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[Vasco]

One of the academics over here has been studying social aspects of the poorer areas of UK, particularly in London, for the last 3 years.  She says that this was predicted and the governmen were warned that riots like this could occur.  Her view is that it is the result of large numbers of unemployed youth crammed into small areas and unable to move out of them due to gang territories and the dangers these create.  According to her this is all frustration as these are the first generation ever who are worse off than their parents.

She then went on to say that things are not that much better in some areas of NZ but that because of our size and the fact that we don't have the same crowding issues that here it is just reflected in one of the highest youth suicide rates in the OECD.

So in effect she is saying that it is just mindless violence and destruction born of total frustration and a sense of inescapability.

[Wooster]

I still maintain that mindlessness doesn't enter into it, there's a reason behind it.

Glasgow is the 3rd largest city in the UK, unemployment is rife, poverty is rife and it has some of the poorest health and life expectancy rates in Europe..and that's before we get even into the addiction rates and random violence (sectarian (which isn't a patch on what it used to be) or otherwise).

It has a different government, with different priorities though...and it's working.

We've had similar (looking at the figures, it could be argued, bigger) budget cuts to the rest of the UK, but they're in different areas.

[Vasco]

I still maintain that mindlessness doesn't enter into it, there's a reason behind it.

I should have left the word mindless out because my statement as written contradicts itself.  It should have read

So in effect she is saying that it is violence and destruction born of total frustration and a sense of inescapability.

So I did give a view on the reason for it and you have obvious views on the cause of the frustration which as I am so far away from all this I will not comment on as to do so would just be ignorant.

[Wooster]

That's a fair comment.

Something I mentioned in another forum that touches on what you just said, is that because we have a national government (within the UK), we have different options on the table.
Wales and Northern Ireland are the same in some scope for change, if they choose to do so.

England are unfortunately lumped with the same old (untrusted?) parties.
The only hope they had was with the Liberals (where a lot of the youth vote went), who went and fucked it up within weeks of going into a coalition with the Tories.

Who do they turn to now?

[Vasco]

Who do they turn to now?

The Greens?  Lets face it if they were all mellow on pot they wouldn't feel like fighting, they'd just have the munches.   

[Wooster]

 

We can fit speakers to every lamp-post and pump Sitar music through them 24/7..

[keasy]

It's not mindless it's well organised as is being reported.

It's organised crime as diversionary tactics by gangster groups so they can rob. Simple. It's not political, at all.

As for their manipulated hordes of thugs, the vast majority of them are just out for a good time that involves destroying property etc.  It's all because it gains you respect within their ultra shit thick gang cultures mentalities, they never thought for one second they where doing this as a demonstration for one moment.

[BarrieB]

Accepting that it's organised in as much that the messages are going out & accepting that the news is being manipulated by those reporting it.

There are still a lot of hooligans out there who are mindlessly following others & spouting words that have no relevance to reality.

[Glamdring]

I note they've arrested four Welsh guys for inciting violence in England on things like Facebook. Not sure if that's funny or not. Probably not.

[Wooster]

I was knotted when I heard that Cameron's threat to shut down Social Networking sites during riots has received some praise..














.......from the Chinese authorities..

[Splinter]

I'm puzzled as to how 'parenting' can be taught
Is that the govt's responsibility? Or is good (or bad) parenting inherited from our own parents?

[BarrieB]

There was an item on local TV recently about teaching the skill of parenting.

One woman who was surrounded by her kids drawing & reading with them said some people need to be taught.

Another who was sitting in her car because hers were rowing inside the house said she didn't need any lessons in how to bring her kids up.   

So in answer to your question - Yes or no.

I'm not a parent but I think I'd be like the first woman not the second.