London Riots

[Shivarage]

pissed off people in London who are young, poor, gave up on education (they fucking deserve to be poor, that didn't stop me getting a job being born poor there).

Yep... because there are enough highly paid jobs for EVERY single person there had they just gotten those pieces of paper, you do realize that you were allowed to advance your career AT THE COST of those who didn't, a qualification is worth NOTHING if 10/10 people who did it got 100%.

You should really rethink that extremely elitist remark.

 

[supermariner]

Ah us Brits do seem to love a good riot ... for some reason
But whatever, i don't think there's a moral highground to be had here. I'm just staying away from this one

 

[Eduku]

Probably the usual chavs and hoodies that always seem to be involved with these things. Just find somewhere where they would never go, and hide there until it's over. The Job Centre ought to be a safe bet...

Or somewhere like WHSmiths or Waterstones, anywhere which stocks items that require basic intellect to use. Although someone should man the colouring books, just in case.

 

[Fleischer]

Back in '30, I lived in Hanwell for around 3 months. It is one of the most ethnically diverse parts of London, as well as England. Other than a smashed up telephone booth and some idiot kids playing with fireworks, I didn't see much violence or evidence of crime where I lived.

I have been reading a bit about Tottenham's history and current situation. Most of the people living there qualify as being in poverty. To me, shit like this is going to happen over and over again, in poor areas where jobs are scarce. If it was up to me, I would be looking to ways to involve the local community to successfully educate the youth there. Also, there should be more job assistance, hell something akin to the Great Depression's WPA, instead of direct food aide and other welfare support.

The community is sick in Tottenham. Without fixing the problem, more outbreaks will occur.

Having said all this, I want to be clear that I do not condone these riots, in any way shape or form.

Regarding the social networks being used to organize the riots, criminal action should be taken against people who advocate and help setup this mayhem. The US has laws against starting riots and other unsafe situations, so I suspect the UK has similar statutes.

 

[Comando96]

Yep... because there are enough highly paid jobs for EVERY single person there had they just gotten those pieces of paper, you do realize that you were allowed to advance your career AT THE COST of those who didn't, a qualification is worth NOTHING if 10/10 people who did it got 100%.

You should really rethink that extremely elitist remark.

I joined the fucking army, how is that elitist?
It was the only real option than becoming scum like the rest. There are always jobs out there, and if there aren't then society has collapsed... instead of just a lul in aggregate demand >.>

 

[Jackalb]

I was just watching a clip of some riot police charging and y'know what fuck that. That's some scary shit to be on the other side. Fuck medieval times when its not a plastic shield or a baton. Fuck Everything.

 

[aashell13]

Come now, Brits. Rioting in the streets? That's the sort of nonsense I expect from the French.

 

[Spygon]

Well this was a severally biased post by the op lol. They haven?t even confirmed if the guy fired on the police yet they have said it is a possibility.

Also you dont cant really contain riots without getting heavy handed that might be what started this in the first place

 

[Eduku]

Okay, situation in Croydon's escalated. A lot. Lots of shops I go to now smashed in and looted, large furniture store completely on fire. There is genuinely black smoke in the sky...

EDIT: Looking at the live feed on BBC news, just realised this was the same store I went past everyday on the way to school. Now that's unsettling...

 

[Gladiateher]

Good gravy, riots are so stupid. Another great example of weak willed people losing control of themselves.

I think you have it backwards there... although riots are stupid, they at least prove they havn't completely submit to dominance from the elite classes

Eh, either way man. Typically rioters are sucked into the whole "mob mentality". At least people who have "submitted" aren't wrecking shit.

 

[MrJKapowey]

Rioting: the unofficial pastime of the entire European subcontinent.

Hahem, we ARE an entire continent.

Anyway, I support the police who are out there, trying to keep the peace for those who wish it.

Too bad no cops were killed, reading about that always brightens up my day

Huh, why? So, you are one of the small minority who believe that a huge group of humans is capable of rationing and controling itself without a duly constituted authority to ensure that nothing goes wrong?

You believe that without the police, we would be better? What would your first response be if someone stabbed a close member of family to death as they opened your front door before knocking you out. You awake to find the door shut, the body dumped in your bathroom and most of your stuff gone. What do you do?

