London Riots

[Snow]

Does anyone else here live in London?

The riots haven't properly spread to where I live but a vehicle was set on fire on my street this evening and I've had three separate friends who have had to leave their homes for fear of arsen or looting.

I hope if you live in London you're staying safe.

[NUBLERT]

That is some scary stuff (I just read a little about it). I would be buying ammo...

[DreaM]

That is some scary stuff (I just read a little about it). I would be buying ammo...

For the guns that we don't have?

It's bloody good fortune that these morons aren't carrying guns to be honest, this could be a potential blood bath.

[Snow]

They're now reporting looting and burning in Ealing where I work.

[Hamma]

Last I checked law's don't stop people from carrying guns.

I know I'd be carrying mine all around my house if this was happening around me. :lol:

[NUBLERT]

For the guns that we don't have?

It's bloody good fortune that these morons aren't carrying guns to be honest, this could be a potential blood bath.

Mindless violence indeed.

Last I checked law's don't stop people from carrying guns.

I know I'd be carrying mine all around my house if this was happening around me. :lol:

This^.

[Hamma]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/09/uk.riots/index.html?on.cnn=1
In Croydon, south of London, a sofa factory and surrounding shops and homes were set ablaze and a 26-year-old man was seriously ill after being found with a gunshot wound, police said.
:\

[Robert089]

Last I checked law's don't stop people from carrying guns.

I know I'd be carrying mine all around my house if this was happening around me. :lol:

I am not 100% sure about the gun laws here in Britain but I know handguns are illegal. Rifles and shotguns are legal with limitations.

It is probably only a matter of time before a shop owner who owns a shotgun uses it to defend himself...

[p0intman]

if people in london put as much effort into fixing the european and world economy as they have this riot, the world might be in a better place.

rioters gonna riot, though, so...

[Duddy]

There's been riots here in Birmingham too, just not been as widely reported.

You can see some of what has been going on here:
http://birminghamriots2011.tumblr.com/

[Valdae]

There's been riots here in Birmingham too, just not been as widely reported.

You can see some of what has been going on here:
http://birminghamriots2011.tumblr.com/

i was in the middle of this last night. total madness.

[Duddy]

i was in the middle of this last night. total madness.

Outside or locked in somewhere? Either way, I don't envy you.

[Surge72]

I live in London and for the past two days have very occasionally been looking out of my window to convince myself that it is quiet in my area.

Pretty worrying I must say. I've just been watching The Big Bang Theory today instead of following the news as its too depressing and pissing me off whats happening - all the while keeping an ear on the street outside just in case.

And thank fuck guns are illegal. The situation would be so much worse if these morons were armed.

[Hamma]

Again, guns being illegal does not stop criminals from having them criminals don't obey laws?!?!

[Vancha]

Again, guns being illegal does not stop criminals from having them criminals don't obey laws?!?!
True, but it's much harder to get ahold of guns here because of their legal status. There's certainly far less guns than there would be if they were legal, and most of the rioters aren't "criminals" of the kind who'd own a gun.

[Manitou]

True, but it's much harder to get ahold of guns here because of their legal status. There's certainly far less guns than there would be if they were legal, and most of the rioters aren't "criminals" of the kind who'd own a gun.
Criminals use what they can to accomplish their idiotic and anti-social goals. The reason there aren't many guns in Europe is the forms of government you have there and their attitudes towards an armed civilian populace. Just the number of registered hunters in America exceeds a million people easily. They all have guns with which to hunt. If your logic followed, then whenever there was a riot in America, there would be gunfights everywhere. But that isn't the case. Your populace are sheep ready for the slaughter--one wolf in the sheep pen and it's over. We have plenty of sheepdogs who have teeth and are ready to defend themselves and the ones who can't defend themselves.

[Raymac]

I don't know how many are old enough to remember it happening, but the London riots look exactly the same as the LA Rodney King riots. I was in grade school at the time, but I remember the sense of chaos on the air and how unsettling it is.

It has very little to do with the initial incident that may have set it off, and it's really just a bunch of idiots that are taking advantage of a temporary breakdown in law and order. Any justification the rioters give at this point is complete garbage. Right now, it's just all about grabbing free shit. Academics will argue over the reason "why" for some time to come, but it's just looting for looting's sake.

