AIBU to feel uneasy about teens congregating outside shops?

There was a huge group of about 20 gathered along our local parade of shops yesterday. Swearing and shouting. A few were on bikes and were doing wheelies on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic forcing cars to stop while they circled round them laughing and banging on the car roofs. They were all aged about 12-14. I don’t think “excuse me please” was going to get you very far with them.

Are you messaging from 1986 OP?! 🤣.

I kinda like a feral kid group, reminds me of my own 😂. Round here they are still terribly nice and polite even when congratulating each other outside shops (HIGH FIVE😁). I generally find if you treat them with courtesy, eye contact and a smile they are nice back, or certainly not sweary. Maybe work up a smart comeback for next time!

When I meet the odd group who respond to excuse me with “fuck off”

I reply “I’m trying but you’re in my way”

Usually if they don’t get a reaction and don’t think you care about their presence and language they soon just move!

Yeah my mum hated me doing this asa teen.
nowhere else to go really.

She signed me up for every activity known to man

I can absolutely see how it can be intimidating.

I can also understand that it will very much vary by the type of people congregating. I can imagine there are areas that you wouldnt feel safe challenging.

But... is it that they are trying to intimidate and cause issues or is it that you lack confidence to ask them to move aside?

I've never had any issues with "excuse me" personally. But I've been told I can have a pissed off teacher voice and most of the kids congregating by us don't mean any harm so will move when asked. If anyone has any tips on getting my daughter to pay as much attention to me as loitering youths, please tell me!

If it's a particular shop, it might be worth mentioning to the owner that they've stopped you coming in.

As a black woman in my area, there are loads of white kids that congregate outside my local shops all the time..I've stopped going. It's really intimidating

Just ask them (politely) to move when you go in or out the shop.
9 times out of 10 I get a "oh sorry" and they move.
It really isn't an issue.

Gosh that brings back embarrassing memories. I once asked a police officer (on his day off) at aged 12 to buy me cider, he actually did!

Given the closures of community centres and youth centres across the country, the increasing cost of activities such as cinemas and activities like roller skating, what else do you expect them to do?

Would you rather they stay indoors staring at screens for 15 hours a day?

Yes they might use bad language or be in the way but in my experience if you simply say “excuse me”, they’re very polite and will move out of your way.

Also, did you mean congregating?

Hasn't this been a thing since the beginning of time. I remember "hanging around" trying to get someone to buy me 10 L&B and a litre of white lightening. There wasn't any youth clubs 30 years ago and there certainly isn't now.

You sound ridiculous to be honest.