Comments on: Teenage Gangsters

By: LITTLE KATH

LITTLE KATH — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:14:22 +0000

Following on from your post in December 2007 on Teenage Gangsters, its now August 2008 and the knife and gun violence seems to be reportedly on an almost daily basis.
My views on this subject are this, a large proportion of the perpertrators of some of these knife and gun crimes are from the so called “under class”, where a sub culture of “Get Rich Quick or Die trying” type of “live for today” mentality exists in these urban neighbourhoods.
THE GHETTO, as it is affectionately referred to by Youths and Gangster wannabes is an attractive place where bravado, dominance and street culture rules the area.
Twenty to thirty years ago street slang was formed from West Indian patois which became popularised by the youths into street lingo, over time this has also passed into the modern British school and youth communities, and is now spoken by all youths even those not of west indian descent. Having been derived from the Black community here in the uk, Street Slang also has a close association with the Hip Hop/Rap of the States, where a huge influence has affected British Youths in terms of music, dress code, language, culture, body language and mannerisms which has created a strong sense of identity and belonging in the Black community, and now also other ethnicities and white youths as identification of street credibility. The lively and social elements of black culture and the street slang have appealed to the blandness of the other populace and lead to the demise of correctly spoken english in many a secondary school of this country.
Even the mobile phone communications of TEXT SPEAK has given rise to the incorrect use of the English language which exacerbates the already high illiteracy rates, albeit for those with dyslexia.
The huge influx of migrants to the UK from the four corners of the earth also leads to poor communication and bad language skills as they pick up the street slang and learn the incorrect use of English, which then becomes the norm to these communities – Ignorance breeds Ignorance.
Disturbingly it seems that the lack of role models and parental guidance has intensified the problems of anti social behaviour amongst children and youths.
Kidulthood is a hard hitting but also poignant account of how British society has broken down, the values and morals that were mainstream are now only adhered to by much fewer numbers.
The “Live for Today” and “Get Rich Quick” ideals enforced by the media, celebrityism, consumerism, advertising, gambling LOTTO, has succeeded in hypnotising todays youth into disaffected non ambitious, selfish and apathetic drop outs.
The easy credit schemes of “Buy now pay later” eliminate the positive aspirations of yester year where people were proud to be able to work hard and save up their cash to buy the necessary material possessions. Its only the here and now that motivates an utterly despondant youth movement.
By not being accountable for their actions because of misguidance or drug use is a commonplace excuse for the low aspirations and expectations of todays youth.
Parents do not appear to be accountable or have any influence and control, its as though the whole process of socialisation in families has been erased. Some of the laws introduced to “Protect” children have had both positive and negative effects. The corporal punishment era had a positive effect when used as a last resort in instilling discipline and respect for elders and authority.
These times any adult using force in defending themselves or their property against the thuggery of teenage deliquents are likely to be unjustly prosecuted, the fact that youths are aware of the laws that protect but also prevent justice allow them to mock adults and the authorities.
I truly believe that social classes still exist today, despite what the Iron Lady said. Alot of working class people only aspire to gain in material possessions at the risk of debt, and have shunned the opportunity of improving their living standards or social mobility to their own detriment in the form of education.
Lower income families would rather spend their income on grandiose Christmas celebrations and get into rather than resist the urge and improve their situations long term.
In the event that I am accused of being affiliated to a right-wing group, I can proudly say that I am of the underclass, I am from a single parent family, but despite the deprivation and extreme poverty I was exposed to
I made a choice in life not to venture into a low life world of drugs, crime, and debauchery that some of my own family have chosen.
Any questions, i`d be happy to respond.

Rate This: 0 0

By: J.Williamson

J.Williamson — Sat, 24 May 2008 08:55:07 +0000

I think lack of discipline from an early age is half the problem. A lot of these kids don’t know about love and family life then they get into the wrong crowds of so called mates and the result is violence, probably trying to impress someone in the gang! EDUCATION and new Laws perhaps to give Teachers more say in how to deal with the kids at school because at the moment the KIDS RULE!!!

Rate This: 0 0

By: G Williamson

G Williamson — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:32:02 +0000

I’m glad sense has prevailed and we now have a decision- maker in place who speaks with transparency (and some unintentioned humour, with all due respect!). I’m also glad that it seems that the ‘do-gooding’ element of the LA has been replaced. Do gooders always seem to have good intentions but always lack in lateral thinking, not realising that quite often, their decisions lead to ‘unexpected’ and disasterous results.

What ever happened to discipline? The do-gooders over the last 20 years seem to have taken over the asylum and their initial intentions are now creating havoc in some areas of society. I have to ask, do they think that the word ‘discipline’ relates to a belt, a cat o’ nine tails, the birch? It seems the word in question makes some parts of the community run and hide.

Are they really that un-informed or unintelligent to think that discipline for children as well as adults is one of the key ingredients for a modern and civilised society?

I do not believe we need national service in the 21st century, nor do I feel there is room for corporal punishment, but I do believe that some kind of respect for other human beings and society in general needs to be re-entrenched in some way, shape or form, and if that means removing the right of the perpetrators of the issues we face as a society to be part of our community, then that’s what needs to happen.

A crime should be treated as a crime and dealt with by a punishment that reflects the severity of the crime.

I agree with W Williamson above but am saddened that we have to resort to a cure rather than a prevention at this time.

However, if we make a concerted effort to fix the current, out-of-control issues by issuing a punishment that is abhornet to the criminal (and probably the do-gooders too!), then it should act as preventative medicine and future generations will not have to take on the burden of this generation’s mistakes.

