I really do despair of youths!!!!

[alpslapper]

I was walking home from Valentines Park in Ilford with the nine year old little one this afternoon. Approching a narrow part of a pavement, she's on my inside, and I'm pushing the bicycle to the ouside of me, when 3 youths start walking towards us. They spread themselves out so they take up the whole of the path. The little one goes ahead of me to squeze past and the dickhead nearest me barges the handlebars of the bike, lobbing it over. There's a picknic basket and croquet set balanced on the back which go all over the place. They then surround me, with the guy that knocked the bike over right in my face, literally nose to nose, screaming he's going to knife me, slash me, bust me up, fluck me up, and every other manner of God knows what!!!!

I'm acutely aware of my nine year old with me, who took to her heals running away and crying her eyes out that her dad was going to be stabbed.

I pushed the guy in my face back, and his two mates start to tell me he was a nutter, and they couldn't control him, and he was gonna kill me right there and then, but they we doing this fake pulling him off me type thing.

He then took a swipe at me, just about connecting with my arm. It was like being hit with a paper bag

After a few more minutes of arm waving and threats of all sorts, he then walks off with his mates ''pulling'' him away, but screaming all sorts of what they would do to me - I didn't catch all of it as I don't speak rap or eminem.

All I'm interested in the little one, and making sure she is ok and reassuring her.

We gather our bits up, and carry on our merry way home, with their laughs and threats still ringing in the background.

They were probably between 16 and 19 years old.

They deliberately barged into the bike, and then unleashed an explosion of anger I generally only see in situations involving psychiatric patients.

It was also intersting to reflect had the little one not been with me, our interaction might have been a little bit different. But then as Mrs Alps pointed out - and which I know anyhow and it's always in the back of my mind - if I laid a finger on them I would be the one seen attacking 3 youths, as noone would have witnessed them knocking the bike over and scattering my stuff. I have a job that requires a pristine clean police record. Anything, regardless of fault, that smudges that pristine clean record, and I can kiss my job goodbye. And all for what???!!!! She also pointed out there was a very high possibility that all three were in fact, carrying knives, and what would that do to the little one, to see her dad knifed on the side of the road. Again, she was probably right.

What's sad, but predictable, is that the guy doing most of the threatening, will do the same thing soon to someone who won't have a child with him, won't have a job he needs to keep, won't give a flying fluck about the police or anything else, and the outcome will be very very different.

I have no hesitation in saying, based on my little ten minute exchange with them, that all three will be dead, or in jail, within the next 5 years.

I bothers me that this is our youth, our future. I also know that areas are different and my area has a particularly high level of ferral youth. But I despair for them I really do.

[sean]

next time i have an afternoon off we could go for a walk in the park tom............

[stageonesimmo]

Tom, you're not alone fella - try living near Glasgow - the 'bucky' fuelled antics around here would make a saint swear. I've lost track of the number of times I've had to resort to calling the feds in cos I know for sure it'll end in tears for someone if I sort it out myself.

Just be happy knowing you did the right thing as what happened may not have been a pretty sight for the little 'un - it was a damn sight better then what she would have seen if you'd given them what they were after (by that I mean she'd have seen her old man spreading 3 scum-bags over a large area of pavement .......)

[BobA]

..What's sad, but predictable, is that the guy doing most of the threatening, will do the same thing soon to someone who won't have a child with him, won't have a job he needs to keep, won't give a flying fluck about the police or anything else, and the outcome will be very very different..

GOOD, then that'll be one tosspot less for us to worry about. I'm afraid that after hearing and seeing so much of this attitude, that's how I, and probably a lot more people now think!

..I have no hesitation in saying, based on my little ten minute exchange with them, that all three will be dead, or in jail, within the next 5 years.....

Hmmmm, 5 years, does it have to be that long?

I bothers me that this is our youth, our future. I also know that areas are different and my area has a particularly high level of ferral youth. But I despair for them I really do.

It bothers me too, but WHY are they like this? Is it because this country is just too PC now, and there is NO incentive for kids to take any pride in themselves, their appearance and behaviour and future?

What bothers me the most is, IS THIS THE FUTURE? What chance do we or our children really stand? Will turds like this be terrorising the street "Mad Max" style, or will someone, somewhere have seen sense and start packing them off to the Army to learn some discipline, OR just packing them off to Devils Island (Papillon style) so that they can learn exactly what being excluded from normal disciplined society is all about.

