Riots
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:08 pm
Is this just what happens in an economic downturn?
A group for contestants and lovers of the Channel 4 game show 'Countdown'.
http://c4countdown.co.uk/
Seems like a fair description of the police, yep.Andy Wilson wrote: I guess it boils down to scumbags spotting a free for all and having fck all else to do?
Troll.Ryan Taylor wrote:I'm quite proud to say I'm from Hull now. Lots of black people I see in these news images. Coincidence? I think not.
Not quite. I've got a sister in the Met (she now runs research projects for Scotland Yard) and she is absolutely definitely positively not. No comment on the other sister in West Mercia Plus many forces have had quite a big drive towards positive discrimination, although I'm not claiming for a minute that numbers are anywhere near right yet.Jon O'Neill wrote:In fairness to the anti-police sentiment, every po-lease I've ever met has been racist.
Do you consider this a good thing? I didn't think it was legal in employment. Also, I'm not sure the term should ever be used without scare quotes or preceded by "so-called".Lesley Hines wrote:Plus many forces have had quite a big drive towards positive discrimination, although I'm not claiming for a minute that numbers are anywhere near right yet.
In the UK, any discrimination, quotas or favouritism on the grounds of sex, race and ethnicity is generally illegal in both education and employment.[22][34] Specific exceptions include: The 1998 Good Friday Agreement required that the Police Service of Northern Ireland recruit equal numbers of Catholics and Protestants in order to eliminate the service's perceived bias towards Protestants.
The Labour Party passed the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002, allowing them to use all-women shortlists to select more women as election candidates.
I like the thought that someone would come on to a forum for a game show about words and numbers in response to the worst rioting we've seen in this country in twenty years.Andy Wilson wrote:Just came on to see if there was a topic on this.
seems to sum it up quite well, from my comfortable white middle class perspective, though I don't think that the 'tension' has nearly as much reason for being there as it had through the 80s & 90s.Jon O'Neill wrote:Yeah it seems to be just people with nothing better to do and nothing to lose going out and fucking shit up. Maybe all this tension has been bubbling under and it's taken the shooting to act as the spark.
Yep. And they might get themselves a free pair of trainers. Race/police hatred/recession/Tories are all red herrings as far as I can see. I'm somewhat annoyed by the whole thing as it meant I had to walk home from the pub. AND the pub stopped serving 10 minutes early.Michael Wallace wrote:Is it just people thinking "huh, rioting looks kinda fun, let's give it a go"?
I wouldn't assume that. Someone got this thing started and they must've been motivated by something more than the free trainers. Of course you get your usual troublemakers, as with the university fees protests and anything else. That might be a small or a large fraction of the participants, it's too early to say, but it doesn't invalidate the original point.Matthew Tassier wrote:Yep. And they might get themselves a free pair of trainers. Race/police hatred/recession/Tories are all red herrings as far as I can see.Michael Wallace wrote:Is it just people thinking "huh, rioting looks kinda fun, let's give it a go"?
As it happens I don't, particularly. I think they should employ the best person for the job regardless of any physical factors. However, I would like to see a fairly equal representation as I think it's too easy for prejudiced ideologies to become imbued when you don't have fair representation across the board. Also, I doubt they would describe it as specifically as positive discrimination, but there have very definitely been targeted recruitment drives within ethnic sectors, that I consider to be a good thing.Gavin Chipper wrote:Do you consider this a good thing? I didn't think it was legal in employment. Also, I'm not sure the term should ever be used without scare quotes or preceded by "so-called".Lesley Hines wrote:Plus many forces have had quite a big drive towards positive discrimination, although I'm not claiming for a minute that numbers are anywhere near right yet.
This feels different from previous violent occasions. I might be wrong, but when raw emotions were on display in the miners' strikes, in the poll tax riots, and student protests, I don't recall the focus on looting that seems to be behind a lot of what's going on now. In those earlier ones, the violence was against authority, not Boots The Chemist and JJB Sports, on the whole, if my recollection is correct.Charlie Reams wrote:I wouldn't assume that. Someone got this thing started and they must've been motivated by something more than the free trainers. Of course you get your usual troublemakers, as with the university fees protests and anything else.
Whose focus are we talking about here? There's certainly a media focus on that. I don't defend the violence, looting or arson, but if you get distracted by that then you miss the serious part of what's happening.Brian Moore wrote: I don't recall the focus on looting that seems to be behind a lot of what's going on now.
Unfortunately I only have the media to go on (though I haven't seen any live TV news), so can only rely on various filtered sources of information. But, as I say, I don't recall this reported level of looting on previous violent occasions. On the one hand, I suppose it's better if they are nicking bikes and TVs instead of trying to kill or injure people, but it somewhat undermines the political point.Charlie Reams wrote:Whose focus are we talking about here? There's certainly a media focus on that. I don't defend the violence, looting or arson, but if you get distracted by that then you miss the serious part of what's happening.