Let’s invest some of the questionable tax that we pay into this interm measure, build a few more prisons (or park a few large boats off the coast) and start issuing long penalties for heinous crimes.

We also need to ensure the criminals don’t want to go back to prison after their term and maybe upset a few more do-gooders as a result.

Rate This: 0 0

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:57:52 +0000

Perhaps increasing schooling until the age of 18 alcohol/smoking illegal until the age of 21. No public drinkng on the streets/transport any age. These are quick wins that can make a hugh differnce in society. Bring back National Service especially for people you have been unemployed for a period of time where it’s quite obvious they are too lazy to work! All I can say is Boris someone needs to take controll and deal with these issues.

Rate This: 0 0

By: W Williamson

W Williamson — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:43:20 +0000

I feel our country would benefit from Boot Camps dealing with disfunctional children/adults correcting their bad habbits/behaviour before it’s too late for the innocent people having to live in a society that is out of control.

Rate This: 0 0

By: Robert Felix

Robert Felix — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:36:31 +0000

Hello, there.
I’m a Yankee from Rochester, New York USA. Enjoyed the article in FT about UK being “the 51st State” The trouble with you is the problem with US-we have much in common besides Her Majesty’s Good British English. I had a computer repair business, most of my clients were in neighbourhoods resembling your Croyden in London-the Jefferson Avenue area,Portland Avenue,and other slums in Rochester. The clients-immigrant Yemeni families that owned small grocery stores. Twice, gangs of coloured ‘yobs’ as you call it tried to kill and rob me. Kill-when the head hood or gangsta has a steel pipe in his hand? But here it is different-I am licensed to carry concealed a Smith And Wesson 38 calibre revolver. Both times I had it in my hand-one can to notice the change in behaviour of these ‘yobs’-they turned tail and ran away as fast as their legs could carry them. Is this the only thing these jackals understand? The stress of being a stranger in a strange land-hunted by two legged predators in the concrete wilderness-caused me to give up the business last year-I do not want to kill anyone endeavouring to make money fixing computers. Tradition is as dead as a fossil in a museaum-but where and how can one draw the limits? It appears that places like Sweden and Estonia do not have these problems to the extent that ‘we’ do-what can be learned from them?

Rate This: 0 0

By: greg bross

greg bross — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:27:57 +0000

i seem to like this guy Boris. But who is exactly.

Rate This: 0 0

By: Kerry Nelson

Kerry Nelson — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:54:09 +0000

I am a carer of my two great nephews and have been for the last twelve years. Although they had had many problems that I had tried to get help with for many years that was not forth coming the worst came when one of them at eleven years old started smoking cannabis.He was also staying out up to six nights a week. I did know the address of where he was going so reported this to the social services and police.I was informed that because I knew where he was even though it was without my consent nothing could be done as he was not a missing person.I decided to go to the address myself only to have a rottwieller come out of the house after me.I was also told that it was agaist my nephews human rights for me to have him drug tested.So even though all profesionals knew what was going on nothing has been done.He and his brother have more or less been told they can do as they please as it is their right.They are now fifteen and fourteen not in school and getting in to trouble.I have tryed everything possible to help the boys only to have services blame me.
As a last resort I asked to see my conservative candidate for the greenwich borough I was informed that I could only see the labour MP.I went to see him today and was disgusted when he said I was blaming everyone else but not myself.He then asked me to leave his office as he had listened to me putting it down to every one else for the last fifteen miniutes and was not going to listen to anymore he said he disbelieved that nothing could be done about the drugs as this is not a policy.Yet I have spoken to the police,my doctor,social services,youth ofending and a drugs unit only to be told I can do nothing.I have given up my job to deal with this as I could not keep taking time off do go to meetings where nothing got resolved.This is why there are teenagers out of control because no one whats to listen just blame.I was also told by the MP when I said I would take it to a paper to do so as they would turn it on me.I love the boys as if they where my own but sometimes wish I could have seen in to the future as I may not have taken all this on and there must be many more people in my position.I can not wait untill a election comes as I hope that labour never get in again.I also hope that you make it as the next mayor hopefully you will listen to what is really going on.

Rate This: 0 0

By: lee storey

lee storey — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:24:58 +0000

It’s possibly a sign that I’m getting old,but I remember when we didn’t have these problems,or certainly not to the extent we have now.People blame fatherless families.But nowadays,divorce is a common event.Teenage pregnancy is a common event too,hardly surprising when you consider how daunting life must seem to young people who are less academically gifted. The thought of working on cash registers or labouring in factories,knowing you’ll never have enough cash to buy your own home or even insure a car when you are young is enough to cause a despair .With very little hope of nothing but a colossal struggle ahead in life.A life of drugs and crime probably doesn’t look so bad.After all,the punishments (designed by MP’s with law degrees) are not exactly a deterrent.Unfortunatly the legal system is nothing more than an industry itself providing rich pickings for those connected to it,whilst hardly serving its purpose of justice. I very much hope Boris becomes Mayor.But I think the way we are governed by westminster needs to radically change before any effective solutions to societies problems (or is that issues? ) are made.

Rate This: 0 0

By: Tom filochowski

Tom filochowski — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:00:21 +0000

Hello Boris,

I support your campaign. i fully agree with your tough stance on youth crime. Being a piazza driver I am attacked regularly by yobs and police do nothing. Stand up to Labour nitwits who talk over opponents with faceitious twaddle on this issue. Its a usual tactic and they’ve been lying about how good the NHS, Police and Schools are too for 10 years now! Go on Boris I am SURE you and the Conservatives can expose these hypocrites. And I know you will bring some good leadership and common sense to the Capital once elected…! Go for it man, don’t stop now!

Rate This: 0 0