Is there a reason for the riots?

[Kizmet]

do you MIND???? cheek!
I like it here, so does everyone who knows here, and it is emphatically NOT a "shithole" - simply extremely nondescript.

I like it too. But it IS a shithole. If a lovable one...

well yeah, but that really IS a statement from the Department Of The Bleedin' obvious!!!

I don't think it's really all that obvious. Because it's so fundamental. The task is to restore hope. The first challenge.

Obvious doesn't, sadly, mean easy...

 

[Kizmet]

bored kids looting, not political at all, not protesting anyway

looting is protesting.

 

[Pickman's model]

bored kids looting, not political at all, not protesting anyway

what like the people in nottingham who firebombed the police station?

 

[Kizmet]

Can I just say Did Kizmet know you are in Leyton?

If not, this is descending into foot-in-mouth comedy.

He lives in Leyton? Poor bastard.


Kidding... I live there too.

 

[_angel_]

bored kids looting, not political at all, not protesting anyway

I think they said 1/5 of the people involved were under 18. That means 4/5 weren't kids. This still didn't stop the news pontificating forth for ages about the "younger generation".

 

[cool herc]

what like the people in nottingham who firebombed the police station?

Having a pop at the plod is just what bored kids do - still just bored kids.

 

[Pickman's model]

Having a pop at the plod is just what bored kids do - still just bored kids.

so how many police stations have 'bored kids' firebombed outside the riots if, as you say, 'having a pop at the plod is just what bored kids do'?

 

[cool herc]

so how many police stations have 'bored kids' firebombed outside the riots if, as you say, 'having a pop at the plod is just what bored kids do'?

You tell me. Plenty of cop cars get burned up as a dare, its what kids do for kicks

 

[cool herc]

I think they said 1/5 of the people involved were under 18. That means 4/5 weren't kids. This still didn't stop the news pontificating forth for ages about the "younger generation".

I say "kids" I mean youth - under 21, or under 25 if youre a shortarse

 

[belboid]

You tell me. Plenty of cop cars get burned up as a dare, its what kids do for kicks

really? Can't say I've seen many round here, and I suspect I'd have heard about if they had. Flicking v's at cops is one thing, actually firebombing the feckers is a taking things a step or two further

 

[cool herc]

there's a video or two on youtube where cop cars are getting nicked for joyrides.

Everyone hates the cops when theyre kids

 

[Kizmet]

I'm not all that fond of the older ones either.

 

[cool herc]

touche

 

[DotCommunist]

there's a video or two on youtube where cop cars are getting nicked for joyrides.

high standards of evidence

 

[goldenecitrone]

Interview with Cameron on Today programme now, asking him if he understands how people get caught up in the moment, and if he saw any places getting smashed up when he was in the Bullingdon Club.

 

[ericjarvis]

high standards of evidence

This is beginning to bug me. I keep hearing people spouting simplistic shit with absolute 100% confidence which implies they KNOW precisely why the riots took place despite not having listened to anything said by anyone who actually rioted. The last couple of days I've been going round the estate asking people for their take on the riots as a prep for going to the LMS meeting last night. I've had some very articulate explanations of "what my friend who was one of the people that burned down FootLocker says he did it for".

So, can I just ask a favour from Urbanites. If you HAVEN'T taken the time to find out what those involved in the riots have been saying, can you just bear in mind that your opinion may well be a complete crock of shit.

Which doesn't mean that there aren't rioters spouting complete bollocks too, but at least it gives some insight into what they think can be used as a reason or a justification, even if it's far from the whole truth.

 

[kabbes]

I know it's a hella arrogant and mega-patronising thing to even think of suggesting it, but people don't always understand their own full range of motivations for their actions.

Not just rioters, but all of us.

 

[Kizmet]

Careful, Kabbes... you're treading dangerously into kizmet territory...

 

[ericjarvis]

I know it's a hella arrogant and mega-patronising thing to even think of suggesting it, but people don't always understand their own full range of motivations for their actions.

Not just rioters, but all of us.

True. However I still think it's a bit dodgy to attempt to analyse somebody's motivations without getting ANY evidence of what they think.