Obviously the original trouble in Tottenham was loosely based around the protests about the police killing of the suspected criminal there. I don't believe the copycat recreational looting in other areas is anything other than opportunist.Charlie Reams wrote:I wouldn't assume that. Someone got this thing started and they must've been motivated by something more than the free trainers. Of course you get your usual troublemakers, as with the university fees protests and anything else. That might be a small or a large fraction of the participants, it's too early to say, but it doesn't invalidate the original point.Matthew Tassier wrote:Yep. And they might get themselves a free pair of trainers. Race/police hatred/recession/Tories are all red herrings as far as I can see.Michael Wallace wrote:Is it just people thinking "huh, rioting looks kinda fun, let's give it a go"?
What even the black and Asian ones?Jon O'Neill wrote:Yeah it seems to be just people with nothing better to do and nothing to lose going out and fucking shit up. Maybe all this tension has been bubbling under and it's taken the shooting to act as the spark.
In fairness to the anti-police sentiment, every po-lease I've ever met has been racist.
Troll.Ryan Taylor wrote:I'm quite proud to say I'm from Hull now. Lots of black people I see in these news images. Coincidence? I think not.
Lets hope it doesn't turn into 'rivers of blood' eh!!!Charlie Reams wrote:What was it Malcolm X said? Chickens coming home to roost?
How is the American media covering the situation?Charlie Reams wrote:I wouldn't assume that. Someone got this thing started and they must've been motivated by something more than the free trainers. Of course you get your usual troublemakers, as with the university fees protests and anything else. That might be a small or a large fraction of the participants, it's too early to say, but it doesn't invalidate the original point.Matthew Tassier wrote:Yep. And they might get themselves a free pair of trainers. Race/police hatred/recession/Tories are all red herrings as far as I can see.Michael Wallace wrote:Is it just people thinking "huh, rioting looks kinda fun, let's give it a go"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04clpd7h0b0Michael Wallace wrote:Right then chaps (is chaps gender-neutral yet?), how do we fix Broken Britain?
Put Countdown back on.Michael Wallace wrote:Right then chaps (is chaps gender-neutral yet?), how do we fix Broken Britain?
Sounds to me like it's a large proportion of twenty/thirty-something opportunists. And there's a correlation with areas with large black populations, but that only explains as far as I can see some of the occurrences in London, and not much at that. Kudos to the shopkeepers banding together in some areas to protect their streets. That's a definite plus for local shops over chains!Marc Meakin wrote:What even the black and Asian ones?Jon O'Neill wrote:Yeah it seems to be just people with nothing better to do and nothing to lose going out and fucking shit up. Maybe all this tension has been bubbling under and it's taken the shooting to act as the spark.
In fairness to the anti-police sentiment, every po-lease I've ever met has been racist.
Troll.Ryan Taylor wrote:I'm quite proud to say I'm from Hull now. Lots of black people I see in these news images. Coincidence? I think not.
The demographic seems to be teenage boys rather than ethnic minority.
From what I've seen of Hull, Ryan, its been hit too.........oh sorry, Hull always look s like that, my bad.
Should've bought the breakdown cover.Michael Wallace wrote:Right then chaps (is chaps gender-neutral yet?), how do we fix Broken Britain?
Bit early for the Nuremberg defence isn't it?Lesley Hines wrote:Whatever you think about the police as an organisation, spare a thought for the individuals who are just doing their job
Not at all. I'm not defending any tosspots or any levels of tosspottery said tosspots choose to aspire to. I just know my sister's at home with two small kiddies worried about her chap in what is a genuinely dangerous situation.Charlie Reams wrote:Bit early for the Nuremberg defence isn't it?Lesley Hines wrote:Whatever you think about the police as an organisation, spare a thought for the individuals who are just doing their job
Jon O'Neill wrote:Troll.Ryan Taylor wrote:I'm quite proud to say I'm from Hull now. Lots of black people I see in these news images. Coincidence? I think not.
Spot on. You'd like the grammar used up here too.Marc Meakin wrote: From what I've seen of Hull, Ryan, its been hit too.........oh sorry, Hull always look s like that, my bad.
I think a lot of them are. They have no morals which a lot of the time is linked with levels of low intelligence. If you have a bit of something going on upstairs then you know it is wrong to do what people are doing and you don't do it. Of course it doesn't mean if you're an idiot you riot and loot, just that if you do riot and loot you tend to be a dolt.Marc Meakin wrote:Very good Ryan. I dont think the people that orchestrated this are thick though. Does anyone else like the irony that phone hacking is being used to track them down.
