Loose Backpack Carrying
Early this year in Japan, there was a great dispute about one of the Olympic athletes and their ethics on how they should wear uniforms. A teenage snowboard player has worn the national uniform pants so loose that his boxers showed. I did not quite see it as a big issue, it seems like awfully a common thing to do. But some people found this very offensive and considered as a shame for the nation. He had to publicly apologize on TV a few days after his departure from Japan. He was crying and seemed shocked of the influence he has had.
Artifacts we wear or use, their have presumptions on how we use the items and how we should wear them. Wearing them so loose means that you are trying to stretch the way of use beyond those presumptions. And this sign, is often considered unconventional and results in raising eyebrows of some.
Now, I have seen in many countries where boys wear their uniform pants loose with their boxers exposed; Recently in Bangalore, I have seen teenage boys on the street obviously on the way to school wearing their backpacks loose. Now their bag containers were dangling and they did not look quite comfortable carrying that way. I am assuming that the only explanation I could find is that they are trying to take this ‘loose wearing’ their own way. Could my interpretation be true? Or was there any sign I’ve missed?