[Duddy]

Criminals use what they can to accomplish their idiotic and anti-social goals. The reason there aren't many guns in Europe is the forms of government you have there and their attitudes towards an armed civilian populace. Just the number of registered hunters in America exceeds a million people easily. They all have guns with which to hunt. If your logic followed, then whenever there was a riot in America, there would be gunfights everywhere. But that isn't the case. Your populace are sheep ready for the slaughter--one wolf in the sheep pen and it's over. We have plenty of sheepdogs who have teeth and are ready to defend themselves and the ones who can't defend themselves.

Whilst I respect your opinion I vehemently disagree. I'm sorry, I don't pretend to know much about crime in foreign countries and I would question what you know also.

One of the large reason we don't widely legalize guns in this country is that you get an arms race. Because we don't widely use guns very few, including the criminals, need to carry a gun to protect themselves. I'd be willing to bet, population difference taken into account, that there is far less robberies at gunpoint here than over there.

Whilst you're right in that it means we have less at our disposal for self defense it also means that, generally speaking, you're less likely to be held at gun point.

Anyway let's not pursue that thread of discussion, because every discussion on foreign policy always descends into chaos. If you would like to open said can of worms, start a new discussion.

Back on topic, it would appear things have continued tonight, if less severe than before.

[Valdae]

No its far more severe tonight, but possibly because the police are more active. I'm based in Birmingham so I can only speak about what I know up here, but there have been a number of deaths reported, and it's spreading further around the country. London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol seem to have the worst of it, but it's kicking off all over the place.

There's a lot more armed police around, but a lot of communities have risen up to confront gangs in their own areas. Even the ones with guns.

[Duddy]

No its far more severe tonight, but possibly because the police are more active. I'm based in Birmingham so I can only speak about what I know up here, but there have been a number of deaths reported, and it's spreading further around the country. London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol seem to have the worst of it, but it's kicking off all over the place.

There's a lot more armed police around, but a lot of communities have risen up to confront gangs in their own areas. Even the ones with guns.

Wasn't that bad back when I posted, quickly got worse though I agree :(

[MgFalcon]

This is so terrible, I just heard about this today, and for the longest time I couldn't find out why people were rioting...

I'm all for peaceful protests but when shit like this erupts I just don't think there's anyway of stopping it in a reasonable/timely manner :/

[Firefly]

Again, guns being illegal does not stop criminals from having them criminals don't obey laws?!?!
As someone else pointed out, it's much more difficult to get guns in the UK. It's not like America where you can get them at the local Wal-Mart.

[Valdae]

This is so terrible, I just heard about this today, and for the longest time I couldn't find out why people were rioting...

I'm all for peaceful protests but when shit like this erupts I just don't think there's anyway of stopping it in a reasonable/timely manner :/

It started off when some police officers used 'excessive force' and shot a drug dealer in a taxi in Tottenham. That caused a small riot which has grown like an avalanche over the last few days.

Now all sorts of people are rioting. People sick of the state of the country and the government, people looking to loot shops in city centre's, and people who are just generally frustrated with life. There are a lot of youths around like myself who are disenfranchised with society, and are struggling to survive with the current economic climate. A lot of anger, and a lot of idiocy.

What didn't with the response is that the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, AND the Mayor of London were all on holiday at the same fucking time so no-one could deal with this situation. Thankfully now they've stepped up policing in most cities. Unfortunately they are still currently refusing to bring in rubber bullets, water cannons, or the army to help deal with these fucktards.

[Hamma]

As someone else pointed out, it's much more difficult to get guns in the UK. It's not like America where you can get them at the local Wal-Mart.

Does not change the fact criminals don't follow laws.

Thus making them criminals.


It started off when some police officers used 'excessive force' and shot a drug dealer in a taxi in Tottenham. That caused a small riot which has grown like an avalanche over the last few days.

Now all sorts of people are rioting. People sick of the state of the country and the government, people looking to loot shops in city centre's, and people who are just generally frustrated with life. There are a lot of youths around like myself who are disenfranchised with society, and are struggling to survive with the current economic climate. A lot of anger, and a lot of idiocy.

What didn't with the response is that the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, AND the Mayor of London were all on holiday at the same fucking time so no-one could deal with this situation. Thankfully now they've stepped up policing in most cities. Unfortunately they are still currently refusing to bring in rubber bullets, water cannons, or the army to help deal with these fucktards.

