution. It is a publicity stunt more than anything else. It would be nearly impossible to hold up in court anyway. As far as I know there is no legal definition of underwear, as long as your junk is not hanging out the trapdoor wearing boxers as shorts is perfectly legal, but halfway covering them with pants wouldn't be?
 
mack

mack

Turbo Monkey
Feb 26, 2003
3,674
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Colorado
werd, this really made me mad when i read it in the lounge. Another reason why religion can kiss my pimply ass.
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
mack said:
werd, this really made me mad when i read it in the lounge. Another reason why religion can kiss my pimply ass.
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This isn't a religion thing. Just a "Them damn kids are horrible nowdays!" thing...
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
stringcheese said:
How is this bill any worse than that North Korean ass making messy hair illegal?
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The fact that we don't live under totalitarianism, for starters...

dammit...I hate it when a typo gets quoted before I catch it :D
 
S

stringcheese

Monkey
Jun 6, 2002
359
0
Golden, CO
Silver said:
The fact that we don't like under totalitarianism, for starters...
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Yeah but these pointless bills telling people how to dress is expected under a totalitarian government, definitely not under a government like ours though. They're just doing everything they can to squeeze out whatever freedom is left for us.
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
Silver said:
This isn't a religion thing. Just a "Them damn kids are horrible nowdays!" thing...
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And a "conservatives for smaller government!" thing... :rolleyes:
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
What's a Pikey? I'm assuming from my extensive study of UK culture (Trainspotting, Snatch, and the complete recordings of Pulp) that it is derogatory slang for a Gypsy. Correct?
 
fluff

fluff

Monkey Turbo
Sep 8, 2001
5,673
2
Feeling the lag
Silver said:
What's a Pikey? I'm assuming from my extensive study of UK culture (Trainspotting, Snatch, and the complete recordings of Pulp) that it is derogatory slang for a Gypsy. Correct?
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You are correct. Changy is trying to get at me for uncovering his Chavness. However he has mistaken my origins entirely.
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
Silver said:
What's a Pikey? I'm assuming from my extensive study of UK culture (Trainspotting, Snatch, and the complete recordings of Pulp) that it is derogatory slang for a Gypsy. Correct?
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Ain'tchoo ever seen "Snatch?"

Yeah, the movie...no, not THAT kind of movie...a Guy Ritchey film. You should see it.

Edit: wait, you saw "Snatch?" Then you should know what a Pikey is...geez, man, you made me look all stupid...

MD
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
MikeD said:
Ain'tchoo ever seen "Snatch?"

Yeah, the movie...no, not THAT kind of movie...a Guy Ritchey film. You should see it.

Edit: wait, you saw "Snatch?" Then you should know what a Pikey is...geez, man, you made me look all stupid...

MD
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Just verifying. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't more generic (like for people on the dole (more Brit slang there!) or something like that.)
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
ALEXIS_DH said:
isnt pikey also the brit equivalent of the US "trailer trash"???????
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Pikeys actually move with their trailers. US trailer trash stays put...

MD
 
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