Sagging? My Bad
Two things have "my goat" in this writing: sagging and the use of the term "my bad."
Sagging has got to stop, NOW. A few cities around the country are adopting a "no sagging law" of sorts. Delcambre, La., adopted an indecent exposure ordinance in 2007 which prohibited "intentionally wearing one's pants in such a way as to show underwear." March 2008 Hahira, Ga., created a similar ordinance "in the name of public safety." That council vote was tied 2-2; the mayor broke the tie, voting aye. On Nov. 23, 2010, Albany, Ga., passed a city ordinance that banned the wearing of pants or skirts more than 3-inches below the top of the hips, and placed a fine of $25 for the first offense up to $250 for subsequent offenses. By September 2011, City Attorney Nathan Davis reported that 187 citations have been issued and fines collected of $3,916 since the ordinance went into effect. Now wouldn't that be added monies to city coffers.
One thing sagging is good for, though ... the ease of police officers catching suspects. Run, sag, and fall. They run, their sagging pants fall down around their ankles, and then they fall: CAUGHT. Another thing: sagging is good for business. Good for chiropractors and orthopedic surgeons. Waddling around with your legs spread to catch your waistband can't be good on the skeletal system.
A new state law in Florida recently went into effect for the 2011-12 school year banning the practice of sagging while at school. Pupils found in violation will receive a verbal warning for the first offense, followed by parental notification by the principal for the second offense, which will require the parent to bring a change of clothing to school. Students would then face in-school suspension for the third (and later) violations.
Let me brag for a second on my grandson, Gavin. He's in his mid-teen and does not; I repeat does NOT walk around with his pants hanging down where they shouldn't be hanging. They're pulled up. His hat is mostly on right, too; not twisted off to one side like his head was installed cockeyed. The difference here is his upbringing by a military father. Gav may not particularly care for it right now, but in time he will. Won't you Gav?
Now, to my other "get my goat" topic ... "My bad," a national alibi for error making. Bump into someone, my bad. Say the wrong thing, my bad. Write a blog your boss doesn't care for; my bad.
Seems several times a day, or many times a day in my line of work, people are using the term "my bad". What does it mean and where did it come from? It is believed to mean "my mistake, I'm to blame". My bad began popping up around 1970. In 1995, it was used in the movie "CLUELESS." It hasn't seemed to lose its efficaciousness.
But how accepted is it? One wonders. If someone dinged your car totally by accident, then exclaimed "My bad!" would you accept it; probably, depending on how you define "dinged." Someone interrupts you in mid-sentence and says "my bad," would you accept it; yes.
Will we start hearing about it in acceptance pleas? For example, a judge reads a defendant his charges and description of the crime. "You are charged with felonious assault whereas in which you intentionally and repeatedly struck the victim in the arms, legs and torso with a ball bat. How do you plea?" "My bad." Would the judge laugh, slam his gavel on the beach and say, "Good enough, be gone with you!?" I would hope not. Where does it end?
- -- Posted by Mr. History on Fri, Nov 4, 2011, at 1:40 PM
- -- Posted by DonPorter on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 8:12 AM
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