London / UK Riots

[goddamniamsoawesome]

Re: London - riots

@ravage

Interesting! Certainly an eventful life. Slightly confused about the details, you lived in South and SouthEast London for a year and a half during which you both got into gangs and got out of them..? Or did you mean you lived there during the time you were working wiht the higher ups after getting out of the gangs.

I lived in South London for over three years. This one and half year stretch was during the time I was involved with some of the gangs. The initiative some of us took on began near the end of and further on from that time.

@ravage

Im not sure why these are mutually exclusive. Do you mean to say that the experience of this gentleman doesnt correspond to reality? You say you know a lot of people making it out of their stations in life, perhaps you should note that the UK has the lowest social mobility rates amongst developed countries. The chances of a UK child doing better than his parents are lower than in other places.

And why are the chances of a UK child doing better than his parents so low? Rather than blame past prejudices maybe we should look at the current opportunity. Just because you were wronged in the past does not mean you can hold on to that and whine for as long as you live. You have opportunities to move along and work on yourself. Too bad you don’t avail of them. That is the point everyone seems to be missing out on. Not sure why.

@ravage

You point to culture, I say again PDC represents the same culture that exists in the rest of the modern world, albeit in a cruder wrapper. Thats just consumerism. The glorification of crime results from it being the most accessible way to get the glorified PDC [where lets take D to include flash cars and designer clothes]. In that sense it is just mainstreaming.

And that is a problem. I do have a problem with such glorification. I do have a problem when role models are gun toting, booty slapping, ice-grilled and souped up whip driving gangsters. If you think that’s okay just because its consumerism than I really don’t think you get my point. Its not okay, no matter how mainstream it is. Most people latch onto such mainstream culture/trends. Its an undeniable fact. Humans are parasites - to popular culture, to the latest fashion, to the latest intellectual discussion, to the latest actor or actress; we need something to latch on to. Some choose their picking, some don’t. Atleast that’s my real-world take on it.

@ravage

Once again, see the report I link above. Opportunities in the England are NOT equal by any means. Also, the intent in saying I’ve seen how they live is to simply say that I have seen both segments of society, and regardless of what your personal experiences are I find it hard to believe that you think there is no difference between the opportunities and lifestyle Toff Toffington has and what someone growing up in Brixton does. That just stretches credulity, and I have to believe you were oversimplifying to make a point.

Maybe you should live down Brixton and make a judgement call then? Or how about you take a walk into town one of these days and have a chat with the locals? They’re all friendly people and maybe when you hear the story from those that live there, you might just change your mind or atleast understand what I’m having a go at. Opportunity might not be equal but are we to blame that for being a catalyst? 'eh I don’t know that.

@ravage

Most of my friends work in the city, and I have spent five years in the academia. The experience of both groups of people is that these are spheres where black people, and lower class people in general, are a rarity. Yeah you know a few people who work in Sainsbury to avoid getting into gangster life but that isnt really my point. The life that is advertised and promoted as ideal in this culture is inaccessible to most of these people no matter how many hours they work at Sainsburys, and that is no small thing.

A rarity but they are there. I might have spent my time in the rough ends but I have a pretty vast social circle, I know some of the big fish in London and some of the small fish (In terms of wealth, influence, status and perceived social value) and I get to see both segments of society. You see and hear about stories of people ‘breaking out’ all the time. I wonder what suddenly dawns upon them that they can manage to get away? You believe in luck, I believe in personal responsibilty and perseverence. And its not just low-tier service industry jobs. I know people who make hundreds of thousands of pounds in months doing legitimate work. Young guys who worked along side us to help tackle such social problems that belonged to such areas. They chose to carry on working hard at their education and are employed by major organisations in Finance, Sports, Media, etc… you name it. And honestly, a good life is inaccessible to the majority of the world’s population yet you don’t see the majority of the world population getting out on the streets for days of mindless violence and plunder. Sorry, it just doesn’t cut it.

@ravage

On what basis?

Authorities commented on that. Check the news.

@ravage

There is a world of difference between some being a gangster and someone who should have been shot. Warna to you were a part of a gang too. Should you have been shot?

If I was carrying a gun and proceeded to b*****sh it in the presence of police. I deserved to get shot. How many shots would I have had to fire to justify counter-fire from the police? Aye, you see where I’m going with this?