[oronozopiy]

A debate is going on in the Magical Kingdom.

Is society just getting more violent, greedy and rude?

Or is it actually better than what existed in the preceding times, the view of which from the present coated with nostalgia.

There is a real story on those streets, one which may surprise any NYer with romantic views of London. But what is it exactly?

From the Guardian

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/200...s_to_blam.html
Are greedy, rude adults to blame for teen violence?

What do you think of comments made by Sir Alan Steer, a headteacher and the head of a government review of school behaviour, which is due to report on Monday 14 July?
July 11, 2008 12:56 PM

A culture of greed and rudeness among adults is contributing to the epidemic of knife and gun violence among teenagers, according to the government's behaviour adviser.
Sir Alan Steer, a headteacher and the head of a government review of school behaviour, said in an interview with the Guardian, that the recent killings of teenagers in London was "heartbreaking".
"It's connected to a violent sub-culture. But we bear some responsibility. Sometimes as adults we don't model the behaviour we would want youngsters to follow. We live in a greedy culture, we are rude to each other in the street. Children follow that. You wonder what has gone wrong in these children's lives. Of course the kids have a responsibility, but there are questions about what's going on at home. Parents have a huge responsibility. Government doesn't bring up children, parents do."

Some of the comments from ordinary Londoners are astounding.
Just returned from lunch and just witnessed an incident at the seven dials junction near Covent Garden. A Merc driver had to break hard to avoid hitting a teenage BME sauntering across the road. The teenager stood there, fronted the driver , parted his rain mac and clearly visible in his waistband was the handle of a large carving knife. Smiling he turned and continued his journey. Just another lovely tale from our wonderful Capital City!
Being adult and white, the car driver was naturaly to blame for this incident.


and

The article by Sir Alan Steer is correct in many ways. Many of today's ill's have been caused not by one single factor but many other issues that have resulted in the changes we have seen over the last 20 -30 years. For example mamy many more single parent families, hence no stability with the breakdown of the traditional tried and tested 2 parent family.For fear of repetition no role model or father figure menas kids are more likely to seek out there peers and gangs and be prone to going down the wrong road in life. A good stable home with a positive influence might not be the 100% cure but you cannot tell me it will not work a damm sight better than it does now. A lack of resepect for authority ie Police,Schooling,Parents etc. A take away nation wherby many many more people get a takeaway or eat out rather than sit down together as a family round the table discussing each others day. The computer generation of kids who would rather sit in front of a telly or there computer playing often violent games rather than be outside playing football,cricket and other sports hence more and more kids today are overweight. The culture of binge drinking in this country compared within many of our european counterparts. The politically correct rubbish that we have to listen to all the time from politicians. Schools and parents not discipling children. Even what seem like minor issues to most people now are in fact the seeds for the rudeness,arrogance and greed we se so much of today. For example basic politness such as opening doors for people, trafic rage caused by drivers with no thought for other road users. If you go back 20-30 years and compare what has changed it would require a shopping list to highlight the many diferrences. I know I must sound like a grumpy forty something but the huge changes that i have noticed are quite clealry to blame for what is going on today. I think it would be difficult to just suddenly reverse alot of what has transpired, so my idea is. More Police on our streets with the authority to come down hard on youths that are unrully and a nuisance to the community .Schools to be allowed to punish children who misbehave. Parents to be able to chastise there children without any fear of reprisal.Parents to be made to be more accountable for there childrens's behaviour. This could take generations to correct but unless something is done albeit some of the above I fear things will only become worse.

Comments from some of our members who live in the midst of this would be welcomed.