Re: The vent thread

[Gesh]

Don't be such a jew :p

You sound like my brother..


STOP JUDGING ME SCOTT! WHY WON'T YOU JUST LOVE ME FOR WHO I AM!?

[Jayse]

And yes as for one of the most accepting societies, we definatley are all things considered. We Queue, we put up with the shit weather, I'm going to be inagurated as honoury Sikh (no bullshit) Well more like a temple whiteboy mascot (i'm all for culture).

We accept a terrible government leadership year in year out.. *cough*

But in serious, all this criminality and opportunitism has more factors then a text book on algebra. In a way.. I'm actually -kind- of glad it happened.. because at least (and I do hope) that this has finnaly woken up both the nation and the old boys in parliament. We -are- too soft, peharps we -are- a little -too- accepting of things because "That's just how it is lad".. Food for thought.

[Xen-tau]

I prefer stiff upper lip riots, where the men wear top hats and slap each other with gloves to challenge one another to a duel. And heck, throw in a TV for the winner! That would be awesome.

But I think the other side of the accepting part is the fact that there was a large army of volunteers to clean up the streets. It's almost as if they're/you're making the best out of it. I think that that... accepting and kind nature of the British people also has it's upside...

[Shaelyssa]

Accepting and kind Brits??? Not the stereotype I know haha

[The Misty Beast]

Accepting and kind Brits??? Not the stereotype I know haha

I guess the last 100 years of liberal efforts in London was to change that image.

[Guest]

Naw, english tourists did that years ago

[Grufftoof]

Feydor, and others, I really do agree. Causation is not justification. And the cause isn't as simple as "greed" or "race" or "the full moon". It's probably both very complex, and banally simple. Depending on people, social, economic, policing and governmental issues.

That and some nice new shiny trainers.

I can't speak for the UK, I can barely speak for myself, but not everyone is a cock. Not all coppers are bastards. Not all kids are chavs. Not all chavs are cunts. Not all people are as wonderful and attractive as me.

But plenty of people are good inside. Given a chance.

Take care of yourself, and each other. This was Jerry Sprin... I mean Grufftoof.

[Grufftoof]

Interesting piece in The Telegraph. Not my usual paper (as you might have gathered from previous posting, I'm more a Guardian man) but I think it's a well written piece.

[Jeanpierre]

Hm, I feel the author is cutting a few corners there to make a point.
"I find it very hard to make any kind of ethical distinction between Blears’s expense cheating and tax avoidance, and the straight robbery carried out by the looters."
I find it quite easy to make a distinction. If this would happen in my street, one would be an immediate danger to my family, the other would not.

"But the rioters have this defence: they are just following the example set by senior and respected figures in society. Let’s bear in mind that many of the youths in our inner cities have never been trained in decent values. All they have ever known is barbarism. Our politicians and bankers, in sharp contrast, tend to have been to good schools and universities and to have been given every opportunity in life."

If they would have followed their example, they would have been bankers and tax evaders.
Instead the writer excuses physical aggression by considering it the same moral depravity as political or financial criminality. I don't agree with that. That's the logic of a 14 year old school yard bully.

Not whit standing.. of course.. that there is merit in his stab at the higher class and the way our system works. I can reflect to that in Belgium even, to some extent.

[Grufftoof]

Oh, there's some overbearingly sweeping statements, as you point out. There are distinctions. I think that's important to see. But there is a truth to the article, in essence at least.

[Feydor]

Good speaker, makes some good points, not all I agree with, but he's obviously lived there all his life and knows what the funk is going on.

[Shaelyssa]

I stopped listening as soon as he said, "Because I'm black" ... pff please

[Jeanpierre]

I'd support that man... And personally shoot him if he'd grab a weapon to assault innocent people in his self-righteous "cry out". See the line? I do.

But.. I think the social problem there is quite different from our country. Quite different indeed. Though there are some comparisons possible, and we certainly have our share of victims, I believe the social system of Belgium is quite strong still.

[Nithel]

I believe the social system of Belgium is quite strong still.

It really is.

I'd say a big problem (that Belgium is slowly starting to show too) is a social schism where one social class is put together in a ghetto instead of being integrated into society. The 'us versus them'-thinking leaves no way to see and understand the other side.

However if I see one more person compare this to bankers "causing" the financial crisis or companies having their accountancy department in Swiss, I will keelhaul someone. ;_;

[Feydor]

I stopped listening as soon as he said, "Because I'm black" ... pff please

clearly you dont live in england, or london.

[Kristeas Sunbinder]

Something is wrong, if the UK in combination with the phrase "because i'm black" summons the image of Ali G.

[Jeanpierre]

I'd say a big problem (that Belgium is slowly starting to show too) is a social schism where one social class is put together in a ghetto instead of being integrated into society. The 'us versus them'-thinking leaves no way to see and understand the other side.

Ghetto's... Interesting. I wouldn't have classed them as a high priority issue related to our social system, though I agree that they are a problem related to social integration and tolerance. But there is, probably, a relation from one to the other.

However if I see one more person compare this to bankers "causing" the financial crisis or companies having their accountancy department in Swiss, I will keelhaul someone. ;_;

Just out of curiosity... Why?

[Shaelyssa]

I stopped listening as soon as he said, "Because I'm black" ... pff please

clearly you dont live in england, or london.

no I dont clearly

[Shaelyssa]

Maybe what i do know is very misconstrued ... I will shush for now anyways

[Rmuffn]

I stopped listening as soon as he said, "Because I'm black" ... pff please

clearly you dont live in england, or london.

That sentence is used in many major countries that have had high amount of immigracy. It's really hard to take it serious, anywhere, USA, England or Sweden. You just won't care to the sentence these days.

[Nithel]

Ghetto's... Interesting. I wouldn't have classed them as a high priority issue related to our social system, though I agree that they are a problem related to social integration and tolerance. But there is, probably, a relation from one to the other.

I'd love to get into this and discuss this matter more as I am fascinated by it, but that's probably something more for a quiet day in a cafe than on a forum x)

Just out of curiosity... Why?

It leads to comparing apples to pears. The aggresive profitseeking expansions of the bankworld and the careless market around toxic credits such as CDOs are big issues on their own. And they should be looked into as such. But it's dangerous to try to compare these to every other thing as relation ≠ causation. (This is seen in statistics. Even when babies who are breastfed show a higher intelligence than other babies, doesn't mean breastfedding caused it.)

That and there can never be enough keelhauling.

[Jeanpierre]

I'm looking forward to such a chat at a cafe already.

[Shaelyssa]

Nithel stop trying to talk smart we all know you're a useless street hooker now get back to your corner

[Jeanpierre]

Now I'm definitely interested in that cafe chat.

[Nithel]

You can give me tips to good cafes in Brussels while we're at it! First pint will be on me.

Sorry my royal persian highness I'll go back to your harem now

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