Yea in the end people looking for excuses to riot. I just can't understand why they are so slow to get shit done on this situation, put some rubber bullets into people and spray them down is it that hard? What are they doing saying "oh noes plz stop! put down that fire!" :lol:

[Valdae]

Does not change the fact criminals don't follow laws.

Thus making them criminals.




Yea in the end people looking for excuses to riot. I just can't understand why they are so slow to get shit done on this situation, put some rubber bullets into people and spray them down is it that hard? What are they doing saying "oh noes plz stop! put down that fire!" :lol:

Its a flaw with leadership all over the country. The police are doing the best job they can with riot gear, and I have to applaud them because I've seen a lot of them get seriously hurt.

The problem with water cannons is that this isn't a protest in one spot. The gangs are citywide and they constantly disperse and regroup, a water cannon cant do much except protect one area. Rubber bullets might be introduced for the worst areas, and I think if it gets further out of hand then the army will step in to lend a bit of manpower. Either that or we'll see more communities getting together to face the rioters themselves.

Anyone else looking forward to the Olympics?

[Raymac]

"All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again."

***x202a;Sublime - April 29, 1992 (Rodney King riots)***x202c;‏ - YouTube

[Firefly]

Does not change the fact criminals don't follow laws.

Thus making them criminals.
It also doesn't change the fact that guns aren't widely available in the UK. So criminals don't follow the laws - that doesn't mean they can just wave their magic wand and magick up some guns WHEN THERE AREN'T THAT MANY TO BE HAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. It all boils down to the old internet myth about the Army general who said to a woman, "Well ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you aren't one, are you?" Just because criminals universally don't follow laws doesn't mean UK criminals are like American criminals, running around with guns. The rarity of guns and the difficulty in obtaining access to guns means that your average UK criminal doesn't have one. More likely they have a knife. Which doesn't make them any less dangerous, however the discussion is about criminals, firearms, and the pro/con stance of an armed citizenry.

[Hezzy]

I have been placed on standby in the event the trouble spreads further north, or if they need to send more officers to Manchester tonight.

Your populace are sheep ready for the slaughter--one wolf in the sheep pen and it's over. We have plenty of sheepdogs who have teeth and are ready to defend themselves and the ones who can't defend themselves.

That is exactly right. Just look at what happened with Derrick Bird (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbria_shootings). Even the police here aren't routinely armed. They should be.

As someone else pointed out, it's much more difficult to get guns in the UK. It's not like America where you can get them at the local Wal-Mart.

I have it on good authority that the black market price for a single handgun (imported of course) ranges between £4000 and £6000 depending on make / brand. That's about $8000 to $12000 dollars. Not really a lot of money for serious criminals, but it certainly prices out 99% of the populace.

It started off when some police officers used 'excessive force' and shot a drug dealer in a taxi in Tottenham. That caused a small riot which has grown like an avalanche over the last few days.

That has yet to be determined. The IPCC have stated that the drug dealer had a hand gun with him that was chambered and ready to fire. Whether or not he was brandishing it was another thing, but it is more than likely that is the case. They were trying to arrest him on warrant at the time.

Yea in the end people looking for excuses to riot. I just can't understand why they are so slow to get shit done on this situation, put some rubber bullets into people and spray them down is it that hard? What are they doing saying "oh noes plz stop! put down that fire!" :lol:

It's because our police and government are infested by left wing liberal loonies who have no business telling law enforcement bodies how to police. They're actually telling the police to "hold the line" instead of "charge" because they're concerned about hurting rioters.

[Manitou]

Stay safe, Hezzy.

[Peacemaker]

Lol. Hippies in government. Question: why is it most governments are run by men and women who are 30 years too old to understand the majority population of people between 20 - 45. I've always felt that putting young people with a neither mid to far right or mid to far left would result in shit getting done. Instead people two generations older are using their morals, ideals, and opinions to cause a massive amount of "government is out of touch."

[Firefly]

Lol. Hippies in government. Question: why is it most governments are run by men and women who are 30 years too old to understand the majority population of people between 20 - 45. I've always felt that putting young people with a neither mid to far right or mid to far left would result in shit getting done. Instead people two generations older are using their morals, ideals, and opinions to cause a massive amount of "government is out of touch."
Because most 20yr olds don't know shit about shit, they're either ignorant of the world or full of piss and vinegar in a way that will most certainly cause them to make idiotic decisions. At the age of 20, I felt more accomplished and more wise than a majority of my peers who hadn't served. At the age of 30 I look back at my 20yr old self and want to kick him in the dick. At the age of 35 I look back at both 20yr old Firefly and 30yr old Firefly and want to kick them both in the dick. Six months from now I'll probably say the same damned thing about 35yr old Firefly.

