London and England riots

[Tesla]

It gets worse - Blackberry users who own Xbox's! We should have seen it coming...

Imagine what they're going to do when they find out they have to pay for online play I bet none of these brain dead chavs thought of picking up a XBL card and scanning it

 

[spunwicked]

Looks like it.

Again, now is not the time to start assigning blame - and anyone assigning blame anywhere apart from these cowardly rat children is pointing in the wrong direction. You cannot blame a government which has been in power for 65 weeks for the decades that have created these nasty little vermin.



It seems that the younger generation is very out of touch with what the older people had to face when they were young. Miner's strike, Winter of Discontent, the 70s Oil Crisis - hell, even rationing and World War 2 if you want to go back far enough.

If only the poor back then had been able to organise their protests on BlackBerry Messenger. Of course they didn't have the same gadgets as the rich did back then, whereas today they apparently do.

You are right with what you say, past generations did have their own issues to contend with and coped with them admirably for the most part. I just fear the UK has reached a tipping point and I am struggling to see what good will come of this.

Perhaps compulsory service in the military would chill out those who feel the need to be 'all gangsta ennit'.

 

[Vince_Fiero]

I hate all this talk of the next generation living in "poverty".

Our benefits system is more than generous, the people looting didn't look poor to me.

It is relative, compared to what they think others have or they deserve they feel poor (thus the looting).

Coming back to the similarities I see with Arab revolutions:

1) It is an uprising due to not being happy with the personal situation.
2) We had some in Greece earlier, more countries will follow.
3) Police is a trigger of protest, people are revolting against authority.
4) To keep law and order military intervention seems imminent.

Some differences:
1) Clearly, it seems that the people are not motivated by a political line (not certain for me in the Arab world either). And still (Sex Pistols):

I am an anarchist
Don't know what I want
But I know how to get it
I wanna destroy passerby

2) It does not seem to be peaceful manifestations that get out of hand, but it is a deliberate looting during the night.
3) The political system is generally accepted as being more directed by the people.
4) It is a lot closer to home.


I do believe that Europe needs to watch out for this in general.
It is something that will destroy more then it can create, but debating this with the looters seems ridiculous.

A strong opposition figure that can calm spirits down (in an inspiring way) would be better then military intervention.

 

[TommyWizard]

Im sorry, but there is no defending our government(s) in todays world.

Between scandels and ever increase cost of living I seriously dont know whats going to happen to me come next month, next year, 5 years. You can't plan ahead any more and set out the life or guidelines you'd like to stick to. We pay pretty much double the price of Americans for petrol at the pumps; our NHS is competely annilated, to have a report out recently where hospitals admitted to having such long waiting times in the hope that the patient DIES or moves to a private practise is ridiculous.

I've felt the sting of the NHS myself, I needed an operation on my foot. Nice English doctor comes over from England to lend a hand at the surgery side of things in my local hospital. I waited 2 years to have a simple operation only to be told that because Im 15 (couple of years back) he can't operate on me for legal reasons and said I'd have to go back on the waiting list. Granted. I've ranted about something not close to the meaning but you can see how screwed up the country is. 3 years later, I get the simple 20 minute operation and everything is well. 5 years of my life in pain, all they had to do was pay someone to pull off the toe nail and incinerate the nail bed and nerve system.

Dont get me started on the "Helping you into the business world" crap they've dealt out to my college and my current job "career". A brilliant document with a line in it reading "Employers now have more leniency being allowed to pay apprentices £2.50 an hour." arrived in my workplace when I conveniently started. Thank you so much for that, I have been raped of money that I fully deserve. I work 40 hours a week for a lesser wage than that of a Mexican Immigrant working in America (yes, I've checked!). There isn't a hope in hell of me seeing more money. If I ask Im told "Times are tough, maybe when your here a year we can see again" but have a guess whats going to happen come september? There going to take the reward money from the government for holding me for a year and then letting on I never set foot in the company.

Its such a vicious circle. I can't afford anything and its because of our leaders that that trend is going to continue. The public needs to know EXCATLY what these guys are spending money on and ask serious questions when money ends up in the duck house.... Yeah.... thats something else to be peeved at too, they cant sweep that under the rug to easy.

[/rant]

EDIT: Going to go kick a cat for anger now lol

DOUBLE EDIT: Im going to quote an Ice Hockey player who plays for our Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team on a tweet he sent.

peaks71 Craig Peacock
didnt think id be heading back to belfast on friday to get away from riots! #sortitout

Statement and a half right there lol!

 

[Famine]

EDIT: Going to go kick a cat for anger now lol

Nah, what you should do is go looting. Rob a Tesco for a family pack of Value Basmati Rice:

 

[axletramp]

I'm wondering when all the 2012 Olympic memes are going to turn up. Haven't spotted any yet.



PS. I have plenty of rice so I kicked a cat.

