What’s Behind This?

Today’s weather was unseasonably balmy—tempting people to go outside to enjoy the unexpected warmth before the temperature plummets and winter settles in.

At lunchtime, I joined lots of other jovial folks at tables and benches in an urban garden plaza where we all soaked up the sun.  Most of us were strangers, but the mood was chatty and good natured. The weather brought out the best in us.

That is, until three adult males strolled into our midst and soured the mood. The seats of their baggy pants were pulled down so low their undies were in 3/4 view—you know the look.

As many of us watched them saunter through the plaza, I wondered about this crude fashion statement. Why would grown-up men choose to dress like this?

You’d think that once we hit the age of 25 or at least the age of 30; we’d move beyond the Age of Rebellion.  And as mature adults, we’d understand that just as we are what we eat, we are what we wear.

So, does our country need some kind of dress code?  Of course not.  

But why do so many adults parade around in the most inappropriate get-ups—inappropriate for the occasion and for their age?  What do they see when they look in the mirror? 

Or have some of us become so self-centered that we just see ourselves and don’t care at all what other people think of us? 

Or has the need for personal attention or notoriety become so extreme in our country that people will wear anything to get attention? 

What’s behind this?