Unsafe Streets.....
 

Is it bad when I can't walk down my own street without fearing for my life?
I'm 17, and when i was young...well, youngER....i don't remember gangs, thugs, scum basically, wandering the streets..... is this because i didn't care at that age, or because these anti-socials are breeding too fast?
I see young teens in the street drinking, fighting, asking the eldest looking one (and even complete strangers. i.e me) if they can 'get served' for fags and alcohol, and i know these miniture hellians are going to grow up, and be even more intimidating. It's disgusting, and i can't believe i actually try my hardest to avoid them to avoid being abused, when they've barely reached puberty.
I suppose the worst ones are my age that hang around on street corners. I was walking to a friends house in accrington and there were gangs of these 'chavs' drinking (obviously) and shouting all sorts of language to eachother.....we took a different route home. What really got to me for some reason was the fact there was elderly people around...I would never dream of swearing in front of my elders...strangers or not, because i don't want these learned people to get the wrong impression of teens...my friends...the decent kind. Maybe it's the upbringing, maybe it's the parents, i don't know, but this area is getting worse. Sometimes i do wonder where the parents are of these people....do they know what their children are doing? Probably not.... Don't get me wrong, it's not EVERYWHERE round the towns, but I'd love to walk around my home town with my head held high without fear of being mugged, called names or having a glass bottle being thrown at me. I'm not even gonna go into what trouble we've had on our street, it's like living in a soap opera.....boring, annoying and damn right frustrating. Can't these people just go....simply...just go away......
Lea
x

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I find this interesting. Especially coming from someone who is of a similar age group to the young hooligans. I am one of those older people, and I hate to hear the language that falls out of the mouths of children.......it is refreshing to hear that you find it intolerable too....I hope there are many more of your peer group out there who feel the same.
I applaud you and award you some Karma for telling it like it is.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I'm same age group too and I hate them. Do I get some karma? ;)

But seriously, there has to be a reason that these people are like this. I put it down to broken families, no money and dire boredom. I can relate so strongly to their situation in many ways. That's not to say that I think it's acceptable to behave the way that they do. It's just that I can understand their position.

I was out last night, round accrington. Anyway, after the night came to its natural end, we went to get some food. The amount of stick you get simply because you don't have a shaved head and wear different clothing is ridiculous. Me and my friends were being called so many different names it's untrue. If we'd had a few more drinks I don't think we'd have stood by and let it happen.

We've got a problem that needs sorting out. But I don't think it can be done by whacking an ASBO or arresting them. These people are still gonna go out and they're still gonna push the boundaries of the law. They can't get arrested for insulting people, but we can get arrested for turning round and planting our fists into their faces. They deserve it from where I'm stood. These people have no future and no lives and I think we'd be doing them a favour, to be quite blunt. We need to seriously tackle this problem from its roots. People have nothing to do and no motivation. Our binge drinking culture is there for a reason. People are fed up with one thing or another and turn to getting drunk to escape the real world. Maybe getting locked up will spice up their lives a little. I don't know the answer to this problem, but this cannot continue. I'm off to uni in september (hopefully), moving into the city, so it may be a little different over there. I hope so. If not, I'm leaving the country.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

We're kind of outnumbering the older people in this thread right now ;).
I'm 18 and agree with everyone. These people have no respect for themselves or anyone else. As ploppysirploppy says, when im around older people or even just people I don't know, I watch what I say, because I care what peoples impressions of me are, I don't want them to get a bad impression, but also because I know it's intimidating.

So many times i've decided to walk accross the road, or walk another way, to avoid people, because these people JUST DONT CARE.. i've known people get beat up for no reason, they don't know the person, they havn't even been mugged, just beaten up for the pleasure of the scum.

I personaly don't think it's down to poverty, there are loads of people like this and its not an exclusive club for people from poorer backgrounds. I think it's solely down to upbringing. If your parents swear a lot around you or at you, you in turn use those words around others. If theres no punishment for beating someone up, for using inappropriate language around people whome don't want to hear it, for having no respect, then how are they ment to learn any?