I quite like my teeth as they are, that's the main reason I'd think before diving into the fray. Someone about to torch a shop I'd say is also likely to quite happily give me a dented skull for my trouble. Of course lots of them wouldn't, but I don't wish to risk my ongoing health for the sake of a coin toss.Ryan Taylor wrote:I think a lot of them are. They have no morals which a lot of the time is linked with levels of low intelligence. If you have a bit of something going on upstairs then you know it is wrong to do what people are doing and you don't do it. Of course it doesn't mean if you're an idiot you riot and loot, just that if you do riot and loot you tend to be a dolt.Marc Meakin wrote:Very good Ryan. I dont think the people that orchestrated this are thick though. Does anyone else like the irony that phone hacking is being used to track them down.
What is annoying to see is how the ordinary citizen just stands back and watches it happen. There are plenty of videos circling the web of people just filming what is happening. Why the fuck are they filming it? Why aren't they trying to prevent the criminal acts? There's a video of the solitary guy who set fire to the Miss Selfridges store. In the video there are tens of citizens just walking by and turning a blind eye to a guy stood their committing arson. Seriously what the fuck? Heaven only knows why people do not stand up for their beliefs and values. I have broken up quite a handful of fights in my time when they break out after a night out. Many of the people fighting are bigger than me (that's not hard to be since I'm a skinny twat) but that doesn't stop me from trying to break up something which I fundamentally think is wrong. Violence is wrong 99% of the time. I quite liked how the Sikhs came out in force to protect what they believe in.
You would die a hero!Ian Volante wrote: I quite like my teeth as they are, that's the main reason I'd think before diving into the fray. Someone about to torch a shop I'd say is also likely to quite happily give me a dented skull for my trouble. Of course lots of them wouldn't, but I don't wish to risk my ongoing health for the sake of a coin toss.
Yeah, but you'd still be dead. And the person who killed you would probably live longer in infamy than you would in praise anyway.Ryan Taylor wrote:You would die a hero!Ian Volante wrote: I quite like my teeth as they are, that's the main reason I'd think before diving into the fray. Someone about to torch a shop I'd say is also likely to quite happily give me a dented skull for my trouble. Of course lots of them wouldn't, but I don't wish to risk my ongoing health for the sake of a coin toss.
Him indoors isn't the type to stand by and watch it happen. He confronted some troublemakers in our local, so they waited for him outside - well over half an hour, mind - and pulled a knife on him. (He laughed at them - it helps being built like a brick outhouse.)Ryan Taylor wrote:What is annoying to see is how the ordinary citizen just stands back and watches it happen.
He does also have a conviction for assault though, right? So maybe not a great example of the merits of sticking up for oneself.Lesley Hines wrote:Him indoors isn't the type to stand by and watch it happen. He confronted some troublemakers in our local, so they waited for him outside - well over half an hour, mind - and pulled a knife on him. (He laughed at them - it helps being built like a brick outhouse.)Ryan Taylor wrote:What is annoying to see is how the ordinary citizen just stands back and watches it happen.
He confronted some bloke who groped me while I was escorting my disabled mother down some steps, so said weirdy punched him. I objected and got punched too for my trouble.
He confronted two guys who were chasing some kids down the street so they both set about him and he ended up needing stitches in his face.
All completely true stories.
The problem is with being a decent person prepared to help is usually the troublemakers are bigger bastards prepared to go further than you
True, although that was where someone threatened him with a bottle several times outside in a club (off CCTV, but the 20yo guy had a record for burglary, assault, and theft), and he got caught retaliating (unarmed) inside.Charlie Reams wrote:He does also have a conviction for assault though, right? So maybe not a great example of the merits of sticking up for oneself.
Yeah, these all seem like pretty good reasons not to get involved.Lesley Hines wrote:Him indoors isn't the type to stand by and watch it happen. He confronted some troublemakers in our local, so they waited for him outside - well over half an hour, mind - and pulled a knife on him. (He laughed at them - it helps being built like a brick outhouse.)Ryan Taylor wrote:What is annoying to see is how the ordinary citizen just stands back and watches it happen.
He confronted some bloke who groped me while I was escorting my disabled mother down some steps, so said weirdy punched him. I objected and got punched too for my trouble.
He confronted two guys who were chasing some kids down the street so they both set about him and he ended up needing stitches in his face.
All completely true stories.
The problem is with being a decent person prepared to help is usually the troublemakers are bigger bastards prepared to go further than you
People have been saying that "discipline is being eroded" forever. When you were off your tits on psychedelic drugs for the entire 1970s (I imagine this is how you turned out like you have) your elders were probably saying the same about you.Marc Meakin wrote:I would like to know if anyone agrees with my assertation that most of this lawlessness stems from the ending of corporal punishment in this country. The slow eroding of discipline and in a lot of cases parenting in general.
being able to use 'smacking' to discipline a child, if not abused, is a good thing IMO (in my opinion Gavin).
