Drag Rat

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The term Drag Rat or sometimes Drag Worm refers to a unique population of homeless in Austin, Texas. The name originates from the unusual amount of time these individuals spend on Guadalupe Street, known to locals as "The Drag". Very little is known about them to outsiders; what follows is a sweeping generalization, and should not be taken as an affront to any one group of people.

[edit] Unique subculture

Drag Rats are seen by some as an extension of the Hippie movement, as they seem to shun many aspects of "normal" society, most notably steady work. However, some Drag Rats reportedly have housing, thereby making identification of them as "homeless" a bit inappropriate. Nevertheless, many other qualities generally identified with the homeless are prevalent in Drag Rat society.

The easiest way to distinguish a Drag Rat from other homeless in Austin is by their unusually aggressive panhandling tactics. They tend to be loud and slightly confrontational, often accosting University of Texas at Austin students from the steps of the University Baptist Church, where they tend to congregate. Drag Rats seem to be composed largely of runaway teenagers and twenty somethings, and thus may engage students in a conversational or familiar banter that most other homeless do not.

There is a slight group mentality amongst Drag Rats. Most can be seen traveling and sitting in pairs or even packs. According to many students, there are even Drag Rat unique fashion trends and dress codes that change over time. Facial tattoos and piercings have been cited as easy ways to identify Drag Rats in the past, but seem to have faded from vogue recently. Ever present articles of black or camouflage clothing, however, have always been common.

Drug and alcohol abuse seems even more pervasive amongst Drag Rats than other homeless, and blunt demands for "money for whiskey" or "money for weed" are not unusual. Additionally, there is speculation that some Drag Rats keep a steady source of income by selling drugs to the local student population, though there is little evidence for this other than searches of backpacks and other bags by police.

Many Drag Rats are well-versed in musical instruments, and can often be seen playing guitars, banjos, fiddles, and other instruments on the sidewalk. Others may be seen selling artwork or hand-made jewelery to passers by. This and other aspects of Drag Rat life (including drug use and a tendency to wander on foot) may be the reason some identify Drag Rats as latter-day Hippies.

[edit] Origins?

Those who have ventured into Drag Rat "circles" have come away with varying tales of their origins. Some identify themselves as high school dropouts and runaways, free at any moment to return to their homes in the suburbs of Austin but choosing to live a life of "freedom" out on the streets. Others claim to be drifters who wandered through Texas and happened to run out of money in Austin.