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I am a 15 year old and I too do not feel safe when these hooligans are about. I hate walking down the streets even when I am with my friends. I always ask my parents to pick me and my friends up and my parents always know where I am.
:engsmil:

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

The grown ups are being racist/telling off racist people in the Alton Towers thread :p
I don't know about that. I'm sure that there's something deep down inside that tells us that these things are wrong. There's something that says we should stick up for each other. It's ingrained into all the major religions. Atheists don't believe in God... heaven... hell. Therefore there's no threat of hell for doing bad things. There's no reward in the afterlife for being good. But even if I were atheist, I would still look out for other people, I wouldn't steal, murder and do whatever I wanted. Upbringing is probably a factor, but these people still need to justify what they do. Surely?

It all reminds me of A Clockwork Orange though. They did it for the fun of it. They didn't need to justify it. They thought it was funny, they got their kicks and lived happily ever after. There were conscience-free. I think it's jealousy. They don't like the way that other people have more than they do. Mentally, solidarity-wise, socially, physically, money-wise. I think they should get off their asses and earn it for themselves. They're lazy and want to take it. Maybe it's my inner-tory (or fascist depending on your point of view) speaking out, but let's shoot them eh?

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I think i agree with Cyfr when saying it's not due to poverty, it's partly upbringing. But even so....i did actually know some of these people..but now i just regard them as people i've met....frankly, it's embarrassing. As i type this, there are two girls outside, probably drunk, shouting and just being disrespectful, etc...i'm sick of it. I too, like devilangel, get my parents to pick me up...or waste loads of money on taxi's, because i feel unsafe walking home. Nobody should be made to feel this way, especially in your own town thats meant to be homely and welcoming.
I think it's happening because they know they can get away with it...the other week, a thug punched our window threw...didn't know him or anything...and surprise surprise he'd had a drink..the same hooligan threw a lit cigarette into our kitchen, landing on the curtains...if it wasn't for a neighbour across the street witnessing these events and recognising their face....our house could have been up in flames...what have the police done? where is this thug now? It's come to a point where i think 'why bother?'
These people should be locked up.
Lea
x

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

That raises a good point actually. Suppose my parents don't care enough to pick me up. I've no money so I have to walk home. I feel victimised so I'd rather my mates were round. So we stick together. A good group of 5 of us. I don't want to draw attention to myself, so I put my hood up to avoid making eye contact. What if we were to get jumped by a gang of hooligans? Maybe I should carry knuckle dusters or a knife as protection. I know it's not legal, but I'd prefer to be cautioned than left to bleed to death on the streets. We feel threatened but it's best not to appear weak. So we walk proud, keep our head up. We've nothing to fear anymore so we don't need to avoid eye contact. In fact, if someone starts something with us, shouldn't we teach them how to behave? They've got it coming anyway. Look at these people, wearing their nice clothes. I bet they think we're some sort of degenerate race just because we don't have as much money. They won't voice their opinions cause they're cowards. Let's tell em how we feel about it. Tell them how rubbish their dress sense is.. how they look like toffs and geeks. They deserve it anyway... One thing leads to another and before you know it, you've stabbed someone's guts out and they're the ones bleeding to death...

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

its certainly creditable that the young uns are saying all this it makes a pleasant change, cyfr has hit the nail on the head to me - its what they hear and see at home same as if you are training a puppy the differance children are easier to train cos they question what they don,t understand and you can explain a situation to them, to me the main fault lies with some parents. at the end of the day what you are brought up with is usually how you turn out. by the way i was walking up owd bobs this evening with the dog when i heard voices in the grey fenced compound on the right thinking theres never anyone over there i glanced over and was met by What the F***** hell you looking at- it was 4 young girls about 12-14 years old not being blessed with an abundence of diplomacy i replied SLAPPERS , surprisingly they never said owt else, so you lot have displayed to me theres Many decent kids for all the rabble out there. i think i needed that tonight,THANKS.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Rubbish! If you are going out you should make sure that you can get home safely. Putting your hood up and carrying knuckle dusters makes you a threat and a hooligan to others.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

They do deserve it, they do, but if i walk around in a group of 5/6, yes i'd feel more safe sticking together....but i don't want people to feel intimidated because of that either.........
I just don't trust them.....maybe we should walk around with knives, etc...just in case.....but i wouldn't want to be classed as someone who walks the street with a knife in her back pocket......protection or not....more to the point, we shouldn't have to....that's what the police are there for....well...supposed to be there for
Lea
x

PS. Cashman....i wanna slap those type of girls.... 13/14..CHILDREN...they're like ants, on their own their nothing....

