The Glade 4.0

By its own people.

...

I've been seeing this on the news, and it's indeed very sad...

I just dont understand. There's no ideology, no rationale. They're well fed, well dressed kids. And they're just.... destroying. Burning whole buildings to the ground.

it might have started with a purpose, but now it's just a mindless mob

i hope you're safe and out of harm's way, sui

I have no idea. The map shows flashpoints over the entire city. The police seem to have lost control.

Following this on the tubes. Amazed, shocked, a little bit scared.

A Clockwork Orange taken to extremes.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Glad you checked in, honestly. Thought about you when someone mentioned this on another board.

I might suggest a link between this kind of behavior and the binge drinking that was going around a few years ago. Wasn't there some big to-do about that a few years ago. Ah, yeah, here's one of the later links. Maybe they're rebelling against a society in which they feel they have no stake. Or, maybe it's too controlled for their tastes, and once the veneer of civilization comes off, it all goes to hell. Witness Vancouver, when the Canucks lost. Those kids were all pretty well-off, too, I'd say.

Anyway, hope you stay safe. Keep checking in periodically. From our perspective, it probably looks worse than it is, but you can help us with that. And, let us know you're safe, too.

Edit: Perhaps not the best time or place, but, I'd be interested how you feel about the killing that started all this. I hadn't paid attention at all, really. Seems like the kind of thing that happens all the time in the States, really ... The authorities follow some guy, it looks like he's going for a weapon, and they shoot him down. For your country, that they even had a sort-of SWAT team tailing the guy indicates that they had a pretty good idea he may have been armed. The "father of four" thing seems disingenuous ... Like a gang-banger (yes, that's an LA term) can't reproduce? That makes him ineligible for getting shot if he does resist arrest, or fires first? Huh.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Sui, would you be kind enough to check in with us at least daily. In addition to worrying about you and yours, I think most of us acknowledge that you are a much better source of information on this situation than our own sensationalist press.

For example, according to CNN, the riots were sparked by a protest outside Tottenham Police Station, when it would be more accurate to say that the riots were sparked by the killing of a 29 year old man by the police. We're still not sure over here what he did that 'provoked' the police enough to shoot him. We do hear that he has four children, but I had to read four reports before I found out he was black and the police were white. Al Jazeera gave more details in its report than three American reports gave in total. They also had Brits talking rather than American heads repeating.

What else are we missing?

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

I skipped work this morning to go help clean up. Gloves, bin bags, duct tape, thick shoes, etc. We went to a few places where the council had already been hard at work and the only things left to cleanup were behind police forensics tape.

All the shops smashed up were teen-twenty product shops; sneaker stores, cellphone stores, bicycle stores, TV & ipod shops, etc. This is looting, not protest, and in some cases looting of cheap but fashionable items.

Camden had maybe 4 or 5 shops smashed in, and the windows of a local nightclub, but was business as usual on a sunny day, with minor police presence. Lots and LOTS of shiny well dressed middle class 20-40 year olds, and one or two 60-70 year olds, milling around with brooms. Media presence. But nothing to really do, and no official guidance on where to do it.

At 11 most headed to clapham junction where I understand the worst rioting was - the police had the entire district cordoned off. I decided to come home and do a days work ; didnt feel useful out there, but I am glad I went to see cheerful people and a London not as apocalyptic as the press coverage reports.

Of course, it may be that in tottenham and clapham its worse - my girlfriend is heading down there now with friends (I waited till they joined up before coming home), so I'll know more soon.

Its utterly depressing. They're destroying family run businesses and local area as well as high street brands. No ideology at all - just violence and chaos.

Reportedly the guy was being arrested as part of operation trident - we have a significant jamaican yardie crime problem here, not that you see it day to day, and trident is about 'black on black' gun crime. Apparently he had an illegal weapon and was shot once by the police.

That said, over the last 3 years, the police have killed a few people where it has subsequently emerged they had the wrong person, overreacted or even fabricated their story, so faith is low. I understand police relations in Tottenham are poor with the local community to begin with too.

Given what they're dealing with today Im really giving the police the benefit of the doubt. This isnt ideological, and it isnt protest; its theft, chaos and exultation in destruction, targeting the very local communities these folks live in. Its incomprehensible to me.

This is generally what happens when you tell an ostensibly free people that previous generations (that is the one's in power, seeing as how no one under 53 had any opportunity to vote on the EU Membership for the UK) sacrificed their right of self-determination for them.

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Our hearts go out to you, Sui. Much love. Glad you're OK, and I hope in the light of day the damage is less than it seemed.

http://www.blottr.com/birmingham/breaki ... ch-looters

Sorry, Sui. I hope you get an opportunity to feel more useful in the clean-up process, and I hope links like the one FarSky shared help catch some of the looters.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

I despaired of the US press coverage when CNN's report included calling the area (Tottenham? I don't have good name recognition of London neighborhoods, so they don't stick well) a "racially diverse area consisting mostly of blacks" or something along those lines. I /facepalmed, and figured I'd come back here for some more intelligent commentary.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Apparently my flat is in an estate trending as a target for tonight. Great.

Thanks Sui, the "broom brigade" photo reaffirmed my long-held respect for you Brits. Be safe.

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"Dress cops up as soldiers, give them military equipment, train them in military tactics, tell them they’re fighting a ‘war,’ and the consequences are predictable." —Radley Balko

I sincerely hope not. Be safe please!

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

Stay safe, Sui.

Stay safe!

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"Said I never had much use for one, never said I didn't know how to use one!"~ Matthew Quigley

"nothing like a little meow in bed at night" ~ Bruskey

"I gotta float my stick same as you" Hondo Lane

"Fill your hand you son of a *****!"

All quiet so far. Manchester has sent squads down to help us. Now 2000 youths trying to burn manchester, but they seem better prepared - horse charges and dog units dispersing people almost as soon as they gather. We'll see how london fares in the morning. Things sound quieter. We're up to 16,000 police on the streets tonight, normal day is about 5000, and so far no army or water cannon.

What's with the brooms?

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"It is true that democracy undermines freedom when voters believe they can live off of others' productivity, when they modify the commandment: 'Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote.' The politics of plunder is no doubt destructive of both morality and the division of labor."

Weapons, for self defense, in case the looters come back. Brooms are good for a clean strike.

In all seriousness, thanks for the updates, Sui. Keep your head down if trouble comes your building's way, and stay safe.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Cleanup. Rioters come burn the place down at night. People come clean it up during the day. Passive aggresison, English style.

We dont have guns ;-p

Ahh ok. Makes sense. I wasn't sure who the good guys were and who the bad guys were.

Just send in Bear Grylls. Problem solved.

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"It is true that democracy undermines freedom when voters believe they can live off of others' productivity, when they modify the commandment: 'Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote.' The politics of plunder is no doubt destructive of both morality and the division of labor."

Okay, at least I'm not the only one making the "they don't have guns" joke. I was getting all set to feel like the *******.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

What started all this? Kids just decided to start breaking ****?