The Shackle Shuffle

You've seen them! The young men walking around with their pants down to their knees and their drawers showing.  It's a style that comes to us courtesy of the prison-yard culture where belts are not allowed (well at least that's what I've heard) and so the pants hang low, low, low. 

It's disgusting on so many levels. It's a physical manifestation of the lowering of standards in this youth culture of ours. Imagine, young people aspiring to look like people in prison.  As Chris Rock once said: "You're not supposed to go to jail."  It's not a badge of honor!  But you can't tell young folks that these days.  So now they shuffle around holding up their pants with one hand because it's just so "stylish."  You're supposed to wear a belt.  Every time I see some kid with his pants down so low that he can hardly ambulate it calls to mind those old-time convict chain gangs. I've called the new style of walking "the shackle shuffle."  It's good practice for when they end up in prison.  Prison giveth and prison taketh!

Well, Excuuuuuse Me!

Hold on while I turn on the eyes in the back of my head*. I know you are standing there behind me, in the supermarket aisle or the airplane aisle. I can sense you next to me at the counter, or in the store trying to get to something, but I am blocking you.
You stand there and stand there! I can sense your ire rising, or your frustration. You say nothing. You run a bunch of scenarios in your head starring me as an inconsiderate bozo!

Well guess what? You need to use your words, you know, those three simple words that make the world go around! PLEASE EXCUSE ME, or alternately, EXCUSE ME PLEASE. When you do, I will gladly give you pass! It will not upset me that you need to get by and have politely asked me to move. It is what I expect you to do.

Instead what I have been noticing more and more is that people stand behind me, huffing and puffing and hoping that I will turn and say "I'm sorry" to them for blocking the path. No! It doesn't work like that. I don't know if you are busy back there behind me doing whatever it is you are doing. I am not going to assume you need to get by unless you make it known that you need to get by. Simple as that. Use your bloody words.

(*thanks Gillian)