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I live in a "well-heeled" area, it's what you would call Middle Class. I came to live here 30 years ago when it was a quiet, small village.

In the middle of the village we have an ancient stone cross surrounded by a cobbled square with a few benches. It's here, particularly on a Friday evening, where the youths congregate to drink anything they can get from the local off-licence, get hold of what drugs are available, swear at passers-by and fight with youths who come from another village 6 miles away hell-bent on trouble. We no longer have a manned police station, when we did there was very little bother, so the police arrive regularly in vans and arrest them. It doesn't do much good apart from the confiscation of knives and other weapons.

Now these kids are not deprived. They don't come from "sink" estates and their parents are not out of work or in low-paid jobs. Many of them have nice homes, expensive holidays and mums who drive 4X4s to do the school-run. It's not the richest area in North Cheshire but it's not a poor place.

It's a sad, undisciplined world we live in.

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Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

That just shows that it could be the lack of discipline in their lives thats done it.....or just the fact that it's so common it's natural to them. Either way, if these people were taught how to act when smaller.....how to have respect for other people, especially elders, maybe they wouldn't do the things they do... Their parents have let them get away with so much, and given them so much, they get spoilt...well...what do i know...i don't act like they do..i have respect, i've been brought up right...i mean, sure, some nights i come home at like 3/4/5 o'clock in the morning.....i just don't let the whole street know about it, like at this very minute...my idiot of a 16 yr old neighbour is shouting her head off.....it's just not neccessary
Lea
x

PS. thanks madmal :oD

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I agree with Margaret. It's so refreshing to read such an interesting debate. Well constructed and well written by all of you. No horrid text speak either.

Your parents should be proud and most importantly, you should be proud of yourselves.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Plops never be afraid to walk around your town, just don't take unnecessary risks, hold your head up high and don't let anybody stop you going from where you want to in your own town.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Thanks everyone....i'm tryin, i'm gettin there :D
*smug look* ;)
Lea
x

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

:) Bring Back The Street Wardens :) Due To This Local Council And The Labour Government We Now Have Only 2 To Patrol Accrington :) Perhaps Greg Pope And Tony Blair Would Like To Live In Accrington Especially Round Royds Street Area For A Couple Of Weeks, Soon Change Their Minds Then:)

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

You could always dress up in your Stan the Monkey costume and frighten them off.:D

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

i am afraid that you have got the wrong person, i use this nickname as i got it when i worked for swinton council as a street cleaner as i used to be the last one to finish my shift, hence they used to call me the weakest link,as i only visit accrington on match days i do read the papers and know a bit about accrington
yours weakest link
sydney street
swinton
manchester
m27 0jr

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Strange that!!!! From your profile there is a link to all your old post including the one where you appeared on The Weakest Link and gave the production staff ASFC badges.

Glad to see you didn't give so many dodgey answers on the show Shotgun, as they call you in your old posts.

[quote]
Re: Shotgun on The Weakest Link
all the production staff got asfc badges and anne robinson got a framed stan the monkey photo also signed by stan

[quote.]

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

If I'm wrong I appologise.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

[quote]
unfortuanatly i was WORKING on monday,and as stan the monkey is my creation apart from the strip which asfc provide i dont think that any one will be doing it, it is not as easy as it seems,confering... [quote]


In another post you say you are Stan the Monkey, so you may be telling fibs, and my original comment about wearing it to keep the streets clear stands!;)

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Boys!!

This was an intelligent thread posted by intelligent youngsters!

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Until someone found guilty of a sexual crime against a child told us how to make our streets safer June.:(

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

:) :) nearly right garinda, shotgun is my cousin and does,nt go on now so he has let me use his log in, and as i do go to asfc sometimes i try to get involved with local topics :) :)
yours brian hanvey

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Sorry, Rindy, something I knew nothing about. Totally disgusting I agree, but it's still not the place on this thread.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I don't know the man, and initially used humour in this thread, but when he denies who he is, when there are links to his old posts saying who exactly he is, and denys it, his dishonesty frightens me. Especially when because of his use of the local media it became an even bigger case.

End of.

No more comments from me.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Well that's awfully kind of your 'cousin'.

