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I'm going to teach my son, to the best of my ability, to respect other people, and to not be duped into grasping at the hollow and ultimately unfufilling self-centred non-community minded consumer fantasy that's pumped into his environment (despite our efforts to limit exposure). FYI.

Apart from installing an insatiable desire for tricked out high end bicycles, obviously.

Fuck that. It's the engine that counts.

You could be talking about the bankers / economic policy makers. Although it's more than 15 years, obviously.

I'm going to teach my son, to the best of my ability, to respect other people, and to not be duped into grasping at the hollow and ultimately unfufilling self-centred non-community minded consumer fantasy that's pumped into his environment (despite our efforts to limit exposure). FYI.

if the bankers have been breaking laws for 15 years then refer to my previous stance on that. As for consumerism being non community minded...how? People go out to work and decide what they want to spend their money on. If some choose to buy tele's and nike trainers then that is up to them. There are a lot of angry people who are against looting and anti social behavior who enjoy living in a society where they can choose what they spend their money on...including bikes. This is about personal responsibility and conducting yourself responsibly and not blaming society and other people in the community.

Fuck that. It's the engine that counts.

I sound like a road lobbyist :(

from sky talking head/ resident "Ealing doesn't even have a state school, so rioters must have come in from elsewhere..." "like a herd of ants"

I sound like a road lobbyist :(

Ha, that didn't even occur to me.

In clapham now. Firefighters have shut the main st outside c junct. Maybe 100 people with brooms ready and waiting...
It's a nice feeling.
Free tea also.

Any word on how the Battle of Kingsland went down? Were any of the shop owners injured? Did a battle actually break out?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2011/aug/09/london-riots-london?CMP=twt_gu

some footage here

if the bankers have been breaking laws for 15 years then refer to my previous stance on that. As for consumerism being non community minded...how? People go out to work and decide what they want to spend their money on. If some choose to buy tele's and nike trainers then that is up to them. There are a lot of angry people who are against looting and anti social behavior who enjoy living in a society where they can choose what they spend their money on...including bikes. This is about personal responsibility and conducting yourself responsibly and not blaming society and other people in the community.

It's about both those things. I don't mind consumerism, but think consumer fantasy is a damaging thing.

Also, some people would like to go out to work, but can't (or have more than their fair share of obstacles put in their way).

free tea?
(leaves for clapham)

In clapham now. Firefighters have shut the main st outside c junct. Maybe 100 people with brooms ready and waiting...
It's a nice feeling.
Free tea also.

My missus is there. Police have said cleanup can begin at 1300.

if the bankers have been breaking laws for 15 years then refer to my previous stance on that. As for consumerism being non community minded...how? People go out to work and decide what they want to spend their money on. If some choose to buy tele's and nike trainers then that is up to them. There are a lot of angry people who are against looting and anti social behavior who enjoy living in a society where they can choose what they spend their money on...including bikes. This is about personal responsibility and conducting yourself responsibly and not blaming society and other people in the community.

Consumerism and a functioning market economy are not the same thing.

"all police cells in london are full" is gonna cause chaos if we have another night of this crap

I'm not saying it would ever happen here but during the riots I was caught up in in South America they beat the hell out of the arrested people and then dumped them into football stadiums where they fired tear gas into them to keep them busy until they could be transported to prisons where they would be locked up sometimes for weeks before charging. Very scary shit.

EDIT: Police shot and killed 26 people in one night during one of them if I remember correctly.

agreed on that. I'd just like to see some people taking responsibility. hope you and your family are safe btw.

Someone got shot in Leeds last night

@ Cameron HTFU

My missus is there. Police have said cleanup can begin at 1300.

The army of people out there helping to clean up heartens me.

Quite a lot of tweed types around...
All chatting bollocks about fucking big society.

agreed on that. I'd just like to see some people taking responsibility. hope you and your family are safe btw.

We're fine, thanks. I know what you're saying about the current crop of 8 to 10-year-olds, BTW. The future is dark, or could be…

If anyone wants to find me I'm by the snappy snaps.

I'm off to tesco to lootget lunch...

this is about personal responsibility and conducting yourself responsibly and not blaming society and other people in the community.

spot on!

We're fine, thanks. I know what you're saying about the current crop of 8 to 10-year-olds, BTW. The future is dark, or could be…

Racist.

smug bastards