Yes I know that there have been some sadistic people, mainly teachers, IME(oh look it up Gavin FFS)who abused this, but stopping corporal punishment because of this abuse of power would be like banning all fire arms after what happened in Norway etc.
Oh and I think its time to ressurect the stocks for all those caught.certainly better than the one day in jail that seems to be the punishment for some (ok one) of these looters.
This is ridiculous. You think you are some sort of Jon Corby for stopping a fight once. How about the real problems in the world that you're doing nothing to help? I'm talking life and death situations... why don't you relocate to The Congo and look after orphans? Why are you standing back and watching, turning a blind eye to and just not bothering to intervene with their HIV problem?Ryan Taylor wrote:It's pretty conclusive that standing back and watching, turning a blind eye or just not bothering to intervene is the best thing to do. This is a pretty fucked up world to live in when this is the case.
Citation neededJon O'Neill wrote:People have been saying that "discipline is being eroded" forever.Marc Meakin wrote:I would like to know if anyone agrees with my assertation that most of this lawlessness stems from the ending of corporal punishment in this country. The slow eroding of discipline and in a lot of cases parenting in general.
being able to use 'smacking' to discipline a child, if not abused, is a good thing IMO (in my opinion Gavin).
Yes I know that there have been some sadistic people, mainly teachers, IME(oh look it up Gavin FFS)who abused this, but stopping corporal punishment because of this abuse of power would be like banning all fire arms after what happened in Norway etc.
Oh and I think its time to ressurect the stocks for all those caught.certainly better than the one day in jail that seems to be the punishment for some (ok one) of these looters.
Hangover?????Jon O'Neill wrote:This is ridiculous. You think you are some sort of Jon Corby for stopping a fight once. How about the real problems in the world that you're doing nothing to help? I'm talking life and death situations... why don't you relocate to The Congo and look after orphans? Why are you standing back and watching, turning a blind eye to and just not bothering to intervene with their HIV problem?Ryan Taylor wrote:It's pretty conclusive that standing back and watching, turning a blind eye or just not bothering to intervene is the best thing to do. This is a pretty fucked up world to live in when this is the case.
The fact is, if you spent your whole life worrying about other people's problems, you'd have no time left for anything else. So you live your own life. Which is fine... just don't sit on your high horse when you're 99.99999999999999% as guilty as everyone else of what you're accusing the fucked-up world of as the world is itself.
I'm not anti-Police... I'm anti-Policemen-I've-met. I'm not in a position to make a judgment on the Police as a whole, but stuff like this doesn't help their image.Marc Meakin wrote:I have never taken a recreational drug in my life.
So apart from being anti police (one day you might just need one) what's your take on it..........maybe its a protest at the rising tuition fees.
Spare the rod, and spoil the fish.
1952: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n6 ... line&hl=enMarc Meakin wrote:Citation neededJon O'Neill wrote:People have been saying that "discipline is being eroded" forever.Marc Meakin wrote:I would like to know if anyone agrees with my assertation that most of this lawlessness stems from the ending of corporal punishment in this country. The slow eroding of discipline and in a lot of cases parenting in general.
being able to use 'smacking' to discipline a child, if not abused, is a good thing IMO (in my opinion Gavin).
Yes I know that there have been some sadistic people, mainly teachers, IME(oh look it up Gavin FFS)who abused this, but stopping corporal punishment because of this abuse of power would be like banning all fire arms after what happened in Norway etc.
Oh and I think its time to ressurect the stocks for all those caught.certainly better than the one day in jail that seems to be the punishment for some (ok one) of these looters.
I meant to comment at the time, but when Phil linked that Not the 9 O'clock News clip I thought it was pretty funny that they were saying precisely the sort of things that are being said now, and that presumably at the time of them making that they were already cliches.Jon O'Neill wrote:1952: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n6 ... line&hl=en
That's a joke. There's obviously no way of citing that statement.
“Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.”Marc Meakin wrote:Citation neededJon O'Neill wrote:People have been saying that "discipline is being eroded" forever.Marc Meakin wrote:I would like to know if anyone agrees with my assertation that most of this lawlessness stems from the ending of corporal punishment in this country. The slow eroding of discipline and in a lot of cases parenting in general.
being able to use 'smacking' to discipline a child, if not abused, is a good thing IMO (in my opinion Gavin).
Yes I know that there have been some sadistic people, mainly teachers, IME(oh look it up Gavin FFS)who abused this, but stopping corporal punishment because of this abuse of power would be like banning all fire arms after what happened in Norway etc.
Oh and I think its time to ressurect the stocks for all those caught.certainly better than the one day in jail that seems to be the punishment for some (ok one) of these looters.