It seems that hardly a week goes by without a story on Calendar or Look North about some violent incident or other in or near a nightclub on Friday or saturday nights. (Admittedly, these reports probably exagerate the true extent of the problem because there are so very few 'national' stories to be reported in Yorkshire and so a fight in a club makes marginally more exiting news than a cat stuck up a tree in Wombwell).

However, it has to be said that these incidents are real and occure with worrying frequency. This being so I am curious about why. I know one obvious answer is alcohol and binge drinking which no doubt is a factor. However, is there more to it than this? Is there something about the nature and atmosphere of a nightclub and the people who go there that makes them more likely to be places of violence.

What is it about clubs that makes people act in ways they may not do during the daytime?

What sort of people are most likely to be innocent victims of the violence?

The innocent are the ones who step in a try and help. Then there's the doormen who's job it is to try and restore calm.

Don't forget the morons who don't bother with the alcohol and just deliberately go out looking for a fight with anyone half their size because we all know if they went for someone their own size they would get the battering of their life.

Definately alcohol but you have to remember that loads of lads are also looking for women when they go out on a friday and saturday night- this makes them more 'macho' than usual and if someone says something to you then they can't be seen to be backing down A) infront of any watching ladies and B) infront of all there mates.

Daft but thats how most fights start- 1 cheeky comment taken the wrong way- they next thing you know you have got 2 groups of 5 lads all pasteing each other!

IMO a few of the reasons for the rise in aggresive behaviour being in the media is just that, it's now getting into the media more than it was before.

It used to be football hooliganism, but thats not interesting anymore, so now it's nightclubs.

Alot of people don't have any social skills anymore, and therefore find it hard to keep a relationship going (who's going to stay with a neanderthal doley?) so they go out, get hammered and take their own problems out on other people.

Alcohol + Testosterone + Too few brain cells + Attitude = Violence.

Don't forget the morons who don't bother with the alcohol and just deliberately go out looking for a fight with anyone half their size because we all know if they went for someone their own size they would get the battering of their life.

Interesting point. I am still curious about why clubs rather than say Meadowhall on a Saturday afternoon, or a theatre full of people or whereever. Is there something specific about clubs that attracts hooligans (perhaps rather like they are also attracted to football).

Alcohol + Testosterone + Too few brain cells + Attitude = Violence.

And thats just the Women of Sheffield :hihi:

Interesting point. I am still curious about why clubs rather than say Meadowhall on a Saturday afternoon, or a theatre full of people or whereever. Is there something specific about clubs that attracts hooligans (perhaps rather like they are also attracted to football).

Hooligans like to make themselves look 'Ard. Where in fact they look stupid and foolish. I would love to see these hooligans take on someone of equal ability and strength. They are nothing more than cowards.

I've had a few shall we say idiots challenge me on the doors. Some of them you could just flick and they'd fall over. I pay no attention when the booze is talking.

I must be extremely lucky because I go out numerous times a week and I've never seen nothing more than a few cross words being exchanged... They're probably all too busy admiring me *flicks hair* hehe :hihi:

I don' think that alcohol is actually much to do with it a lot of the time. Or at least not on both sides.

Violence is caused by people, and some people go out with that intention.

There's also this phenomenon going around where people record 'fights/beatings' on mobiles. However most of the violence is alchohol related, although as cyclone mentioned there are those who go out looking for a fight (you'd think they'd just take up boxing and make some money:loopy: )

Z

I don' think that alcohol is actually much to do with it a lot of the time. Or at least not on both sides.

Violence is caused by people, and some people go out with that intention.
Alcohol might fuel the bravado, reduce inhibitions and dull the capacity to think about the possible consequences of their actions. I agree, though, that you only need one tanked-up idiot to start a brawl.

yeah, i'm not saying that alcohol is nothing to do with it.

But the few times i've been involved in any violence it's been a group who weren't drunk and clearly were looking for a smaller group to beat up.

I tend to stick to clubs that dont have as many drunk idiots wanting trouble.

There were plenty of nights were I seen men knock into each other and it ends up in a big free for all.
In the places I go to now if that happens it always ends with a sorry and hug or handshake. Much friendlier and nobody has their night spoilt!

And I find a guy who can but doesnt have to prove himself much more appealing than one who struts like a cock loooking for trouble.