So you did indeed know to whom I refered?

Why don't you join under your own name?

It's free and takes but a moment.

Welcome to Accy Web by the way....whoever you are.

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Definetly last post June.

Sorry and I agree, it was just his comments in this particular thread that infuriated me after his absence for so long.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Going back to the original beginings of this thread I hope my now 8 year old grows up to be like ploppy cfr and others like them! You ladies and gentlemen are a credit to your parents and society.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I thought using someone elses log in was a breech of the rules. I am sure some Mod will be along soon to sort it out. We might even get this decent thread tidyed up as well.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

It IS a good thread, and I am very impressed by the young people who are airing their views on here....yes, you should be proud of yourselves.
As for boredom, lack of money etc as excuses for these hooligans....well, it doesn't wash. If young people want to go out and find something of social value to occupy themselves with, then they can. If they want to be seen by their peer group as 'street wise' or whatever the current phrase is, then they will hang about on street corners...swearing, drinking and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Much of the disrespectful behaviour comes from upbringing (or maybe, lack of it) and the fact that there is no local bobby with powers to stop these shenanigans.

I grew up in the 50's and there was no money, no TV, we weren't bored.There were church dances, boy scouts, girl guides. Occaisionally we would rustle up the money to go to the pictures or to the swimming baths..........we didn't get into the trouble that some of the kids today do....and they are only KIDS.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

now now

as the govt says - even hoodies need love...

lets just give them a hug

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

i do agree with you margaret, ive had trouble with young vodka drinking hooligans before today & i have to say none of them were local but they got moved on every friday & saturday it was disgusting & disheartening to see 11yr old ---14yrolds getting drunk & disgracing themselves.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it David Cameron in touchy-feely mode that suggested that they were deprived of love?

What they are really deprived of is a sense of self worth and self respect.
They want others to respect them, but they have no respect for themselves....or for anyone else for that matter.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Hug Hoodie's?
I wouldn't go near them if they paid me to.
Deprived of love? David Cameron needs to wake up....I agree with Margaret
Lea
x

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

debbie you will probably find she will as you CARE which you will find has an anormous effect on a childs upbring as well as discipline. positive discipline that is not the the negative sort which is often demonstrated in the town. children need boundaries and respect which you will probably find all the youngest on this thread will have had. i 'm not judging any of the parents of these so called hooligan cause as we all know positive parenting is not easy.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Sorry to upset the proverbial apple cart but this is all to do with parenting;or lack of it.If you know where your kids are and what they are doing half of these problems wouldn't arise. I am from a family of 3 kids and none of us were ever in trouble with the Police or have been since;it's all about the way you are brought up and your respect for others;something which is sadly lacking in a lot of our youngsters now. You get what you put in as a parent;obviously those kids who are now running wild have a role model somewhere to blame;be it a school friend or a parent who doesn't give a monkey's what their "little darling " is up to.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Hooray for Lindsay......We are getting too PC to be able to say these things.

My parents taught us respect....respect your elders they have lived longer and have forgotten more than you'll ever know.......respect yourself, remember your body has to last a lifetime.....don't put bad stuff into it or do bad stuff to it.
Respect property - yours and other peoples, they paid hard earned cash to get what they have.
And if you can't pay, then you can't go.......no such thing as 'tick'
Never do a bad turn when you can do a good one.
These were t he things my parents taught me........I don't know what parents teach their children these days...unless it is 'get them before they can get you'.....and maybe 'yes, of course you can have it...if you can steal it'

Ok, OK, I know there are some very good parents out there, who struggle against the odds and against the pressure of other bad parents influence from chav kids. No one said parenting would be easy. But if you give children rules and boundaries....and stick to them then you have gone a long way on the right road.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

i live in the devonshire street area and although there is a gang of about 40 kids that go around vandalising and attacking people coming home from the pub or daring to walk alone ,every parent in that area is under the impression that their kids are angels and it must be kids from another area coming to cause trouble

well i tell a lie actualy , i moved away from the effing scumbags, i grew up in that area and to be quite honest i would feel more comfortable and safer walking through iraq wearing my saint georges boxer shorts , an american eagle tattooed across my forehead and whistling oh when the saints come marching in whilst clutching a bible :rolleyes:

dont get me wrong theres some nice kids in that area as well , they are the ones whos parents have them in at a decent time and are not walking around with bottles of beer in their hands and puking in teh streets :)

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

yes it is upbringing, it's being taught right from wrong, discipline, which need not be physical, as long as it's a punishment thats recognised as such it does work.

problem is, it's done now, it's too late, they're teens or even older, young adults. The seeds have been set, you can't retrain with the present system. The damage to society as we know it has been done.

