http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politi ... 3290?f=rss



Thought he might as soon as I saw the headline...

Labour has failed, for sure, but the rot set in under the previous Tory government.

It's a failure in morals to try and blame one Government, on party, for the attacks on children by children.

That's a failure of generations, multiple Governments and parents.

Heather, you know better. Who's in power is largely irrelevant when it comes to social issues.

Having gone to secondary school at Edlington, I can't say I'm surprised. There are some real scum bags there.
Having said that, it's not even the worst bit of Doncaster.

EDIT

And as much as I hate Labour, that was before they came to power.

I know. The problem is they all give lip service to social problems like this, but then complain when it all gets worse, and generally blame each other for not doing enough.

I don't recall much in the way of childhood delinquency in my formative years. Of course, there were tough kids from poor backgrounds, but they were pretty much the minority. I wasn't exactly from a well-off family, but at least I knew how to behave.

It definitely seemed to get worse during the 1980s and 1990s, and seems to affect those who don't have a good family structure, lack of discipline in the home or at school, and those who are caught in a benefits culture.

You're right, things definitely changed then. I was talking to a mate last night who turns 48 in March. We were actually talking about relationships and how several of our friends have dived head first into moving in with girls etc. He said people used to savour things more and take it slow. I then said it was a generational thing. I can see both sides. I was born in 1981 and met John Major at school at the height of the 90s recession. Politics, social issues, economics, have all interested me since I was a kid. Whilst I wasn't there, I can understand what baby boomers and to an extent generation X had to go through growing up. Things were tougher. There was more common sense, more respect etc. Pretty much everyone born since me doesn't remember the introduction of Tesco Value, or 11% interest rates, or interest only mortgages. They are used to having everything they want - now. There are so many choices, they can try anything and if they don't like it, they try something else. They have never struggled with anything and many don't the meaning of true hard work (probably me included). Credit has been easily available, economic boom has been the norm. All of this has contributed to the social issues currently experienced in my view.

Incidentally, generation X runs from 61-81 and Y from 81-00ish. Which is quite interesting if you start thinking about people you know...

People know the cost of everything and value of nothing. Or something.

I was brought up to understand that if you can't afford it you can't have it. This is why I haven't splashed out on the latest camera or expensive lens - not because I can't just exercise the credit card and do it, but because I can't afford to pay it back right now. If I can't cover the cost in one hit, I don't want the credit for short term benefit. I prefer to wait until I can afford it. (Actually, that's a fib, but I force myself to wait.)

I hate to blame it all on the Thatcher government, but essentially there's no alternative. I fear the 1980s led everyone to believe they were entitled to everything, even if that meant you had to steal it to get it.

There is no “moral recession” and kids abusing kids like this is nothing new. What is new is the speed at which things are reported, and 24/7 news channels which need to keep content flowing. If society is changing, it’s only changing in ways that allow it to reflect on basic human nature in more detail.

You're both right. I'm reluctant to blame a single politician though. Regardless of their job title.

Things have definitely changed Paul. But at the same time, access to information is a huge factor as well. I do feel as though standards have slipped though - even since I was a kid 20yrs ago. I don't need the media/internet whatever to know that. I can see it with my own eyes.

I've seen kids talk and behave in ways we never did, and I'm only 27 and essentially a big kid myself

Also, what's the deal with some of the kids in England (it may exist to a very small extent here but I seriously doubt it) talking like they're from 'the ghetto', as the media and others would have it? I don't even know how to define that situation enough to really grasp it tbh

What I'm asking is, where does that come from? And I can't even see that going too far in the rest of the UK either - you'd be laughed out of your street/estate/whatever surely, so why England?

Is easy access to other cultures and so much more information these days really what's causing social problems with the young?

Sorry about the confused nature of the post, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on it

I was born in '80....

... which explains a few things ....

... like my hatred of children and my love of death metal

My understanding is it comes from the gang and street culture of America. White kids speaking like black kids. Probably heavily influenced by rap and allied music.

Is it an England-only thing do you reckon? I'm just wondering if you could start to define that type of street culture by when and where it pops up

I think it started in the London area, certainly where there are healthy black populations. I think it also happens with south Asian kids. I guess it's more noticeable where there isn't already a strong regional accent. Estuary English can easily turn to "gangsta", whereas Geordie probably can't.