Riots in North London (and other UK cities)

[Sergai]

They're British. Don't try to understand them.

That said, London is becoming the new LA. Next you'll have a bunch of random Hispanic-Americans stealing TVs.

I AM British, and yet somehow ive never heard of tasty meaning violent. Ive heard it to mean hawt, and to mean awesome, but not violent. Maybe its a far south thing? I dunno

I think it may have been misspelt. It would make a lot more sense if it were nasty instead of tasty.

[Grave_n_idle]

Apparently, mainly from the local social housing projects.

Or... did you mean how did they form? Again, apparently, through social media.

Local people who want to burn shit, steal shit, have a rumble, and blow shit up... are meeting up to burn shit, steal shit, have a rumble and blow shit up.

It's not some deep psychological conundrum. It's people doing what they want to do, because they think they can get away with it. It's about as simple as psychology gets.

So, what motivates other mobs, like lynch mobs/vigilante mobs?

We're back in 'different spheres' territory, I see.

[Alyakia]

So you're going to completely ignore this criminologist who advises London authorities on youth and gangs because you've decided they're arrogant? Sweet.

No. I'm going to accord some dude saying what he thinks is happening pretty much the same respect that I accord every other dude saying what he thinks is happening.

Except this guy happens to be a criminologist whose job happens to be advising London authorities on youth crime, which gives a bit more credibility than some guy who, for example, spends his days telling a photocopier what to do.

[Great Nepal]

It's not just teens, there are older people involved. Including some who are in it for the money. Gangs in fact.

Okay... and?

It's absurd to say that shooting at the rioters will solve the problem.

Shooting with non-live weapons will. It will make it hard to "get free stuff" so people will stop.

There is no good solution for a riot, you suppress it as best you can with available police showing their presence, arresting rioters where it safe to do so, making identifications, protecting firefighters and ambulance staff, and protecting the innocent.

And that is what UK police has been doing for last... few days and the result? Mindless mass arson, robbing, vandalism and looting is still going on.

Then later when the riot has worn itself out you punish the guilty but only those who really are proven to be guilty after a proper trial.

And by the time it wears itself out, a huge black smoke will be coming out of all major cities in England and below, there will be huge flames.
Sorry, I dont exactly fancy it.

Anything else just builds the kind of resentment towards police and the law which will lead to "protesters" really fighting police, with guns.

1. These are not "protesters", these are mindless idiotic criminals.
2. This is UK, most people generally dont have guns.

[Grave_n_idle]

I AM British, and yet somehow ive never heard of tasty meaning violent. Ive heard it to mean hawt, and to mean awesome, but not violent. Maybe its a far south thing? I dunno

I think it may have been misspelt. It would make a lot more sense if it were nasty instead of tasty.

I've heard 'tasty' mean dangerous or violent, in London.

"It's all gonna get a bit tasty", "Nah, he's a bit tasty".

[Alyakia]

No one is trying to absolve the rioters of blame. Now are you actually going to address the fact that the BBC and Al-Jazeera are saying that the riots have deeper causes in any meanginful way or are you going to keep putting your fingers in your ears and going LALALALALALALALA?

edit: lefty

No, because the more I listen to this lefty BS the more I feel like vgivving the rioters a whiff of grapeshot.

And BTW Al-Jazeera says? Wonder what they'd say if this was going on in any Arab country. But that wouldn't happen because the govts there would just break out the machine guns.

And the more I listen to this rightist bullshit the more I feel like throwing myself off a building and going into a coma for 30 years and waking up when the next riots happen after jackshit gets done. Again. Might stick around to see if Operation Banner II happens.

Yes. That's true. Do you want our government to break out the machine guns like some backwards theocratic shithole?

So, uh, what about the BBC?

[Oterro]

I absolutely adore that people are endorsing violent military crack downs - yes suppress rioters with lethal force, that ends civil unrest quickly :/

[Grave_n_idle]

No. I'm going to accord some dude saying what he thinks is happening pretty much the same respect that I accord every other dude saying what he thinks is happening.

Except this guy happens to be a criminologist whose job happens to be advising London authorities on youth crime...

And he's very welcome to have his opinion.

As others have pointed out, of course - people who advise London authorities on youth crime... should probably stay quiet, at the moment.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

Might stick around to see if Operation Banner II happens.

It would be nice to see internment make a comeback on its 40th anniversary don't you think

[Great Nepal]

"Prof John Pitts, a criminologist who advises several London local authorities on young people "

Good reading.