Blame who you like, the parents for lack of parenting, the police, social services, the government, Tony Blair, John Major, but it won't undo the wrong thats been done.

Be affraid be very affraid because it will only get worse.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Indeedydo.
Oh well...
Lea
x

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His e-mail is there for all to see.... pervert

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

You can't blame the parents for everything, some people act completely different from their upbringing would suggest.

The problem in my opinion is lack of confidence. Ask the majority of secondary school pupils what they are good at and they will not be able to answer you, ask them what they are bad at and the list is never ending such is the moral of todays youth. People group together, cause trouble, commit crimes to gain some self confidence, even if this is an unfavourable was to get it. Constant media attention on how todays youth is causing so many problems, if you are told enough times that you are something, you start to accept that you are that thing.

So much pressure is put on people in schools to succeed academically. If you are not successful in school or in a popular sport then you can go sixteen years without finding one thing that you are good at. Day in day out struggling, knowing that your time is being wasted.

There should be more variety in the education system. If a person is constantly doing badly in traditional lessons, give them the chance to learn a trade, some pre-forces training. Not everyone is suited for academic learning and having people who are bored, inadequate and uninterested not only damages the futures of these individuals but the pupils in the same classes as them, who are constantly being slowed down due to teachers being forced to attempt to teach the unteachable.

Yes it is unfortunate that people are scared to walk the street alone, but that is today's world and the only one I have known. It is easy enough to be safe, stick to main roads, make sure you know the nearest "safe place" (be that a persons house, a public place such as shop or anything else) and keep your head down.

I am 16 and yes I do get intimidated by others my age, however I am also friends with people who would be labelled as thugs by many despite the fact they have never done anything wrong, simply the fact they wear a hoody immediately brands them as criminals.

I myself will look imtimidating to some, standing at over 6ft, short back and sides, tracksuit bottoms and sports shirt when I am going to play football. I have never commited an anti-social crime in my life and if you asked anyone who actually knows me if I was intimidating and they would laugh.

I actually find it quite amusing how the clothes I wear can completely change the reactions of those around me, if I am in my normal clothes of scruffy jeans and t-shirt then my pressence goes unnoticed. Change into some tracksuit bottoms and football shirt to go for a kick about and people would cross the road rather than walk near me


I apologise for the pointless length of this post, I started typing and couldn't stop. I also apologise for any spelling/ grammar errors, never been my strong point, and I'm on target for an A at AS level English Language, scarey eh ?

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

SamF, it breaks my heart when people say they are lacking in confidence, or even worse, shy.

I think everyone is too some extent shy underneath the bravado. It's partly a survival instinct. If we ran head first everywhere we'd probably be dead. People just mask it in different ways. I do it by trying to be funny.

No one is given an instruction book about how to live, you just find your own way. There is no right or wrong way.

Just remember you are as good as every other person, and just be yourself, which judging from the things you post on here, is a pretty okay sort of a person.

One of the good things about getting older is shyness usually disappears. You realise lifes too short to worry about what other people think about anything, including yourself.:)

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

If i have kids they will not be little bast***s. If there are then they would be very sorry once ive got hold of them.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

sam you will go far, better than half of these waste of spacers about;)

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Me too, I was raised in the 50s ... no brass, etc. But to argue that it is upbringing is to argue that those who are doing, or did, the upbringing somehow failed to pass on the values they aquired ... or that they resented the upbringing and tried something different with their kids ... sounds like it didn't work all that well in some cases, and damned well in others.
One hates to put the blame on things outside of our control, it's kinda like surrendering without firing a shot. However, it is a different world ... globalization and all that bullcrap.
I live in a community where to mention unsafe streets is to initiate a discussion of the potholes which appear every spring:D

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

I was a teen in the 50's. Remember teddy boys - I have found this on a websearch:-

"As with most young people, they tended to go around in groups, often described as gangs and considered to be “ready to rumble”, being well provided with ingenious weaponry. Legend has it that razor blades were hidden in the peaks of the caps, slipped under the stitching. Bicycle chains were draped under the lapels, ready to whip out and injure an opponent. Fish hooks would be concealed inside the velvet lapel tops, so anyone grasping this part of the apparel would find themselves stuck, with the hooks in their hands, enabling the Teddy Boy to deliver a disabling head-butt straight at their enemy!"

