Yeah, my son is into the skinny jean thing and man is it stupid looking. Really, really stupid looking.
Is it me or is the skinny jean culture starting to blur with the gay culture just a little bit. Guys wearing skinny jeans, while sagging, with rainbow colors on wearing backpacks. Hmmmm. But anyway, there's always been a mystique about being a bad boy. But I bet if women weren't turned on by it as much you'd have more men not wanting to perpetuate it. As far as kids go, they normally are influenced by media culture unless the parents are some other influence is much more stronger than that
This really is a national problem, look at Taylor Swift now -- corn rows, neck tattoo, and a prison jumper. [sad face]
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/thug Thuggee was an Indian network of secret fraternities who were engaged in murdering and robbing travellers and known for strangling their victims, operating from the 17th century (possibly as early as 13th century) to the 19th century. During British Imperial rule of India, many Indian words passed into common English, and in 1810 thug referred to members of these Indian gangs. The sense was adopted more generally as "ruffian, cutthroat" by 1839. The modern day thug is one who resembles its predecessors. Physical appearance and attitude has absolutely nothing to do with it. I guarantee you AI was considered one of the "good" kids of his neighborhood, which is probably why it's been difficult for him to conform all these years. And, Kobe? Really? But, to answer the question, I think there are two things teens want most: success and to not be like their parents. The thugs you see on television are rich, powerful, and lazy - everything a young person could want. They don't show you that even the most elusive thugs end up old w/o any retirement plan after losing their connections or the obvious - dead or in jail.
What is wrong with dressing like a thug, guido or hipster? All these lifestyles are positive attempts at individuality. Do you really want everyone dressing in khaki Dockers pants, a polo shirt or American Eagle sweater? Does everyone need to fit the Heartland America, church going look? Generally people who are intolerant of others and narrow minded are the first to cast contempt and derision at people who might look the first thing out the ordinary.
It's this type of thinking that says anything should go. Come on, this is a lifestyle discussion, not a fashion statement competition. Do you really think a lifestyle that promotes sex, violence, drugs, immaturity, and excessive alcohol should be encouraged, at any age group? But maybe it is nothing more than a fashion statement trend and we should all just overlook it as a fad. Kids will be kids. Right? Hey maybe Chase or Wachovia should sign Lil Wayne or Tiger Woods as part of a marketing campaign to glorify and encourage high yield savings accounts. I don't know what could possibly be any more thug!
Sounds like your issue is with black people more than it is with thugs. Thugs are people who rob you. Lil Wayne is an entertainer and Tiger Woods is an athlete.
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Wait how is becoming millionaires through artistic creativity and hard work (practice) being bad role models? Given what happened recently, one can argue that the over privileged, ivy league route that led to arrogance and greed is more damaging and worse of example what people should aspire to be. Mother Teresa and Gandhi are probably one of the few positive role models out there..... maybe throw in Obama in a couple of years :grin:
The Tiger Woods reference went over your head and Lil Wayne is an insult to music. Yes people buy his crap and I don't. I consider Lil Wayne the end of "rap" music. Here's a guy who found a niche that a lot of kids (not just black like some of you want to think I am focusing solely on) love and foolishly look up to. What is he "rapping" about? No really, go read his lyrics. Lil Wayne may in fact have musical talent that is not evident on the surface. Maybe he took singing lessons as a child (doubtful) and all of his hard work and practice is paying off. But that's not being promoted. What is being promoted is the lifestyle that comes with it -- like mentioned, laziness, as well as sex and drugs and excessive alcohol. Who wouldn't want that? But every kid grows up wanting to be Lil Wayne and sadly most won't. I'm not saying they shouldn't try, but wouldn't it be better if those who idolized these role models (who are getting arrested) spent their time on bettering themselves as individuals through, I don't know, focusing on a career or education?
Really? Hustling is not being lazy. Having sex is not being lazy. 'Excessive' alcohol and drugs use are not being lazy. Being lazy is sitting on the couch for hours playing X-Box, which afflicts all races equally. You are confusing the old stereotype of black people being lazy. Blacks usually stereotyped as being poor, dumb, jobless, lazy, dirty, criminals, and violent. It would seem Weezy does not fit any of those characteristics. "You think this money just fell in my lap? I entertained millions to get this cash."
1. "I'm headless. No mind. I can say 'Don't rhyme,' and it's gone rhyme." He's right. It does rhyme. And the message in this line is that not only does he do his best work when he's out of his mind, but that he's almost unable to control how good he is when he's in such a state. In lines like this, Wayne reminds me of that place the novelist Thomas Hardy wrote about where the writer's unconscious mind takes over. It's lines like this that make you wonder if he looks back over the page sometimes and wonders, "****. How did I come up with that?" http://mikawake.blogspot.com/2008/05/lil-wayne-top-10-lines.html
Has the race card been played yet? If not, let me try. How come when everyone talks about "thugs", they only mention the NBA? Like the NFL is filled with nothing but saints? Oh I know why, its because the NFL is accepted by White America and the NBA is frowned upon because of its hip hop culture that it brings. Seriously, anytime I hear somebody dislike the NBA, they always mention they will not watching something that is filled with degenerate thugs. On another note, its starting seem like "thug" is the PC word for the N-Word. You rarely hear "thug" is reference to someone other than black. Why is that? The word "Thug" has no racial boundries, anyone can fit in that description. But yet its only used to describe the bad scary black guys.
lol it is pretty sad. I've had Mexicans and mostly Blacks make comments like "I thought you was white, you don't act Mexican." I have tattoo's but they aren't old English letters and praying hands and Dollar bill tattoos, i listen to Rock-not rap. I dress more Johnny Depp style-not baggy pants and massive white t's. So i'm definitely not a church goer/preppy all american looking guy but , according to many Mexicans and Blacks-i wish i was white b/c i "act white" and i "speak like a white guy" lol.
fixed your question. It's not always white and black. B/c every black and Mexican guy/girl that made comments like that spoke like that. I'm trying to say that speaking that way and dressing the ways that have been described is somehow the way Mexicans and Black people are SUPPOSED to dress and speak. Did i say it a wrong way? I thought i was pretty clear what i was trying to say. I'm sorry I'm not very articulate. I've had many people tell me i acted white and spoke like a white guy, all of which were Mexican and Black people. Majority were black people and they all(Mexicans and blacks) spoke that way and tried to poke fun at me b/c i didn't speak like that and dress like them.
