Self Defence

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   L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years ago

   It gets to a certain stage when the police in your home town said they don't care how many fights break out in the streets as long as there are no stabbings.
   
   I live in, what used to be, a nice little English town. I used to go out all the time in the evening. However, recently chavs (I suppose the USA version is sort of white-trash gangstas, if that makes sense) roam the streets.
   
   One group call themselves the 'Massive' - I once had to call the police on them when a group of them mugged a friend of mine. The police replied that they didn't have the resources to deal with the 'Massive' and so they didn't do anything about it.
   
   How do we live in a society without law? Well, due to recent death threats and the likes, now myself and my friends are all taking martial arts lessons and having to carry our own weapons around town in order to stay safe.
   
   I don't know what made me bring this up now - I guess it is because I am just angered at how the police would rather spend their time drinking tea than fighting crime.
   
   My friends, this is how bad the midlands has become. I urge you all that if you are planning a holiday here - don't.
   
   Yes, it may be Shakespeare country - but that ship has long since sailed. Now this is ASBO country.
   
   Luke.

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      Wendi Mposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      So sorry to hear this Luke.  I wish the world could be different, but we can only do so much to change it!

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      DogSiDaedposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not a great holiday in the Midlands anyway really.

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   Justine76posted 14 years ago

   they drink coffee in the usa, at least where i live....

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      Paradise7posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      With donuts.  And do nothing to stop the gangs, where I live.  I'm lucky my neighborhood is safe, but I'm not that far from neighborhoods that aren't.
      
      It's a global problem.  I didn't realize the UK was as bad as here in the USA.
      
      What got into these people with that attitude, that it's alright to commit random violence on complete strangers for no particularly good reason other than to terrorize and intimidate, and just because they can get away with it?
      
      It isn't all right.  It isn't.

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         Jeffrey Nealposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I believe you've answered your own question: "just because they can get away with it." 
         Without consequence, a certain segment of people will do whatever can be gotten away with.
         
         And this:
         
         
         It's a cultural disease...or a contagious mental defect, at the very least.  We have similar problems.

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         DogSiDaedposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         The UK isn't as bad, generally there are more threats than actual violence, especially in little places in the Midlands. Usually the threats are towards emos or such like just because of who they are, but are more of a status thing than a real threat (MOSTLY)

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      habeeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      And don't forget the donuts!

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   ediggityposted 14 years ago

   Sucks that's happening in your own city.  Guess you have two choices, move out, or prepare for the worst.  It sounds like you are doing the latter.  Good Luck.  Watch the American movie Falling Down with Michael Douglas.

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      Ghost32posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent post and excellent movie--in my opinion, by far the finest Douglas has done to date.
      
      As for defending oneself, especially on one's own turf, there's a reason why I'm building an earthbag home.  That is, a reason beyond the cost savings and the "Green" advantage of using onsite materials (dirt) for the walls. 
      
      Namely, earthen walls stop bullets.  At least from small arms fire.

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         tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         If that's a big concern you might want to reconsider the location.

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   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   I feel for you Luke. If you can't move to a safer place, just try to stay away from it, as much as you can. And stock up on weapons and ammunition. I am afraid it's going to get worse before it gets better, if at all...

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   L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years ago

   The issue I have is that my town is split by a river and these gangs hang out by the waters edge. I have to cross the river in order to get to school every day. Some days I have things going on after school - not finishing until around 7pm and I have to walk through these areas in the dark. Then, if I decide to go out, such groups are in force around the town centre. It's bloody stupid that I cannot feel safe in my home town anymore.

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      Wendi Mposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      How old are you Luke?  If you don't mind me asking!

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         L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I don't mind at all - I am 18.
         
         I was banned from hubpages for a bit because I joined when I was 17 - my birthday was last week though so I'm back again.

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            Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            welcome back 

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            Wendi Mposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, Happy Birthday...wish it could be a little more peaceful for you!

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               L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Cheers, I'm guessing the school reference threw you off and you thought I was underage for the hub? I'm currently in my last year of school but still a student all the same.

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                  Wendi Mposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  No, I automatically pictured you in college to be perfectly honest!

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      Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      yup, bloody stupid is right. wish i could help.

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   L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years ago

   I'm a fairly large and chunky lad but in comparrison to half the drop outs and druggies in my town I'm still quite small. I'm also not naturally violent as I figure intelligence should always rule over the fist. However, now my hand is forced and I have to protect myself. Alot of the chavs are in their 20s - they just have no jobs and no ambitions so they have no worries with terrorising the town.
   
