Stand together campaign - How we can beat the yobs

[fox20thc]

Sheffield Star today!

 

http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=4974&ArticleID=1699769

 

" GO on any street in Sheffield tonight and chances are there will be a gang of kids, usually in hoodies, loitering around.

 

It's a common sight in the city but when are they just bored kids with nowhere else to go and when does it become something more threatening?

 

Their message is Stand Together - there's strength in numbers and rather than sitting at home alone and worried, band together with your neighbours to get help and tackle the problem.

 

But along with offering help, councillors also want people to pause and just think about whether those kids really are causing problems or whether our fear of crime is making us take things out of proportion.

 

So is the city right to be afraid of these mini terrorists or is it all being blown out of proportion?

[alchresearch]

I recall me and a few mates loitering on street corners of the Badger back in the 70's and 80's - sometimes with our Parkas on and the hoods up. We didn't do anything wrong, we just sat and chatted. It's what teens do.

[fox20thc]

Exactly, I was traipsing home from the shops last week laden with stuff and as I approached the top of our estate one such 'hoodie' saw me and said hello.

 

"where are you off to?" I asked.

 

"why, do you want a hand carrying the shopping" said hoodie (no not a family friend just one of the local lads)

 

He promptly relieved me of most of my shopping and walked with me to my door!

 

Scandalous! I can see the headlines now, hoodie takes shopping from housewife

[Cyclone]

Can't say that i've noticed a problem in walkley, or at least not with kids.

Now the 20 year old drunken baffoons, that's a different story.

[fox20thc]

To be perfectly honest this campaign will more than likely perpetuate the myth that our streets are unsafe and teenage hoodlums are lurking on every corner.

 

I don't think the reclaim the streets attitude will help at all.

[cosywolf]

I think there really is a problem with perception here. The media and politicians tell us constantly that 'hoodies' are a threat, and build up the picture of this huge social issue of evil young people battering the average person or just waiting to pounce. So people see these kids hanging out with their friends, or even on their own, and they've been conditioned to be fearful of them. A good percentage of the time the kids pose no threat at all. And when they are a bit cocky, most will respond to a calm request to keep it down. A very small minority will be out for trouble, but that is the same with most groups of people.

 

There are a great many projects already out there for young people to get involved in, or run themselves. Those who are interested in such things, generally have the opportunity, and where they don't, they should. But there's a lot to be said for changing our own attitudes as adults and not looking for threats behind every corner/ amongst every group of young people who want to stand out on the streets chatting with their mates. Yes, it can be a nuisance, but there are ways of making it less so, and it's always worth starting out with the thought - are they really actually doing anything bad/harmful, and if not, if it's just a bit of noise and silliness, why get yourself in a twist over it.

[Daven]

Well said Costwolf !

[Daven]

Ooops - I meant Cosywolf !

[Tomataheeed]

I think there really is a problem with perception here. The media and politicians tell us constantly that 'hoodies' are a threat, and build up the picture of this huge social issue of evil young people battering the average person or just waiting to pounce. So people see these kids hanging out with their friends, or even on their own, and they've been conditioned to be fearful of them. A good percentage of the time the kids pose no threat at all. And when they are a bit cocky, most will respond to a calm request to keep it down. A very small minority will be out for trouble, but that is the same with most groups of people.

 

There are a great many projects already out there for young people to get involved in, or run themselves. Those who are interested in such things, generally have the opportunity, and where they don't, they should. But there's a lot to be said for changing our own attitudes as adults and not looking for threats behind every corner/ amongst every group of young people who want to stand out on the streets chatting with their mates. Yes, it can be a nuisance, but there are ways of making it less so, and it's always worth starting out with the thought - are they really actually doing anything bad/harmful, and if not, if it's just a bit of noise and silliness, why get yourself in a twist over it.

 

Well said. The local crowd of teenagers in Totley seem to get the neighbours in a right panic. My pompous next door neighbour once insisted a couple of these kids "move along" whilst they were sat on his front wall having a fag. Sure enough they wind him up. I've had no such grief - they know me, say hello and tell their friends to watch their language if my 8 year old daughter is around. The only difference is that I say hello, and I've assumed they are in the park drinking beer, chatting, smoking, sh*gging ( noisily at times !! ) whilst my neighbour assumes they are planning muggings, drug deals and god knows what.

 

There have been a number of cars scratched since I moved here 4 years ago, and thats it apart from fag butts and beer cans left in the park. The old biddies playing bowls cause me more trouble....I come home and all of a sudden there are Metros and Micras parked everywhere.

 

Its hardly a new issue - I think people forget they were young once. I can't remember the quote exactly, but there is one complaining about the "young people of today".....and I think its Aristotle complaining.

[THCAyle]

glad to see we(the "yoot") have abit of support from some people on this forum.wearing a hoodie and being discriminated because of it is just stupid.

 

and your all right,thats all we do,sit in the park having a laugh,not sitting there waiting for a raise.