David Cameron calls for all teens to do community service.

[Baron von Blitztank]

So the answer to the riots is to punish the people who weren't involved, pissing them and most likely leading them to create even more rioting...

 

[Sparrow]

I wouldn't mind doing a bit of community service. Then again, that's just me. I'm a go-getter type of fellow, most people are more "You want me to clean streets? Why don't you go fuck yourself instead?"

 

[Jonabob87]

I quite like the idea of this to be honest, in areas like mine where there's little to do and lots of crime to get involved in this would give younguns stuff to occupy themselves with!

 

[FFHAuthor]

I merely say LOL to this entire thread and responses. Best laughs I've had all day.

Thanks everyone!

May I ask why do you LOL?

Because of the pure irony in almost all the posts and by many of the posters who are saying 'It wasn't us it was those bastards who don't care.' linked with 'How dare you want me to help out?!?!' immediately afterwards.

Speaking as someone who had to do mandatory service work in the community during Grade school, High School and Technical School, there is a marked difference in the way people who have done community service both voluntarily and involuntarily, view their community and how they behave in it. I went to tech school, and my program had mandatory community service, you had to work on projects and help out with things from Habitat for Humanity to helping the homeless and participating in food drives, some of those events were open to everyone in the school, I rarely ever saw anyone from outside our program joining in.

But on point...I just think it's ironic that everyone who wants to say 'we're better than the rioters' is flipping out when the Prime Minister gives them the option to prove it.

Yes that is right, but the problem is that this might be forced upon all teenagers, whihc means that ones who have to do coursework/homework will have less time to do so. I dont think theyre saying, how dare you want us to help theyre complaining that it is being forced upon them, people who have had nothing to do with the riots.

Well, according to the article, it's a voluntary organization.

The Prime Minister states he would be in favor of a compulsory service organization, and the previous government pushed for one, but this is a voluntary action. We can discuss 'might' all day, but the article seems to make it rather clear that it's not being 'forced upon them'. Its an option being given for all those people who are saying that they had nothing to do with the riots and it's disgusting...but they shouldn't have to deal with it, because it's not their problem.

The only question I can ask in response to this entire thread, is which is worse? The person who riots, or the person who can do something to make it better and refuses to do anything at all?

 

[bobmus]

Seems out of character for someone with the upbringing of him or Boris to say that it should be compulsory. It'll simply piss everyone off, from angry kids who hate being told what to do to middle-class kids who'd never riot anyway and just want to work towards uni. How very unifying for a country.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

this is really unfair, he's PM of Scotland too.
not outrage about the OP saying PM of England its mainly to do with scotland not rioting yet we may still get this.

if by some miracle this law gets passed, is free hugs a community service?

Sorry, didnt know that. I feel dumb now

what that we didnt riot?
i was shocked to.
*looks for the guy who saw this the last time*
not a single bin was overturned!

 

[Korolev]

I don't think this will fix anything. As disgusted as I am by the rioters, the cultural problems are too big to fix with a little "community" service. You might clean up a few streets, but if you don't solve the fundamental reason why people litter and graffiti the street in the first place, it will just be a recurring problem.

You've got to fix the education system and start putting out better educational programs for kids. Education is the key to solving anything and everything. You've got to really start punishing parents who let their kids wander off from school and you need to start disciplining children in school, as well as punish parents who don't discipline their kids. Discipline and Education: Those two things will fix Britain.

 

[MrFluffy-X]

I?ve always hated the conservatives, because of shit like this¬¬

"In his fullest response yet to last week?s riots, the Prime Minister pledged an all-out drive to mend Britain?s ?broken society?.

I know the countries are next to no different but its always referred to as "Britain/UK riots", there was no involvement of Wales nor Scotland.

Anyway if I were an English teenager, there would be no chance I would do community service, there is no way everyone will cooperate. They should protest!...via riots...

 

[Lizardon]

It was mandatory at my school, in Western Australia to complete 25 hours of community service over 3 years (Years 10 -12). We were given a free hour every week and the school organised a bunch of different programs for us to participate in. It was relatively easy, my community service was helping in a computing class. Then after two years they decided it was too much effort and scrapped the program

 

[Callate]

As one wag pointed out, Cameron could do better to note that he and many of his colleagues in Parliament have also engaged in questionable shenanigans that have cost the taxpayers thousands upon thousands of pounds. [link]http://nathanieltapley.com/2011/08/10/an-open-letter-to-david-camerons-parents/[/link]

You haven't seen a genuine youth riot yet, Mr. Cameron, but you seem to be doing everything in your power both to inspire and deserve one.

