Anti-Social Behaviour....

[Marc Graham]

I don't know about anyone else - but its a bug-bear of mine.

Whether its general stupidity like people driving motor bikes or quads on footpaths/pavements, kids rioting, kits throwing stones at peoples homes, teenagers drinking on street corners - all this kind of crap drives me mental.

Shouldn't a sensible society have some means of saying - this kind of behaviour isn't acceptable and if nothing is done there will be some form of actual punishment? I say this because frankly I don't think at present the political/legal portions in charge give a toss because they are all probably living in areas unaffected.

bah humbug I say! At times I feel normal people are powerless to do anything as you can be as sure as eggs are eggs that any confrontation will result in the innocent party ending up being charged with some nonsense (that or absolutely sod all will be done).

Feeling very cynical in this post - thoughts?

[The Doctor]

A rise in anti-social behaviour caused my parents quite a bit of stress resulting in them moving. Folk don't realise how their behaviour affects other people.

-Ralph

[Marc Graham]

I think you are right - sometimes its not realising and sometimes its just not caring.

Sad really.

[Hero]

And selfish too.

In my current line of work I have to deal with this on a regular basis. Some listen, some don't and some listen, but find it funny.

[Shockprowl]

Is vigilantism the answer? Fight fire with fire?

[dyrl]

Lincoln's Lyceum address deals with this issue very well, so I'll just limit myself to summarizing his view and refer anyone to the speech for deeper insight. In short there are only two possibilities: Either a political religion that enforces proper behavior via mechanisms ranging from social ostracism to fines and jail time, or the eventual creation of a dictatorship promising secirity at the cost of freedom, but delivering neither.


constitution.org/lincoln/lyceum.htm

Pete

[Marc Graham]

Well - there used to be a lot of vigilantism here (and there still is some to an extent) - I'd say in general petty crimes and anti-social behaviour have thrived in the vacuum since. Not exactly overwhelming support for the police yet.

Not sure what the actual answer is - but people need to be responsible for their own behaviour - however the change is made if we are going to sustain life on this planet with people living in close quarters as seems likely at present then behaviours are going to need to be controlled within reasonable parameters.

Marc.

[Stomski]

Either a political religion that enforces proper behavior

Define "proper" behaviour please!