Another Random Swarming in Calgary

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Similar to that kid who got pushed in front of a train a while ago, and it turns out that he had shoved this girl in front of the train first, oh and he was a petty drug dealer. Yet everyone of his little friends came out and said what a great guy he was, and had a little beer soaked funeral for him.

I'm sick of that crap too. Somehow once someone is dead, even if that someone dies as a result of a criminal lifestyle (ie gang hit, drug dealing, etc.) the news is so quick to point out these people's redeeming qualities (in the breath of family and/or friends) as if they actually had any to justify their lifestyle. It's always the 'other bad influences' fault as to why little Johnny got into the gang. Another comical cliche when talking to family members of a gang hit 'victim' is they always mention the person's efforts to 'get out' of the lifestyle and how they were on the verge of doing something meaningful with their lives. Total BS, the 'victim' was probably off causing human misery only weeks previous (in the case of the C-train victim actually at the time of his death). When I see how accepting the media seems towards these people I feel like I just want to assemble thousands and take back the streets for honest people that were never a part of any sort of criminal activity.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

When I see how accepting the media seems towards these people I feel like I just want to assemble thousands and take back the streets for honest people that were never a part of any sort of criminal activity.

Agree completely.. Unfortunately brutalizing criminals isnt very likely in liberal canadian society.. We prefer to paint rainbows and sunshine over crime and pretend it'll get better.

[Khel]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

When I see how accepting the media seems towards these people I feel like I just want to assemble thousands and take back the streets for honest people that were never a part of any sort of criminal activity.

100 % agree, time to call up the posse!

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

why? if 6 guys with pipes come at me and a friend or two when we're walking somewhere in the middle of the night... you haul @$$ outta there. this isn't a fight you're going to win. its not his friend's fault he was the only one dumb enough not to realize that.

that said, i feel absolutely horrible for the kid. he shouldn't have any of this and shouldn't have to fear walking the streets - even after dark.

I should rephrase that. I'd be super pissed if I was getting my ass kicked and my friends scattered.

[llama64]

This is bull.

<places grumpy old guy hat on>

Tell me again what purpose teenagers serve to society? Why are we not shipping them all of to work camps/education centers where they can be controlled and shaped into actual productive members of society?

I think I'm gonna punch the first person who tries the "young adult" crap on me.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I should rephrase that. I'd be super pissed if I was getting my ass kicked and my friends scattered.

this i agree with 100%

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by llama64

This is bull.

<places grumpy old guy hat on>

Tell me again what purpose teenagers serve to society? Why are we not shipping them all of to work camps/education centers where they can be controlled and shaped into actual productive members of society?

I think I'm gonna punch the first person who tries the "young adult" crap on me.

While I agree, teenagers belong in positive, formative environments like school, work, sport and extraciricular activity... I think much of what we are seeing is a direct result of the selfish, self-centered, anarchistic, yet pacifisitic hippie generation that produced these degenerates. Many of these types were so appalled by the "abuse and tyranny" their parents and society "unleashed" on them, they resolved to never discipline their children and let them be free (as to allow themselves to do whatever they wanted). While this is a bit of a generality, it genuinely seems to fit the bill.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

While I agree, teenagers belong in positive, formative environments like school, work, sport and extraciricular activity... I think much of what we are seeing is a direct result of the selfish, self-centered, anarchistic, yet pacifisitic hippie generation that produced these degenerates. Many of these types were so appalled by the "abuse and tyranny" their parents and society "unleashed" on them, they resolved to never discipline their children and let them be free (as to allow themselves to do whatever they wanted). While this is a bit of a generality, it genuinely seems to fit the bill.

Hippies? Your average hippie is probably about 60 years-old now. I don't think we can blame the hippies for this one.

[Fuji]

So there was no motive whatsoever?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Hippies? Your average hippie is probably about 60 years-old now. I don't think we can blame the hippies for this one.