Sorry, but I cannot pander to low-life like this. There are already too many human beings on this planet, so eliminating those that derive pleasure from causing suffering to normal, respectable, hard-working folk wouldn't cause me to bat an eyelid.

What makes a 16 year old feel so farkin hard, knocking a blokes bike over and causing a scene in front of a child? If I had been driving past an d witnessed this, I don't think I would have hesitated in swerving and running the toerags over. Honestly, it makes my blood boil!



I'm sorry for you mate, why do they feel the need to screw up your weekend like that.


You did the right thing, chin up, reflect on the fact that you are of a better breed than they are. (BUT next time, jab the fackers in the eyes then a swift knee to the nadgers!.... Oooops sorry I didn't mean that!!!!!)



Chin up dude



Bob

[Yeti]

They are going to run out of tolerant adults fairly soon! Have faith in that!

I just smile knowing that if the same youth was approached by 3 full grown men with a chip on their shoulders and no forseable consequences for their actions they would probably be standing in a puddle of p!ss rather swiftly!

Viva le Revolution!!!

[Yeti]

next time i have an afternoon off we could go for a walk in the park tom............

I love walking in parks too.....

[AlanH]

What's sad, but predictable, is that the guy doing most of the threatening, will do the same thing soon to someone who won't have a child with him, won't have a job he needs to keep, won't give a flying fluck about the police or anything else, and the outcome will be very very different.

What's sad about that? He'll get the biggest kicking of his miserable worthless little life. Job done. Attitude adjusted.

[digitalcaptive]

I had a similar situation while at Euro disney about 10 years ago we the whole family were quietly queueing for the runnaway train right when three british youths came pushing through the queue knocking my daughter then 12 into the metal railings bringing her to tears. I persued the three who promtly turned an threatend me with similar acts of violence (knives) but I hardly noticed the threats through enraged state and proceeded to head butt one of these guys who went down like a sack of spuds.........the queue was in raptuous applause which made me feel pretty good about myself and we got our ride...............unfortunately the french police were waiting for me at the end of it and dragged me off the the police station for 4 hrs completely ruining the kids day................maybe I should have let it go but I was so damn angry.....I ended up quite embarrassed with myself

[alpslapper]

I had a similar situation while at Euro disney about 10 years ago we the whole family were quietly queueing for the runnaway train right when three british youths came pushing through the queue knocking my daughter then 12 into the metal railings bringing her to tears. I persued the three who promtly turned an threatend me with similar acts of violence (knives) but I hardly noticed the threats through enraged state and proceeded to head butt one of these guys who went down like a sack of spuds.........the queue was in raptuous applause which made me feel pretty good about myself and we got our ride...............unfortunately the french police were waiting for me at the end of it and dragged me off the the police station for 4 hrs completely ruining the kids day................maybe I should have let it go but I was so damn angry.....I ended up quite embarrassed with myself

That's the thing Dave. Despite how it must have looked to the gathering of people at the bus stop - who were busy pretending nothing was happening, I actually felt in control of them, not them of me, because I was in control of myself. I was aware that if I decked the bloke in my face, that was going to open the door for numerious senarios to unfold - his mates pull out knives and stab me, etc etc. There was three of them, and I was able to keep all three in my line of vision and engaged, so no surprises. I also know for a fact that if it kicked off there is a cctv camera right on us, and the police would be there in a shot. Even the act of being arrested and then released would be enough to screw me up - never mind being done for actual bodily harm.

I had all this going through my head, while keeping clam, and also what would it have done to my daughter to see her dad fighting like an animal in the street, and then being carted off in handcuffs.

What will be going through her head the next time we have a daddy and daughter out in the park?

That said, had they actually even looked sideways at her ...... well .....

[Snaphappy]

I am so sorry to to hear this Tom. But embarrassed to say thats the reason I wont come back to the UK, it was never a peaceful loving country but the standards are getting worse with the nanny state saying no one can be chastised, those kids have not been taught right from wrong and shown discipline from their parents. A frightening experience for your daughter but she saw her dad in brave situation and in control I am sure she is proud of you, I am.
I have seen my dad turn people upside down and knock ten bales of crap out of them and the help an old lady cross the road. He taught me old fashioned respect not just for other people but self respect, he was no angel but he is a saint, and the clip around the ear when I didn't hold a door for the next person done me the world of good.
You right that those toerags will get their just rewards I just hope they get it before a child witnesses their dad bleeding in the street.
Give you daughter a hug and enjoy you park time.

Then maybe next sunday a few of us can go for a walk, I need to let off steam