   I don't know how many people would have heard this but recently there was a case of a mother and special needs daughter in the UK who killed themselves because they couldn't put up with the terrorism they neighbours inflicted upon them anymore. The police did nothing about the chavs in all their 10 year reign, they only did something about it last weeks - three months after the mother torched her car with her daughter and herself inside.
   
   Last month, one chav decided he didn't like me and tried to run me over in his car, actually swerving to try and hit me. I told the police and nothing.
   
   It really is like H.G. Well's Eloi and Morlocks.

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   R P Chapmanposted 14 years ago

   Might seem silly but have you tried talking to them? I live in a  part of England that regularly appears top of those lists of "dangerous places to live".
   
   We've got lots of gangs here and I'm a fair distance from "cool" myself. However, I get by fine, pretty much without fear as I simply ackowledge them.
   
   I tend to think they're only the enemy if you believe they are. The newspapers are largely wrong about the terrible threats around us. All thoses evil hooded chavs are actually driven by the same motives as everyone else and once you realise this they're way less scary.

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      L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      We have, we have. It is sad but all we get in responce is:
      
      "Are you startin'? Are you startin'?"
      
      Then larger chavs back up the smaller ones - then female chavs.
      
      I mean, what do you do when a female chav tries to hit you with a stick/beer bottle (the 'Massives' choice of weapon, they're quite proud of it being their M.O)? You can't hit them back if you want to remain honourable but you can't just lie back and take it because even with a strength difference a bottle still hurts!

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         A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Personally I would put a 9mm round into center mass, but since you come from a much more civilized Country than the US I guess you will just have to become the victim that your government wants you to be! OR defy your government and arm yourself, choices!

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   Kaabiposted 14 years ago

   Wow, this sounds eerily like Clockwork Orange.  Is the world that Burgess imagined really coming true?  That is pretty terrible, really terrible, the cops should destroy Massive with all their might!

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      L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Very much so!
      Only Alex from A Clockwork Orange is also intelligent - the chavs have no brians (and quite possibly no souls).

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   L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years ago

   In this area they seem to have a natural dislike for anyone who isn't a drop out. Especially those of us who go to grammar schools.

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Are your parents aware of what is going on?

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       L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yeah, infact they went out to dinner with some people today who were also discussing it. They came to the same conclusion that my home town (forgive me for not mentioning it online) has changed so much. Everyone is aware of it but nobody is doing anything about it. As I stated before - the police said they don't have the resources.

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Are they considering a move to the other shore, closer to your school, so you are not forced to face the gangs on a daily basis?

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    Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

    I think if I lived where my sons or daughter had to go through that kind of neighborhood to get to school I'd either drop them off (cool or not) or else see if there were a way for them to drive there.  Any chance there's a bus that would help you avoid walking through there?  It would be worth the money, I'd think.  It sounds pretty extreme to me.  In the US we have bad neighborhoods in cities; but most of the time, during the day time, even people in bad neighborhoods leave everyone else alone, as long as everyone leaves them alone.  There are a few extreme areas in some cities, but that isn't most "bad areas".  That's the extreme ones.
    
    I know it's easier said than done, but it's too bad you can't move.  There's so many places in the world where people don't have to deal with that kind of thing.  In the US we have small cities and suburbs where, even though there's a certain amount of crime, people pretty much don't live in fear and generally feel reasonably safe.  (I'm not suggesting you move to a US suburb.  My point is that punks aren't around making life difficult in a lot of places.)

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    TMinutposted 14 years ago

    At least the cops are sitting back instead being part of it...
    
    I had to carry a weapon to school starting in junior high, the ones who didn't aren't around anymore. For my twelfth grade year, I switched to a private school instead of government public school but going to the store or walking to a friend's house still needed a weapon.
    
    Once the police give up (they don't want to die either), you need to leave if possible. Definitely learn to defend yourself but really, if it's a whole gang, you can't do much. Some of those kinds are more likely to kill you when you DO fight. And like RP said, sometimes you can talk to them. Still, your best bet is probably to move.

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    manlypoetrymanposted 14 years ago

    
    
    Daniel: When do I learn how to punch?
    Miyagi: Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?
    
    Good Fortune with your training. I know I would like to take some more Martial Arts classes again myself. Although...I hope you never have to use what you learn!

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    oldenuf2nobetterposted 14 years ago

    I'm sorry to hear all this.Try pepper spray.I can personally recommend it,but get the biggest size canister,the small ones are useless.

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    oldenuf2nobetterposted 14 years ago

    I recommended pepper spray a minute ago.Be carefull if it's windy at all,you'll get it back in your own face.It's a shame to even have this conversation but everyone has a right to live in freedom from fear.Good luck.

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