Appeal to authority

I would rather listen to criminals involved in crime on why they are committing crime rather than some random dude commenting on why others are committing crime.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

I think it may have been misspelt. It would make a lot more sense if it were nasty instead of tasty.

I've heard 'tasty' mean dangerous or violent, in London.

"It's all gonna get a bit tasty", "Nah, he's a bit tasty".

Not British but i've heard it used in that way too

[Alyakia]

Except this guy happens to be a criminologist whose job happens to be advising London authorities on youth crime...

And he's very welcome to have his opinion.

As others have pointed out, of course - people who advise London authorities on youth crime... should probably stay quiet, at the moment.

Just because you advise doesn't mean they listen. Governments have a bad habit of ignoring things.

[Syvorji]

Why not arrest everyone who takes part in the riots, and torture them by the comfy chair, Monty Python-style.

[Alyakia]

"Prof John Pitts, a criminologist who advises several London local authorities on young people "

Good reading.

Appeal to authority

I would rather listen to criminals involved in crime on why they are committing crime rather than some random dude commenting on why others are committing crime.

Hey, there's been plenty of videos of youth talking about how closing the youth clubs will have a negative effect and of rioters talking about the riots.

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20 ... ondon-riot

This is the only one I have handy at the moment. But there's plenty in rest of the thread.

Random dude who spends his life studying crime.

[Grave_n_idle]

I've heard 'tasty' mean dangerous or violent, in London.

"It's all gonna get a bit tasty", "Nah, he's a bit tasty".

Not British but i've heard it used in that way too

Example: "QPR's Stan Bowles said of him: 'He was a bit tasty and sly with it. He'd wait until the ball had gone and kick you one. When Chopper [Harris] took your legs from under you at least he'd be up front about it.' "

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2003 ... t.comment1

[Grave_n_idle]

Random dude who spends his life studying crime.

I guess the important question is... has he been rioting in these riots?

[Alyakia]

Random dude who spends his life studying crime.

I guess the important question is... has he been rioting in these riots?

I don't know. If he was I doubt he'd be announcing it on the BBC website.

[Grave_n_idle]

I guess the important question is... has he been rioting in these riots?

I don't know. If he was I doubt he'd be announcing it on the BBC website.

So his academic authority is, you'll excuse me, I'm sure... academic?

[AiliailiA]

Could you perhaps link to where you said live fire on the rioters would be OK by you?

Your meme called. It said it wants it's LMGTFY back.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=22&gs_i ... 66&bih=674

I clicked that. I didn't see you saying that you were OK with live fire on rioters.

Which is a shame, I would have bookmarked it.

[Alyakia]

I don't know. If he was I doubt he'd be announcing it on the BBC website.

So his academic authority is, you'll excuse me, I'm sure... academic?

I guess so. So, does this mean I get to ignore all of the people in this thread because not only do they not have any "academic authority", they aren't rioting?

[Grave_n_idle]

Your meme called. It said it wants it's LMGTFY back.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=22&gs_i ... 66&bih=674

I clicked that. I didn't see you saying that you were OK with live fire on rioters.

Which is a shame, I would have bookmarked it.

http://174.129.234.110/viewtopic.php?f= ... e#p6659425

[Grave_n_idle]

So his academic authority is, you'll excuse me, I'm sure... academic?

I guess so. So, does this mean I get to ignore all of the people in this thread because not only do they not have any "academic authority", they aren't rioting?

Ignoring them is your choice, obviously.

Or you could just use your knowledge to 'weigh' their responses.

[Alyakia]

I guess so. So, does this mean I get to ignore all of the people in this thread because not only do they not have any "academic authority", they aren't rioting?

Ignoring them is your choice, obviously.

Or you could just use your knowledge to 'weigh' their responses.

Hey, you're the one trying to ignore criminologists based on criteria that can also be applie to yourself/everyone. I try not to ignore people. ):

What?

[Grave_n_idle]

Ignoring them is your choice, obviously.

Or you could just use your knowledge to 'weigh' their responses.

Hey, you're the one trying to ignore criminologists based on criteria that can also be applie to yourself/everyone. I try not to ignore people. ):

What?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

I didn't ignore Prof. Pitts. I just don't attach any special significance to his opinion.

[Gravonia]

I think it may have been misspelt. It would make a lot more sense if it were nasty instead of tasty.

I've heard 'tasty' mean dangerous or violent, in London.

"It's all gonna get a bit tasty", "Nah, he's a bit tasty".

^this.

EDIT

e.g.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/9423021.stm See: 16.24