Now before anyone gets all neckbeard aggro, I said "most".

[Hamma]

Sad state of affairs Hezzy :( "Hurting" rioters? What a joke.

Keep safe man.

[Manitou]

Great article/opinion piece on this over at BlackFive.net - check it out:

"Progeny of the Welfare State" (http://www.blackfive.net/)

A quote from the piece: "If you train an entire cohort of society to believe that the government doesn't just offer a safety net but a way of life, well you get this- gangs of scum who will take what they want if the free lunch stops showing up."

[Baneblade]

I don't want to be in a riot again for any reason.

[Vancha]

"Progeny of the Welfare State" (http://www.blackfive.net/)
Hah. That's hilarious.

Edit: Albeit a little "too soon", perhaps.

[Whoknowswhat1]

It started off when some police officers used 'excessive force' and shot a drug dealer in a taxi in Tottenham. That caused a small riot which has grown like an avalanche over the last few days.

What most people call Excessive Force could be considered defending yourself and others if you're a police officer

[Hezzy]

I have been called in to work tomorrow. Public sentiment towards the rioters must be putting pressure on the Government to stop being bleeding hearts, as they're authorising the use of baton rounds and water cannons tomorrow if the rioting hasn't stopped by then.

Should be fun.

[Tigersmith]

I have been called in to work tomorrow. Public sentiment towards the rioters must be putting pressure on the Government to stop being bleeding hearts, as they're authorising the use of baton rounds and water cannons tomorrow if the rioting hasn't stopped by then.

Should be fun.

Be safe man :| rough out there

[Raymac]

I have been called in to work tomorrow. Public sentiment towards the rioters must be putting pressure on the Government to stop being bleeding hearts, as they're authorising the use of baton rounds and water cannons tomorrow if the rioting hasn't stopped by then.

Should be fun.

Yeah, keep your head down and don't get caught out by yourself. My guess is that these rioters are such cowards that just the additional presence of force on the streets should be enough to cool this off.

Stay safe, and good luck.

[Hamma]

I guess the rioters shop Amazon:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/09/technology/amazon_riot/index.htm

Strange :lol:

[Peacemaker]

Get some hezzy! And yes firefly, I tend to agree with you there, I don't mean pick some shlub off the street. Educated people of the age of 35 - 45 would understand modern issues better than someone whose 65 though. IDK maybe I just feel as though its time for a change. Its not working.

[Valdae]

What most people call Excessive Force could be considered defending yourself and others if you're a police officer

Agreed. Lets remember they shot a drug dealer, who had a gun :-/

Thankfully much less rioting last night, maybe due to police presence, but possibly because its rained all f'kin night.

[Rokazulu]

I know this is bad, but Anarchy gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

[p0intman]

people in manchester are apparently p. mad as well..

http://www.wimp.com/manchesterriots/

lol

[Valdae]

I know this is bad, but Anarchy gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Maybe someone should come and smash your community to pieces, beat up you and your friends, and kill the people standing up against them. I'm sure you'd feel fantastic then.

[Firejack]

Great article/opinion piece on this over at BlackFive.net - check it out:

"Progeny of the Welfare State" (http://www.blackfive.net/)

A quote from the piece: "If you train an entire cohort of society to believe that the government doesn't just offer a safety net but a way of life, well you get this- gangs of scum who will take what they want if the free lunch stops showing up."As an Englishman that is probably one of the most insulting articles I've ever seen online. The author has made some presumptions and is using the unrest to push his own agenda. He has obviously never been this this country or understands the people or our beliefs.


The link he makes between our welfare system and the rioters is simply a lie. The vast majority of those people in the riots were young kids of all backgrounds. Sure some of them are from families receiving some sort of financial support. However if you look again, there are just as many well dressed, healthy youngsters carrying around their iPods and Smartphones. You can't for one moment think there is a link between a welfare system and the riots.

The distraction these kids caused the police allowed criminal gangs to take advantage of the disorder to loot.
This was the main problem for the police. While they were busy trying to collar the kids on bikes, crimes were being committed in large numbers.

