Another Random Swarming in Calgary - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

PowerPlayoffs06 · 10-24-2007, 08:08 AM

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...00885-sun.html

Quote:

Justin said he was walking through the park with friends when his attackers began taunting them from a car, then got out and approached him.

He tried to defuse the situation, but was swarmed as his terrified friends scattered. "There was a push and a punch and then everything got pretty blurry after that," said Justin, who undergoes surgery tomorrow to repair his jaw, smashed by one of his assailants repeatedly stomping on his face.

What's the deal here? Why are so many kids going out and targetting random strangers to swarm and beat? This is at least the third such attack I've heard of in just as many months. There was the boy walking home from Fish Creek train station who was attacked by a group of strangers two months ago. There was the attack in Strathcona last month. Now this poor kid will be sucking lunch through a straw for six weeks.

Obviously there's more cases too, since the kid says in the article that he's heard of other incidents at school by this same group of thugs.

Where's all this random, unprovoked violence stemming from? Is it a lack of parenting? The violence so prevailent in the media and movies? Video games? Marilyn Manson? A little bit of everything?

Most importantly, what can we do about it?

mykalberta · 10-24-2007, 09:28 AM

Unfortunately there is nothing you anyone can do about absentee parenting.

If you dont already, its time to start carrying a weapon of some kind when you are in that type of situation (meant pepper spray etc not gun).

Also, looks to me like the guy who was attacked has a few less "friends"

ken0042 · 10-24-2007, 09:38 AM

Hopefully the federal Conservatives' plan to make changes to the young offenders act will have some teeth. I remember being 12 when it was introduced, and we all laughed at all the stuff we could now get away with, and how our friends a few months younger than use could literally get away with murder.

urban1 · 10-24-2007, 09:50 AM

The first swarming a few weeks ago is still unsolved.

But supposedly the cops know who did it and have interviewed the kids and the kids' parents who are suspected of doing it but there are no witnesses willing to give official statements out of fear. Thus no charges can be laid.

As a parent, if you know youre kid nearly killed another kid, what do you do? I know you dont want your kid to end up in the justice system but do you want him to go unpunished? Or are the parents thinking "oh, boys will be boys" and this is no big deal.

Jayems · 10-24-2007, 10:02 AM

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

Ozy_Flame · 10-24-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Hopefully the federal Conservatives' plan to make changes to the young offenders act will have some teeth. I remember being 12 when it was introduced, and we all laughed at all the stuff we could now get away with, and how our friends a few months younger than use could literally get away with murder.

I doubt anyone vicious enough to swarm and beat down someone is going to rationally decide not to do it at the moment of impact because of improvements to the Young Offenders Act. People like this are troubled, and often act before they think.

Stiffer penalties will probably not have any impact on a man pumped up on testosterone, lusting to knock someone out.

Ozy_Flame · 10-24-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urban1

As a parent, if you know youre kid nearly killed another kid, what do you do? I know you dont want your kid to end up in the justice system but do you want him to go unpunished? Or are the parents thinking "oh, boys will be boys" and this is no big deal.

If I was a parent, I would talk it over with my child, and let them know that this sort of act is too serious to write off. I would make him/her turn themselves into the police, and realize that these kind of dispicable acts cannot be tolerated, even if a family member commits it.

Sheltering your kid when they commit this sort of crap is, IMO, the absolute wrong thing to do. It gives them a green light to do it again.

Cowboy89 · 10-24-2007, 10:19 AM

These things seem much more premeditated then people on here would like to think. I bet it's the same guys who are behind the one in Strathcona as well. The randomness of locations suggest they are trying to remain undetected. One group or multiple groups it seems very scary because you really don't know whether or not you're at risk at any given moment.

Rhettzky · 10-24-2007, 10:23 AM

Very sad and scary that this kind of stuff is happening. It sounds like he was very lucky to get away with only some bruises and a broken jaw. The place where it happened looked like it had 10-15 houses backing onto it. I really hope that if someone was home they would have had the decency to at least call the cops.

On a side, that kid dropped an F-bomb on the news!

JohnnyFlame · 10-24-2007, 10:25 AM

It's a sad fact of the world we now live in that there are a myriad of weirdo's on the loose. The traditional family haven broken down along with the general moral standard has created a situation where you/your children can be in danger. Hoping to change it by a few new laws is pointless. Society does NOT have the will to make the changes that are needed.

There is really only one option these days. You do everything you can to protect. I take my children everywhere. I have them in private school despite the extra cost. I channel where they spend their free time -- sports takes up a lot of their time. Wandering around at night with their buddies ---not a chance. Virtually every parent I know is the same. Perhaps because I do not associate with the types of parents who are spending their lives as workaholics or indulging in catering to their own interests.