I'd say they're more or less in the 45-65 range. I consider "hippies" to be a broad group of heavy left leaners in the 1960s and 70s, not just your stereotypical "groovy free love and drug crowd". Perhaps there's a better term. Probably about the right age group to have kids in between 13 and 25, and also the right demographic to be active voters now, with an MO on blaming society for the crimes of individuals, having a very strong sense of rehabilitation, not punishment, appalled at the ideas of parental responsibility for serious child activity, and having flimsy justice systems to enforce that.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

While I agree, teenagers belong in positive, formative environments like school, work, sport and extraciricular activity... I think much of what we are seeing is a direct result of the selfish, self-centered, anarchistic, yet pacifisitic hippie generation that produced these degenerates. Many of these types were so appalled by the "abuse and tyranny" their parents and society "unleashed" on them, they resolved to never discipline their children and let them be free (as to allow themselves to do whatever they wanted). While this is a bit of a generality, it genuinely seems to fit the bill.

Or people with more money than sense who have always hovered over their kids and instilled a sense of entitlement to the point that, when real life starts kicking they act out.

I don't think it is as simple as, "the kid was raised wrong". It is a combination of nurture AND nature, and every person is affected by them both in different amounts. Some kids will be great no matter how bad their upbringing, some will ge bad no matter how perfect the parenting, and every level in between.

Simple answers like, "It's the parent's fault, it's the YOA, it's video games, it's FAS" will each apply in some cases, but I doubt any will apply in the majority of cases.

Personally, I think parents are the first people who should be identifying this, and they should handle it, but in some circumstances the issues could be beyond their abilities to handle.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

well, glad you're not mine - i don't want to take responsibility for idiots. from the article i got the impression that the order of events went like this:
1) guys in car harass group walking on street
2) guys get out of car with pipes
3) all but one on the street bolt
4) one guy stays to try to reason with guys from car
5) lone guy gets beat

if his friends are already gone (as they should be - and this other guy should have been) you can't really blame them for not jumping in when the beating started.

i guess it all depends on how you interpret the order of events... but they all shoulda been outta there before the beating even started.

Even if that was the case, wouldn't you go back and try to help out your friend.

For the record, I have trouble believing that this was random.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by zukes

For the record, I have trouble believing that this was random.

I am no longer inclined to agree. After the random stabbings this summer, this wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be random.

[Juventus3]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I'd be so pissed if my "friends" scattered

Fixed.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by zukes

Even if that was the case, wouldn't you go back and try to help out your friend.

For the record, I have trouble believing that this was random.

if they knew - sure.
when i've had to run from an attempted mugging i tried to put as many fences, buildings, turns, obstacles, distance, etc between me and the guy with the weapon as possible. they coulda hopped a fence, turned the corner and been halfway down the next street before any sort of beating started. depending on circumstances its quite possible that they didn't even knew their friend was in trouble till it was far too late to defend him.

[zukes]

Fair enough, and I too have had to run away from some situations.

My point was that you never leave a friend behind.

[MolsonInBothHands]

I saw the kids interview last night on the news. Let first say the swarmers were extremely cowardly and despicable, and in no way do I think the victim deserved his fate. Having said that, I don't entirely believe his story either. He actually seemed fairly bright, but also full of in your face, I'll take anything head on attitude. His attempt to 'defuse' the situation was certainly a poor decision, especially if he was aware of previous swarmings, and his friends have all but left him high and dry. His friends avoided an unfortunate scene, he could have too.

My interpretation is that a kid wanting to show how brave he was to his friends picked a very bad time to stand his ground. I have also been knocked unconscious, and know many others who have been as well. Not one of us has been able to recollect with much clarity the events leading up to or after being knocked senseless. Call me naturally suspicious. Again, I am not condoning the violence of the swarmers, or belittling the suffering this kid is enduring, I am just saying there are pieces missing in this story.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Hippies? Your average hippie is probably about 60 years-old now. I don't think we can blame the hippies for this one.

You can always blame the hippies....

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by zukes

My point was that you never leave a friend behind.

And it may not be that he was "left behind." Let me explain. I've heard the friends "scattered"; as in ran in different directions. So he's person A. B&C ran west, and D,E,and F ran north. 2 blocks later each group would have assumed that A was with the other group.

It does go on to say he was taken to a friends house; which to me implies the friends got on the phone, exchanged a couple of "I though 'A' went with you guys!", and went back and got him; and got him help.

[MelBridgeman]

why do people seem to think this is a new thing? i can tell you about several times when i was growing up in the early 90's when i was a victim or almost the victim of random swarming...heck a pack of dudes chased me and some friends from 36 str and memorial all the way down to Erin Woods one night in '91