1 - Call the Police and Ambulance, initiate first aid to preserve life, if any remains.
2 - Say 'Well, shit happens' and get out another can of beer.
3 - Initiate first aid before realising the family member is dead. Bury the body secretly 5 miles out of town and get on with your life.

Your attitude (effectively, hearing about policemen dying makes me happy inside) forbids you from doing 1 as you dislike the police, and hate them to the point of wishing death upon them.

That statement defines you as either not thinking about your statement, or thinking about it but being a criminal who (for obvious reasons) dislikes the police).

Why do you dislike the police that much, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[BGH122]

Too bad no cops were killed, reading about that always brightens up my day

What a terrible thing to say.

 

[Biosophilogical]

Rioters attacked firemen who attempted to put out the blaze and attacked members of the public who assisted, or even spoke to, the rescue services.

See this bit? That pisses me off. Unless a fireman is using his hose as a weapon (or his axe/oxygen tank/etc) you don't interrupt them (especially not to attack them!). I'd sort of understand attacking a police officer during a riot (I wouldn't necessarily support it, but it'd at least make some semblance of sense) but a firey? Next they'll be attacking paramedics! And then what!? Who could you possibly attack in a riot that makes less sense than a medical professional or a fireman?

OT: You guys get a lot of publicised riots. Perhaps there are bigger issues up there that you need to work on?

 

[BGH122]

Rioters attacked firemen who attempted to put out the blaze and attacked members of the public who assisted, or even spoke to, the rescue services.

See this bit? That pisses me off. Unless a fireman is using his hose as a weapon (or his axe/oxygen tank/etc) you don't interrupt them (especially not to attack them!). I'd sort of understand attacking a police officer during a riot (I wouldn't necessarily support it, but it'd at least make some semblance of sense) but a firey? Next they'll be attacking paramedics! And then what!? Who could you possibly attack in a riot that makes less sense than a medical professional or a fireman?

These people just want to cause mayhem. They don't care who gets hurt. That said, there's simply no excuse for attacking any member of public service who's attempting to do their duty, be they a fireman, paramedic or a police officer.

I've updated the OP with the new riot locations.

Well, brits are bad at rioting, but contain with teargas and beanbag shotguns? Or you know, bigger cars

OK for one you've obviously never been to England or seen one of our towns or cities, are streets are so small you can barely fit an average sized car through some roads if there are parked cars. We couldn't have bigger cars if we wanted to (which we don't because our gas prices are so high).

Second we're great at rioting, we're just terrible at containing them. Part of the reason in this case is that the areas are sort of police no go areas due to the amount of violence is directed towards police on a daily basis. Shouldn't be like this but there's nothing you can do really.

You don't have those armored vans in the british police force?

No, we don't use those. We use Sprinter vans with a mesh grille over their windshield. We're heavily under-equipped.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

A thoroughly well put post overall. Welcome to the Escapist, if you haven't already been welcomed!

I think the problem is that most of the people involved in these riots (and the new riots/public disorders/lootings that have sprung up across other black areas of London, or so I'm told) never had a legitimate grievance in the first place and were just a bunch of yobs who wanted to get into a fight.

We've got a huge problem in London, that no oxbridge educated politician is actually aware of, with a growing underclass of people who're, for want of a better word, amoral. People who genuinely don't care about society, genuinely don't even consider that their actions have consequences not only for themselves, but for others too and who generally don't understand concepts like 'personal responsibility' and just want to blame everyone else for everything they do. It's very problematic that the general approach of the last decade from the government has been one of excusing the bad behaviour of certain sections of society as failings of the police (be it in their failure to keep control with their inadequate support or failure to maintain positive relations with criminals).

It's all very well for us to say that certain behaviours aren't acceptable, but when not a single burglar nor knife-crime convict received the maximum sentence last year these words become resoundingly hollow.

Thank you for the welcome, although I have been here for some time. And thanks for supporting my point, and I agree with you completely; there are people who are completely unaware, or even just plain ignorant, of the consequences their actions bring. These are the people who make it harder for both sides to make some sort of agreement. As for the burglar and convict that recieved less-than-adequate sentences, well to put it bluntly: legal systems are f***ed up sometimes. It the people's job, however, to do their best to choose the right government officials that will benefit them, not to throw a temper-tantrum when something doesn't go the way they want it to.