If you have a family then it's your number ONE priority -- IF not do the world a favor and DON"T have kids.

burn_this_city · 10-24-2007, 10:31 AM

Trash breeds trash.. Usually people like that dont learn unless something drastic happens.. I just hope these guys jump the wrong group and one of them gets killed.. I can picture the news report with the parents saying how lil Billy was a good kid, he just got mixed up in the wrong crowd and he really honestly didnt mean to beat anyone with a bat.. We had a similar problem with this in my neighbourhood a couple of years ago, groups of younger kids basically patrolling the community with bats and stick.. Its funny how scared they get when you start tracking them down and returning the favor..

CaptainCrunch · 10-24-2007, 10:33 AM

Frick, swarming is such a cowardly thing, if you want to pick a fight with someone, take your chances, lift up your petticoat and fight him one on one. Whenever I see swarmings or stabbings I can't help but think about what a fine and cowardly child these people have raised.

When I was growing up, there was almost a code when you fought, no weapons, weapons made you a chicken sh$t, and no help from your friends, unless the other guys friends stepped in.

You had your tussle, you earned some respect, and you had a beer.

Personally, I know for a fact, that if I had been involved in an act like swarming, that my old man would have kicked my sorry butt into orbit, and when it came down there would be cops waiting for me.

This talking to your kid and trying to convince him to turn himself in isn't going to do anything. He took part in a group beating because he's gutless, he wanted to be able to pass the blame onto someone else, or he hoped to remain anonymous.

I hope the cops find something to tag onto these punks that will put them away for a long time.

In this case to me, it wasn't the act, or the damage, it was the intent that makes these goofs scumbags.

ken0042 · 10-24-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I doubt anyone vicious enough to swarm and beat down someone is going to rationally decide not to do it at the moment of impact because of improvements to the Young Offenders Act. People like this are troubled, and often act before they think.

Stiffer penalties will probably not have any impact on a man pumped up on testosterone, lusting to knock someone out.

No, but at age 10 when he gets busted stealing a slurpie from 7-11, the police can then do a little more than just drive him home. Maybe if these kids see the justice system a little earlier; they would be less likely to become swarmers.

CaptainCrunch · 10-24-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Trash breeds trash.. Usually people like that dont learn unless something drastic happens.. I just hope these guys jump the wrong group and one of them gets killed.. I can picture the news report with the parents saying how lil Billy was a good kid, he just got mixed up in the wrong crowd and he really honestly didnt mean to beat anyone with a bat.. We had a similar problem with this in my neighbourhood a couple of years ago, groups of younger kids basically patrolling the community with bats and stick.. Its funny how scared they get when you start tracking them down and returning the favor..

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.

burn_this_city · 10-24-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

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.

Yah I knew the truth there too.. Good riddance.. One less coke dealer to rehabilitate in the prison system.. Not that I believe he deserved to die, I just think people set themselves up for that by showing no respect for others.

Phaneuf3 · 10-24-2007, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

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

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.

Thunderball · 10-24-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

These things seem much more premeditated then people on here would like to think. I bet it's the same guys who are behind the one in Strathcona as well. The randomness of locations suggest they are trying to remain undetected. One group or multiple groups it seems very scary because you really don't know whether or not you're at risk at any given moment.

I agree. I personally think with animals like these guys, the only solution is to treat them like animals. Round them up and publically flog and humiliate them, publish the names and income brackets of their parents, and really make an example of them. Of course society is too yellow and weak to resort to this kind of reciprocity, but I guarantee, you won't see this kind of activity much after the first group is dealt with. Parents will watch their kids like Hawks (as they should anyway) in fear of being essentially published as bad parents, and these punks will think twice if they know the punishment is suffering a humiliating public beating.

zukes · 10-24-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

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.

Glad you are not my friend. Any buddy of mine is getting beat down by guys with pipes, I am there helping as much as I possibly can. Sure you try to run at first, but if someone is left behind that is just a chicksiht as the guys doing the beating.

Phaneuf3 · 10-24-2007, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukes

Glad you are not my friend. Any buddy of mine is getting beat down by guys with pipes, I am there helping as much as I possibly can. Sure you try to run at first, but if someone is left behind that is just a chicksiht as the guys doing the beating.

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.

CaptainCrunch · 10-24-2007, 10:55 AM

Quote:

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 run as far as my car, so that I can get my tire iron and go back. But I don't abandon a friend.

Also in the day and age of cellphones with cameras and camcorders, 911 is just a call away.