The final group of people were the opportunists. There were large numbers of these individuals who took advantage of the situation. The criminal gangs had left with all they could carry so these passers-by thought they could help themselves while the police were busy elsewhere.
These individuals were not poor people being kept in clean clothes by the government. They were Students, Healthcare workers, and other individuals taking advantage of the disorder to commit crimes for nothing other than their own greed. It has nothing to do social problems in this country and it certainly has nothing to do with our welfare system.


I really hate the way this story has been reported in the media. Well hyped out of all proportion. You'd think every street was burning and the Queen had left the country to seek refuge in Australia.

I was in my local City Centre yesterday and there were 4 police having their photo's taken with tourists. That is a much more typical sight then the scenes of chaos being pushed around by the media, hinting that this behaviour is the normal way people behave here.


The hard line the British Police take towards crime of any sort, but especially gun crime, mean we are one of the safest modern societies in the world. The Police Service here is respected worldwide for the way it handles crimes and the professionalism and heroism each Officer displays on the streets.
Over 1 million British people signed up on Facebook to support the Police as soon as any sort criticism was pointed at them. They truly are phenomenal.
Can you name any other Police Service anywhere in the world that dispersed these riots without a single gun being fired? Think about that for a moment. There have been no serious injuries to the police or the rioters, the hospitals aren't pack with wounded, the streets aren't covered in blood. Would such widespread disorder have had such a positive outcome anywhere else. I really doubt it.


Sure our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has some improvements to make to our society. We are a lot closer then that Blackfive article suggests and the tens of thousands of volunteers who turned up to clean the streets in they own time proves that point.

Just because you need a helping hand once in awhile doesn't make you some sort of underclass and it especially doesn't make you a criminal.

[Tigersmith]

I wonder when all of this will stop. This to be honest is just unreal. Its not a 3rd world country god

[Firejack]

Apart from a few isolated incidents, it has already ended. A combination of an increase to the number of police on the streets surrounding the hotspots. Plus that ever reliable British rain has put an end to the nonsense.

[Rokazulu]

Maybe someone should come and smash your community to pieces, beat up you and your friends, and kill the people standing up against them. I'm sure you'd feel fantastic then.

Yeah we already got a name for those people.

THE POLICE!

[Surge72]

Yeah we already got a name for those people.

THE POLICE!

Wow, you're a prick.

Sorry I can't put any other point across. I'm tired and going to bed. I just needed to voice my low opinion of you.

[Hamma]

Fail.. stop trolling :lol:

[Vancha]

As an Englishman that is probably one of the most insulting articles I've ever seen online.
It's also satirical, hence my laughing at it before.

I thought it was serious to start with as well, but as I kept reading I realized it was too stupid to be real.

[Hamma]

It's not satirical at all, there's plenty of people who don't want to pay for free handouts and want the govt to stay out of personal lives.

[Manitou]

It's also satirical, hence my laughing at it before.

I thought it was serious to start with as well, but as I kept reading I realized it was too stupid to be real.
It isn't satire. These guys are serious, and from a multicultural background. Most are military or ex-military (US) and have a FIRM grip of the geopolitical scene. Some are democrat, some are republican, some are independent.

To label the article as satire simply because you don't like the truth behind it is, in my opinion, a cop-out. Point out the weaknesses in his argument, critique the points he makes.

[Vancha]

No no no, it's satire in the same way Colbert parodies a republican.

See, he's called "Uncle Jimbo" for starters, and he talks as if the riots are going on in America, referencing American taxes, American politics and American health programs as if they're the cause of the riots...All the while throwing in liberal/left/social/democrat every few words as if he's still living the cold war.

The posts by Blackfive/Longtabsigo look fairly genuine, but I'm pretty sure Jimbo's a parody, like Fox News.

[Hamma]

Negative.. :P

[Firefly]

Yeah we already got a name for those people.

THE POLICE!
That's funny. In my neighborhood the police only beat the shit out of people who resist, brandish a weapon, or otherwise act like a fucking cunt. My former housemate was a cop, and we have multiple cops living in my complex and all of them are good friends. More importantly good people.

Sorry that your experiences with the police have been less than stellar. However, I'd say your completely shitty attitude has something to do with it. Most cops put incredible distance between themselves and those exceedingly rare individuals who join the police because they're tired of being bullied. In fact I daresay that about all of the LEOs that I know, in addition to tolerating your sort of "Fuck the corporate world!" attitude, gladly will still put their life on the line to stop someone from terrorizing you.