 

[TommyWizard]

I had to laugh at that on Saturday morning. You could go rob Tesco's or Comet for a £6000 TV with 3D or go rob JD Sports for the latest pair of striped Addidas tracksuit bottoms

 

[dhandeh]

Nah, what you should do is go looting. Rob a Tesco for a family pack of Value Basmati Rice:

I'm so tempted to mention, chicken, rice and peas.

I'm wondering when all the 2012 Olympic memes are going to turn up. Haven't spotted any yet.



PS. I have plenty of rice so I kicked a cat.

That was done last night, as was kaiser cheifs!

 

[axletramp]

I'm so tempted to mention, chicken, rice and peas.

Gasp! Is he mugging that rice with his fingers?

 

[TheCracker]

I had to laugh at that on Saturday morning. You could go rob Tesco's or Comet for a £6000 TV with 3D or go rob JD Sports for the latest pair of striped Addidas tracksuit bottoms

They were ransacking Primark yesterday. Nothing like aiming high.

They need to be getting themselves down to Knightsbridge.

 

[axletramp]

That was done last night, as was kaiser cheifs!

Has Babylon's Burning been taken?

 

[dhandeh]

Has Babylon's Burning been taken?

No, go for it!

 

[homeforsummer]

History is also littered with examples of disenfranchised masses rioting and bringing governments down. These riots shouldn't just be seen as a relative handful of yobs causing havoc for the sake of it, it could quite easily be the start of something much bigger if not handled correctly.

I agree, but these riots aren't happening because people are unable to get jobs, they're happening because people believe society owes them for some reason.

It's a parenting thing too for sure. If I'd not actively gone and got a job when I was 16, gone to uni at 18, got more jobs etc, I'm damn sure my parents would have kicked me out and forced me to work for myself anyway.

Certain elements of society are happy to lay about doing nothing, and don't give a damn if their kids do the same. But obviously it's not their fault, it's the government's for not doing enough to help...

Im sorry, but there is no defending our government(s) in todays world.

Sorry, but the government, like anyone else, is innocent until proven guilty on this one. All I see are people setting fire to businesses and people's houses and nicking games consoles and alcohol.

That's the actions of good-for-nothing individuals, not the actions of a society that's being screwed by their government.

Its such a vicious circle. I can't afford anything and its because of our leaders that that trend is going to continue. The public needs to know EXCATLY what these guys are spending money on and ask serious questions when money ends up in the duck house.... Yeah.... thats something else to be peeved at too, they cant sweep that under the rug to easy.

I'm sorry, but you're 15. If you've given up and resorted to ranting about the government this early then I have absolutely no sympathy for your situation. Go out, get a job, work your ass off for a few years, study hard, get better jobs, and come back to me in a decade and if you're still feeling hard done-by then, then I might start listening.

People giving up and blaming someone else so early is what's got the country into the mess it's in in the first place.

It's always somebody else's problem.

 

[axletramp]

No, go for it!

Cool!

 

[axletramp]

It's a parenting thing too for sure. If I'd not actively gone and got a job when I was 16, gone to uni at 18, got more jobs etc, I'm damn sure my parents would have kicked me out and forced me to work for myself anyway.

+1 👍

Mine did, and I was at Uni as well! Expecting to be bailed out by anyone - including the state - was never an option.

 

[Clark]

The video of the injured man being helped to his feet then robbed is sickening.

 

[axletramp]

Here's the link to the group my mate's involved with: http://www.riotcleanup.co.uk/Riot_Clean_Up.html

 

[spunwicked]

I'm sorry, but you're 15. If you've given up and resorted to ranting about the government this early then I have absolutely no sympathy for your situation. Go out, get a job, work your ass off for a few years, study hard, get better jobs, and come back to me in a decade and if you're still feeling hard done-by then, then I might start listening.

People giving up and blaming someone else so early is what's got the country into the mess it's in in the first place.

It's always somebody else's problem.

If you had read his posts you would see that he is 17-18 (edit: 19!). Are you blind to how lame our governmental system is? It is a self serving system of sycophantic scoundrels. It has been for decades. Almost as ludicrously out of control as the "free market" economy.

 

[TommyWizard]

@ Homeforsummer

Im not 15, at the time of the time of the surgery.
Im coming 20 at the end of August, you can apologize by wishing me an early happy birthday lol


Im joking of course! But I will have to go steal a cake from Marks and Spencers here!

 

[axletramp]

But I will have to go steal a cake from Marks and Spencers here!

Aaaaargh, run! It's a middle-class riot!

 

[dhandeh]

+1 👍

Mine did, and I was at Uni as well! Expecting to be bailed out by anyone - including the state - was never an option.

I suppose, working hard, building you way up, then having the satisfaction of feeding your family and providing them with a roof over their head, by through all of your own work, is not the way to go.

Lets smash up our community, nick rice, left trainers from foot locker and then say its the governments fault. There is no excuse for this, it is ridiculous and anyone who says, lack of future blah blah blah is equally deluded.

