Hoodies in summer

TheGFG
Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:41:46 +0000

Why should I have to pick one, saintfan, when both statements were made by people other than me? Actually, I think the case speaks directly to the issue. When you know someone, you have context for their appearance. My D loves her brother and they get along well, so the resemblance to a kind figure is what came to her mind. But to the stranger who didn’t know him, the severe look my son had brought to mind a less positive association.

Hence the point–why allow a child over whom you still have control (and if he’s only in middle school you should still have control) sport a look that is likely to evoke negative associations in those that don’t know him well? I mentioned the suburban detail because the look isn’t the required “uniform” for any neighborhoods in our town since they are all ethnically mixed. My D’s track coach is AA and constantly yells at the teenage boys on the team for things that he says make them look like punks–the pants below hips, slouching with hands in pockets, etc. It doesn’t have to be a racial issue, but as we’ve seen with the Martin case, race can add an extra element.