In spite of the fact that cunts who hassle them don't fucking deserve it.

[Valdae]

That's funny. In my neighborhood the police only beat the shit out of people who resist, brandish a weapon, or otherwise act like a fucking cunt. My former housemate was a cop, and we have multiple cops living in my complex and all of them are good friends. More importantly good people.

Sorry that your experiences with the police have been less than stellar. However, I'd say your completely shitty attitude has something to do with it. Most cops put incredible distance between themselves and those exceedingly rare individuals who join the police because they're tired of being bullied. In fact I daresay that about all of the LEOs that I know, in addition to tolerating your sort of "Fuck the corporate world!" attitude, gladly will still put their life on the line to stop someone from terrorizing you.

In spite of the fact that cunts who hassle them don't fucking deserve it.

All well said but he doesn't deserve a response. The majority of UK police have acted heroically, and I think if these riots were happening in the US then I would expect much of the same.

'Anarchy rules!' and 'fuck the police!' are stereotypical statements of the kind of people causing this riot in the first place.

With regards to the article posted before, these riots aren't just a result of the welfare system (which has done far more good than bad), but for a wide variety of political/social/economic/idiotic factors.

I mean check out this article, her motivation obviously wasn't welfare based. http://m.mirror.co.uk/article?a=m4%3A23336687

[Hezzy]

Back from work. No widespread disorder, but a lot of drunk idiots. Made two arrests and a lot of robust early interventions (aka telling them to go home haha). Pulled a 12 hour shift and now I can barely feel my legs

[Firefly]

Made two arrests and a lot of robust early interventions (aka telling them to go home haha).
LOL... robust intervention. "STOP! OR I'LL SAY STOP AGAIN!"

[Manitou]

No no no, it's satire in the same way Colbert parodies a republican.

See, he's called "Uncle Jimbo" for starters, and he talks as if the riots are going on in America, referencing American taxes, American politics and American health programs as if they're the cause of the riots...All the while throwing in liberal/left/social/democrat every few words as if he's still living the cold war.

The posts by Blackfive/Longtabsigo look fairly genuine, but I'm pretty sure Jimbo's a parody, like Fox News.
Negative. Uncle Jimbo is Jim Hanson, a former Special Forces weapons NCO. That is the handle by which he is known. He is dead serious and he is (in my opinion) dead on.

[Raymac]

Back from work. No widespread disorder, but a lot of drunk idiots. Made two arrests and a lot of robust early interventions (aka telling them to go home haha). Pulled a 12 hour shift and now I can barely feel my legs

Great news. Good to hear you kept safe. Now let's hope this is the beginning of the end and not just the end of the beginning.

[Rokazulu]

That's funny. In my neighborhood the police only beat the shit out of people who resist, brandish a weapon, or otherwise act like a fucking cunt. My former housemate was a cop, and we have multiple cops living in my complex and all of them are good friends. More importantly good people.

Sorry that your experiences with the police have been less than stellar. However, I'd say your completely shitty attitude has something to do with it. Most cops put incredible distance between themselves and those exceedingly rare individuals who join the police because they're tired of being bullied. In fact I daresay that about all of the LEOs that I know, in addition to tolerating your sort of "Fuck the corporate world!" attitude, gladly will still put their life on the line to stop someone from terrorizing you.

In spite of the fact that cunts who hassle them don't fucking deserve it.

Police are ok most of the time :groovy:

I'm just playing the other side for fun. Most of the people on this topic assume the rioters are a bunch of hooligans that want to cause mayhem. I could say the same about the leaders of the system they live in.

Economy is bad, we give money to rich bankers and most of the good ol' folks are hurting because of it. So they smash and grab to take what they think they deserve. The police stand right beside their corrupt leaders and arrest even peaceful protesters sometimes! So naturally, things turn violent quickly.

I don't like to get involved in all that though. Both sides, I'm sure, are trying to do what they think is best for society.

[Hezzy]

LOL... robust intervention. "STOP! OR I'LL SAY STOP AGAIN!"

It's more like "GTFO OR BAN"

A ban being an arrest, of course...

[Lartnev]

It's more like "GTFO OR BAN"

A ban being an arrest, of course...

Brings a whole new meaning to banstick :D