Rioting in the UK

Pettytyrant101 wrote:

I just got done watching the young voters edition of Question Time on the BBC. And two things struck me. Firstly that the young folks there (it was from London and the audience from the areas of the riots) were passionate, full of energy, ideas and observations about the shape of society and the hypocricies within it. And secondly that the most heard word was 'respect' in an audicience which was so rowdy at times it nearly became chaos as they shouted over one another and interrupted one and other. No one got space to talk without first having to quell the crwod with loud assertions of their own right to speak. Something is very amiss in this.
In comparison to the normal QT on last night this however managed to cover much deeper ground. Communities were discussed, familiy units, education, underage sex, responsibilities, rights.
The rioters were held up for what they are- thugs, thieves and chancers, by all, but they were not dismissed as the 'adult' political world seems so keen on doing. The key difference here was the attempt at least to understand it, to get beneath the event itself and look at the state of the society in which such people as the rioters can flourish and act in such a way.
There were many lessons to be learnt here for the world of grown up politics- sadly I doubt any of them were listening (another of the big problems with the political class). And even more sadly I doubt that out of all the bright voices with something to say which I heard tonight that a 1 of them will ever have the opportunities to become an MP or make it into our political class, and thats not only wrong its a shocking waste of our countries potential.

Aargh its been days since the rioting and still the national news keep sayng things like "Britains shame", How will Britain react/recover etc.
Britain did not riot, England did. No riots in Wales, no riots in Northern Ireland, no riots in Scotland. So exactly how is this a British problem?
Not the fault of the rest of us England has become so unpleasant and hate filled they even hate each other.

Have noticed Andy Murry is a British tennis player not a Scottish one.

Only if he wins. When he loses he mysteriously reverts back to being a Scottish tennis player.

Statements so far that are making me crabbit!

"Mr Cameron described the disorder that spread from London to parts of the East and West Midlands, Merseyside, Bristol, Manchester and Gloucester as "a wake-up call for our country". "

In what capacity is he speaking here? He is PM of Great Britain. Is that not 'our' country. The trouble is in England. On a similar note during the riots Cameron said "Water cannons would not be used on our own people."- -But they used them in Northern Ireland- are they not our people any more or did I mss a huge news bullitin somewhere?

"He pledged a "concerted, all out war on gangs and gang culture", which he said was a "major criminal disease that has infected streets and estates across our country".
"Stamping out these gangs should be a new national priority,"

Across our country? National priority? Which nation? Scotland hasn't had a gang problem since the police in Glasgow decided THEY would be the cities biggest gang. There's still problems of course, aint all sushine but it ain't hysteria time up here either- our gangs aren't rampaging through the streets without impunity.

"He has already announced plans to give police more powers to demand face masks are removed and to allow "gang injunctions" for over-18s, launched in England and Wales in January"

Aha so he is really just talkng about England (not sure what the poor Welsh have done to get lumped in with English yobbery mind you) so why does he keep referring to 'our country?'

And the BBC themselves are no better with headlines like: "UK riots: Before-and-after" These were not UK riots- they were ENGLISH riots!!

Quit trying to tar the whole country with this English disease. Unless it happens in the rest of the UK it is not a UK problem.

This is a social problem, how far can you blame a government of any stripe?

Lots- but mainly I am blaming them for misuse of languaage. This is NOT a UK wide problem it has so far been entirely confined to England. THe different parts of the UK are quite seperate now with devolved governments in each- this is careless talk.

Your Prime Minister Cameron certainly said things that resonate with me. Funnily enough, an out and out Commie could easily say the same thing and get the same response from me. Social problem. English Society in Collapse.

English society yes- so far no sign of that here. Edinburghs full of happy tourists at the Fringe. Glasgow is having a major film shot there in the centre of the city right now. There is no trouble here whatsoever.
And most of what Cameron is talking about doing he can't in Scotland anyway- our legal and social systems are devolved so why he keeps saying 'our country' is beyond me and this is not just him annoying my National Pride, this has a real effect on tourism at the height of our tourist season. When he says 'our country' as if its the whole place all over the worlds tv that creates the impression the UK is in meltdown rather than just England.

The erosion of the family unit and it's place in the 'neighbourhood' is at the heart of the decline. Every Western Society is going that way, slowly but surely.

Speak for youself, Scotland is on an upturn not a down.
Where I live we merged all our backgardens together to make one big garden, my end of it is for the neighbours kids to play in with swings, trampoline etc, the middle bit we have a communal veg plot- lovely taters this year I might add, and the end of the row is for the dogs. And we all get together for barbeques on the two nice days of the year. No lack of community here.
Of course Sctoland has huge social problems like everywhere else but we are trying and getting there. Health Care is good, the SNP have created thousands of new apprenticeships with (and this is the important bit) real jobs at the end of them with real companies. Scottish education is improving with new campus' with all mod cons. Our university research is among the best in the world and we lead in many science and engineering fields (as we always have done oddly enough).
No keep your pessimism to yourself Orwell- we are building something to be worthy of Scottish pride thank you very much. You and Cameron can keep your miserable broken society to yourselves, we don't want it here.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:No keep your pessimism to yourself Orwell- we are building something to be worthy of Scottish pride thank you very much. You and Cameron can keep your miserable broken society to yourselves, we don't want it here.

Look you, you in your Scottish Utopia, I'm not saying I like the Collapse - nor am I agin the idea of coming to live with you (plationically).

I have a spare room for platonic friends and my own for their wives.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:I have a spare room for platonic friends and my own for their wives.

So where will you sleep?

Guess.

You.... don't... mean.... Do like being nagged?

She nags in her sleep? Blimey thats dedicated wifing that is. On second thoughts keep her in your room.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:She nags in her sleep? Blimey thats dedicated wifing that is. On second thoughts keep her in your room.

My wife is exhausting at times, but not necessarily in the way I'd like her to be. Perhaps you might have better luck with that. I'll send her over immediately, will I then?



(hee hee hee hee hee heee )

Umm, well would you look at that, a bus load of poor refugees have just arrived in Scotland with nowhere to stay, and as per the Highland Code regarding strangers in need I have to give them my spare room. Its the law you see not me. Such a shame what with your misus coming over but sadly it will have to be another time....{{Phew thank the lord the buckie lends the tongue the power of lying}}}

Oh well --- maybe another time then.... {{{{ }}}}

"Yes, dear, I was just about to take the rubbish bins out.... I WAS, I said.... Look, I'm getting up... even... as... I.. speak..."

{{{{ }}}}}}

{{{That was a lucky escape! I'm well out of that}}} Such a shame Orwell and your missus sounds such a nice sweet thing, a flower of the Outback no less.

I think of her as a desert flower, actually {{{{growing on a prickly pear}}}} and just the kind of woman I could have sent over to straighten you out {{{{and give me some respite}}}}}. Sad you've missed the golden opportunity {{{{and me, too }}}}


You know, how long do we go on with this before Mr Stickynose Admin splits this thread, I wonder?

We could start a riot over your missus to keep it on topic?