Nat
xx

I think nightclub violence is all down to alcohol and its effects on the more neanderthal of the patrons. If you've got an individual whose first reaction is to belt someone then letting them fill up on booze is not a good thing. The majority of the "fights" I've seen in town are basicaly groups of tanked up skip rats gathered round some unlucky sod and giving him a merciless shoeing, they can't fight on their own as they'd get a solid leathering so when one pounces they all join in. Its all about status among the group, reacting to percieved insults and looking like big hard men in front of their girlfriends.

The innocent victims are invariably someone who doesn't look like they'll present these troglodytes with a problem when they start on the unlucky beggar, if you look like you'll do them a mischief then by and large they'll shy away as all bullies do.

I agree with Cyclone - violence is caused by violent people. If a normally non-violent person becomes violent when they drink alcohol, you'd think they'd put two and two together and not drink it.

Don't think you can just blame alcohol as I am sure just as much if not more drink is consumed down the local pubs and they get hardly any violence compared to clubs. I think it is a mixture of showing off in front of friends/women etc, and loud music meaning no sensible conversation can be held and desputes have to be shouted at each other, all combined with alcohol.:loopy:

well i've spent most of my clubbing nights in clubs where people go to enjoy the music.
as for the fights i've seen in pubs, most of those were due to a combination of alcohol,wanting a fight, or trying to look macho

My personal opinion...

* Too much booze
* People who think they are hard and clever
* People trying to impress other people by doing this sort of crap
* People who dont understand when somebody is dating someone else
* Blokes- (sorry lads) but its mainly us starting it!

Alcohol + Testosterone + Too few brain cells + Attitude = Violence.

Whilst I agree with 'Alcohol', 'Testosterone' and 'Attitude', I have to diagree with the 'Too few brain cells'. One of the smartest men I know turns into a maniac after a few too many pints. I asked him once why he does it, and he said "Why deny all primal urges?". A bit of a nutter, but ridiculously smart - he just doesn't want it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't condone it, nor practice it ;)

Lots of different reasons. Many as suggested previously.

Well, alcohol do affect people differently, depending on their metabolism. I know of girls, (yes, girls) who would get violent too when they drink ! I used to see this a lot when I went out with other flatmates when I was at uni. They would get drunk, plastered, and never even remember what happens the night before. I wouldn't dismiss alcohol as a reason entirely.

I also think 'loyalty' sometimes makes a group picks on one single person. When a close mate is picked on, I doubt that one of member of the group would objectively and rationally think that he/she shouldn't get involved.

Lots of other reasons like stress or frustrations on other parts of your life may sometimes projects it onto other things. e.g. Like someone bumping into you in a nightclub say.

Although alcohol acts as a disinhibitor, I suspect there is also an element of macho posturing. Interestingly, I have never seen any fighting in a gay club.

I for one disagree with the alcohol being to blame. I grant the fact that it gives ppl more confidence or makes them feel like Superman but still it's the asses who have an attitude that is to blame. The majority of go out for a drink to enjoy the night, when i've had a good drink i just want to have fun and be with ppl.

Ppl with behavioural probems cause violence in a night club which maybe heightened by the fact taht they've had a shandy or two.

If you think it's the alcohol that causes agression and attitude go and watch some Sunday morning football. :D

people who cause trouble are from families of single mothers or where the woman wears the trousers in the house & the father is missing or weak.

These people have no concept of moral behaviour and have no idea how to conduct themselves in civilised society.

Reap what ye sow

Some interesting points.

It seems (correct me if I'm wrong) that there is a culture of city centres on a Friday/Saturday night being a sort of lawless wild west where the normal rules and conventions of a civilised society are suspended, and that anyone who decides to go into town then should be aware of it and know what they are getting into.

I don't for one minute support this view but is it broadly true that there is a sort of unspoken assumption that it is so?

I think you're right sid, it's like elton john sang "saturday nights alright for fighting" or the arctic monkeys "you couldn't do that on a sunday" - I think most towns (especially bigger ones like manchester, newcastle, birmingham etc) have their share of groups of lads with a 'friday night, fight night' attitude who go out looking for trouble.

Otherwise it's just people getting tanked up and somehow having their pride injured.

* Blokes- (sorry lads) but its mainly us starting it!

Nope, it's often the result of women arguing and then men stepping in to defend them....