"Who can we scapegoat for this that can't vote?..."

EDIT: Should be noted that Cameron isn't calling for mandatory teen service, though the mayor of London is. Still don't appreciate the scapegoating.

 

[Thespian]

This is blasphemy, this is madness!

The goverment can't possibly force you to do this! If you don't want to do the service, refuse taking part. Many people did nothing wrong. I say that there should be a boycott.

Although this dosen't apply to me, because I'm chilling out in Ireland

I agree 100% with everything said here. Whoop!

Spoiler: NEWS JUST IN!

DAVID CAMERON SPOUTS SOME ELITIST CRAP THAT WIDENS THE GAPING DIVIDE IN THE BRITISH CLASS SYSTEM!

This made me chuckle.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

this is really unfair, he's PM of Scotland too.
not outrage about the OP saying PM of England its mainly to do with scotland not rioting yet we may still get this.

if by some miracle this law gets passed, is free hugs a community service?

Sorry, didnt know that. I feel dumb now

what that we didnt riot?
i was shocked to.
*looks for the guy who saw this the last time*
not a single bin was overturned!

No, I meant with the England PM being the Scotland PM

 

[Jodan]

im kind of for this helping people into adulthood.
lets do itmake alturism part of our society and not stop at holding the door to make yourself feel better

 

[Adam28]

The only question I can ask in response to this entire thread, is which is worse? The person who riots, or the person who can do something to make it better and refuses to do anything at all?

Easy, the person who riots. Not wanting to do community service is not a crime. I am not saying you don't have some good points but I don't think its fair to accuse people who just don't want to do community service as bad as those causing destruction to society.

 

[Dragunai]

See, I am one of those weird people who actually likes the idea of national service.
You get all the dole moochers and the "hard men" chav scum wads and drag them into the military and laugh at how they all break down and cry at the hands of a grizzled Drill Sergeant.

That and it would help speed up my joining the RAF ^_^
Britain at her peak was a great country when it still had its military traditions and heritage.
Take away the discipline and you take away the structure.

I'm also pro death penalty, check me out on the Left wing of this crashing plane =P

 

[Amphoteric]

I really don't care about this. Mostly because I'm older than 16 and in Northern Ireland.

 

[dfphetteplace]

I see a lot of people bitching, but what exactly is wrong with helping your community?

 

[Griffstar]

Don't teenagers have to do community service anyway? Why don't they do it and help their city at the same time? Or is that only in Canada?

 

[yman15]

as much as I don't see a problem with people doing community service work, making it mandatory does not help the problem.
only making it mandatory for those who have been suspended from school or have been known to stir the pot for no reason should.
such as instead of a teenager just staying home for suspension, maybe work at a soup kitchen for twelve hours each day they are suspended or whatever is applicable in the area. It helps the community and if the teenager hates it then maybe they don't pull any bullshit when there is no need to.

That idea is Brilliant!!!!!!!!
I see all these punishments in school and I really don't see whats so bad about them. Oh those 3 troublemakers are at it again! Its time to call the principle to talk to this class of 30 like there the worst thing that's happened to this school ever. I go to an American school and most punishments are group punishments. Its always the same kids who are getting into trouble and then the entire class has to pay. I don't know why but it looks like when it comes to teenagers what the minority does always reflects on the majority and makes us look like mischievous.

 

[Jacksaw Jack]

They tried adding a 20 hour mandatory CS for graduation my last year in high school. Told the Dean of Students to fuck off, left the campus and tested out for my diploma. Within 2 weeks I had my paper and $10.50/hr (starting)wage with plenty of overtime ...Granted that was almost a decade ago.

In short, forcing people to do shit they wouldn't do otherwise will only breed contempt. Although the fuzz should have had more control. Protesting is one thing, but as soon as some assholes start breaking, burning and looting shit. Then the gas, tasers, and "non-lethal" ammo should let rip. Wanton destruction of civilian property is unacceptable. If you don't wanna get shot in the nuts with a plastic/rubber bullet and have a taser shoved up your ass, then don't burn down the fucking city block.