Life is what you make it, if you work hard you get your rewards. You shouldnt have these rewards , took away from you by pond scum.

The video of the injured man being helped to his feet then robbed is sickening.

Lowest of the low, and there would appear to be a few of these.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Can't wait till the council estates start reading the news, should be a few days, but they'll probably kick up a fuss too.

 

[Vince_Fiero]

I agree, but these riots aren't happening because people are unable to get jobs, they're happening because people believe society owes them for some reason.

But you put a link implicitly in this statement.

unable to get jobs = you feel useless => riots which you contest in the beginning of the sentence.

Feeling useless makes people do crazy things, they do not have a sense in life.
But that would make it a religious issue.

I see a link to this:

Most of the evidence on hooligan offenders suggests that they are generally in their late teens or their 20s (though some 'leaders' are older), that they are mainly in manual or lower clerical occupations or, to a lesser extent, are unemployed or working in the 'grey' economy, and that they come mainly from working class backgrounds. (See Dunning et al 1988; and for a critique, Armstrong and Harris, 1991)

 

[homeforsummer]

If you had read his posts you would see that he is 17-18 (edit: 19!). Are you blind to how lame our governmental system is? It is a self serving system of sycophantic scoundrels. It has been for decades. Almost as ludicrously out of control as the "free market" economy.

And none of that is any excuse for just giving up on making things better for yourself and moaning about how everything is somebody else's fault.

The government isn't perfect by any means but people who complain about it constantly rather than trying to make things better are far, far worse. It's why I have no sympathy for people who don't vote either. Not prepared to vote? Don't expect things to change.

@ Homeforsummer

Im not 15, at the time of the time of the surgery.
Im coming 20 at the end of August, you can apologize by wishing me an early happy birthday lol

Apologies, I read the surgery bit and then posted.

But you put a link implicitly in this statement.

unable to get jobs = you feel useless => riots which you contest in the beginning of the sentence.

Feeling useless makes people do crazy things, they do not have a sense in life.
But that would make it a religious issue.

There's a link for sure, but it's an indirect one.

These people are rioting because they can, not because they have a reason to. You can bet though that their underprivileged backgrounds will be their own reason for their behaviour, rather than the fact they're all excuses for human beings and have no desire to improve themselves or society.

 

[Pupik]

Funny how he can steal all those games, but he can't steal a decent camera.

That would take a grain of skill to use and a spark of creativity to desire; boxed discs can't do the same. In three years, his wares will be forgotten junk. Is that worth a criminal record, fines, and jail time? Of course not...thus, the ignorance of mob action.

Want to make a statement? Attacking those that employ you doesn't make a statement. I'm tired of hearing how everyone wants immediate change...overnight success usually takes about 10 inglorious but quiet and unassuming years.

CNN and FoxNews had nothing on the riots in their morning broadcasts, although USA Today had a little article. Basically, it's trying to paint the "victim" as a "29-year-old father of four", although they did mention the circumstances were "unclear".

 

[axletramp]

Is there not an argument that perhaps we are reading too much into this. OK, it is extreme, but judging by their ages I'm wondering whether this would have kicked off during term time. Bored, misguided kids from poorer backgrounds just getting away with it?

Can't wait till the council estates start reading the news, should be a few days, but they'll probably kick up a fuss too.

Haven't they all got Sky?

 

[homeforsummer]

Is there not an argument that perhaps we are reading too much into this.

Totally. There is literally no reason and no justification behind the riots. There wasn't even really justification for a peaceful protest after Duggan was shot, but then peaceful protesting is at least legal.

 

[boiltheocean]

I feel sorry for all the photojournalists out there risking their lives to get images. I've read many have been beaten up and had over £8000 worth of equipment stolen.

 

[spunwicked]

And none of that is any excuse for just giving up on making things better for yourself and moaning about how everything is somebody else's fault.

The government isn't perfect by any means but people who complain about it constantly rather than trying to make things better are far, far worse.

Far, far worse than what?

Join the Take Back Parliament movement, get involved in community grass roots sports, pay your taxes. Every little bit helps progression towards positive change. Personally, I believe that a governmental structure which was formed centuries ago isn't up to the job of governing society today.

Who's giving up?

 

[axletramp]

Totally. There is literally no reason and no justification behind the riots. There wasn't even really justification for a peaceful protest after Duggan was shot, but then peaceful protesting is at least legal.

Exactly. I think we can safely say the Duggan issue has been overshadowed.

The police couldn't tell the friends and relatives anything as an official investigation had been launched. Therefore they aren't legally allowed to discuss it - with anyone.

I feel sorry for all the photojournalists out there risking their lives to get images. I've read many have been beaten up and had over £8000 worth of equipment stolen.

Well, at least it wasn't their home or business that was destroyed, just some work equipment that was insured.