There's sadly 'nothing new under the sun'

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Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

http://www.childline.org.uk/CallingChildLine.asp:D

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LOL - nice one Garinda - will give you karma for that (when I learn how)

As a PS to my post 10 mins ago - there were 'rumbles' at least weekly at Church Con Club and Joe Morts club.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

:p Mimi says thanks, she'll make a note of that.

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The works of Charles Darwin enlightened us to how nature works regarding evoultion of species' including humans. Basically, the weak perish and the strong survive leading to enhanced generations. However, in this day and age, the weak* get benefits, and are encouraged not to evolve and better themselves which is holding society back.

(*by weak I am only talking about the underclass of people implied in this thread and do not wish to discriminate against anybody) - covered.

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Not really, this a major misunderstanding of Darwin, and of "evolution": I think that Calvin is a little closer on this, and Spencer is a lot closer. The "benefit" system has been around a long time, from the Elizabethan Poor Laws, and probably even before that.
To view a social safety net in this way is Thatcherism. (Attilla the Hen was not a rascist; she hated the poor, whatever color they were.):)

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

There's a space at the front of the que to urinate on Thatchers grave. It's just plain depressing that's all. There's not enough unity. Where are the shepherds? Who has faith?

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

A very interesting thread(apart from the diversion),it is good to have it reaffirmed that there are good natured,kind and intelligent young people all around;it's just that they don't usually get the publicity!
As a footnote sounding like little Sir echo....is this the time for After School care to be cut back?

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Lampman.. I presume you are involed with young people through work or otherwise... You must know that it's not just some youngsters that are polite and good natured, but that the vast majority are.

It's all to often that posts on AccyWeb "right off" the young people of Accy as being out of control and having bad parents... but surprisingly non of these "bad kids" are ever the offspring of members of this site, very strange.. the law of average says there must be!

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Yes,Mancie I deal with young people in the course of my work(as well as other age groups)
I see all types of kids(and adults for that matter),I think upbringing has a big bearing on behaviour as too does the lottery of which friends the youngsters make.Peer pressure has a lot to do with it,to be one of the 'in-crowd' is a big concern.This could be something as little as which clothes they wear to which soccer team is supported.
I myself was no angel as a kid,though I can never remember targeting any adults with abusive language etc.
Lots of parents are indeed unaware or uncaring of what little Jimmy and Kylie might be upto.Out of sight,out of mind is the mindset of some parents.
Youth clubs help alleviate the problems youngsters cause on the streets,though one downside is that at closing time gangs of kids are released onto the streets at the same time.Do they all go straight home to mum and dad and a cup of cocoa?
The kids need good roll models,where now are they to be found,reality television shows?
This and other threads on the site shows that there are indeed decent youngsters around with perhaps a minority causing problems then giving all a bad name.
Most kids will grow up in all meanings of the words,some will unfortunately graduate from petty nuisance to full blow criminals,Such is life!
Long winded rant over.:)

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

It's not easy being young. And I think it is getting harder; don't know for sure as I don't qualify any more. When I was young, it was a more insular time. Mass immigration had yet to begin, the nightmare of nuclear holocaust was still only a bad dream, the Earth was still fairly green, and adults had yet to completely lose our trust. Lampman is right to question the role models kids are faced with today. Kids today look at the world, and they have more access to what is going on than we ever had, and what do they see: Adults screwing up. They grow up in a world which is not necessarily more violent, but more pointlessly violent. Leaders no longer lead, they send. Honour is a shabby remnant of what it used to be; it is concocted out of lies and half-truths, a mere transparent excuse for self-interest, and political convenience. This is what blares out of the boob tube everyday.

Yet it is wrong to blame government and big business for the political, spiritual, and environmentat messes we are in. The real enemy? "We have found the enemy and he is us."

Re: Unsafe Streets.....
 

Sadly this is true!