What are Roadmen?

[Confusedbymodernlife]

Can anyone explain what roadmen are, with respect to teenage lads? Are they violent or just harmlessly role playing?

The reason I ask is that I was out walking on a quiet path and encountered a group of male youths blocking my path. Dressed in black and wearing masks. Scared the shit out of me, so I dived into a housing estate and tried to lose them.

Thought I’d seen the back of them, but turned a corner to head home and came across 2 of them. They saw me, changed direction and followed me! I ran for my life, hid in some bushes and called someone to pick me up. I was quite rattled by it, probably because I was mugged before and it brought back memories.

A parent at school has said they sound like the roadmen. They roam around striking up conversations with people and have their own way of speaking- I’ve googled and none the wiser. I have seen kids riding with hoodies and masks on bikes in daylight, but just thought they were messing around.

We are in a leafy suburb, not exactly an urban gangster setting.

What is this weird cultural phenomenon?

@Thehonestybox there's this weird phenomenon where white middle class cosplay at being a road man.

To me a roadman isn’t necessarily violent in the way you describe. It’s more a stereotype people take the piss out of eg wearing big puffer jackets at all times, black Air Force and other pop culture references. It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t understand the reference points. Someone who isn’t violent might do something that could be considered road. It’s just a way of behaving and speaking

A literal roadman would be a gang member or a drug dealer that is ruthless but I would say 99% of the time you hear “roadman”, they’re not referring to this but the stereotype

its definitely not exclusive to teens. I’m early 20s and this term has been about since I was in school so at least a decade

True say, cuz, true say. Big up ma G.

North face and usually carrying a cross body bag filled with cash/drugs from various county lines dealers

What happens if a proper roadman meets an appropriating one?

I'm cringing reading these replies🤣They might not be "middle class" kids but real roadman doing up cunch😅 Either way, stay away and stay far. Messy business.

Get a beating, stabbed, recruited in to the gang and then exploited and abused.

Not sure what's the best outcome of the above 😳

The kids in our city were trying it on being "roadmen" and then they were met by a) my service users who thought they were selling, and were then very upset they were not so mugged them.

And b) approached by actual county line drugs gangs who thought they were moving in on their turf and a violent beating was given.

World has literally gone mad!

@ObjectionHearsay bloody hell! That’s awful

It’ll be a little twatty group of year 10s.

By day, making silly noises and throwing bits of paper and broken pens. By night donning a hoodie and trying to look scary. Till mum calls him to come in for dinner.

The kids round here use Roadman as an insult. The insinuation is that you are a puffa jacket wearing gangsta wannabe - to wear a puffa is teenage social suicide.

If I didn't have a teenager, I'd assume a 'roadman' was a guy who works with tarmac.

A friendly but firm “knock it off lads, eh? I’ve had a shit day” is always worth a try. Most of them crumble in the face of unimpressed teacher-type energy and don’t know how to classify someone over 40 who talks like teacher but swears.

If you’re unlucky and get actual thugs, you won’t have lost anything, though you might feel a bit silly about it as you’re mugged. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I thought “highwayman”, which is probably the effect they’re going for, actually. Oh to have all that free time on your hands to dick about looking stupid,

Wears a black puffa coat & AF1s & a man bag across their chest. Might get about on an electric scooter.

It seems to be an insult. A bit like a chav.

I would love to see the OP spend a day in SE London 🤣

I would say you ABU to say you are unaware that "roadman" is just another name for a chav teen who hangs about in a gang, sells drugs and quite frankly couldn't care less about you.
Basically a lazy stereotype.

The most popular music artists of the day all talk about "being on the roads" Stormzy, Dave, etc so unless you live under a rock I don't buy your faux concern.

And to hide in bushes?

Watch top boy on Netflix if you really need some clarification

Roadmen are the men the deliver drugs around the cities

it used to be young men In their twenties hoping to work their way up drug ladder

now it’s teens on scooters and electric bikes 😂

Cross body Gucci bag. Skinny tracksuit bottoms that make their legs look like matchsticks. Recently they've taken to wearing gimp mask style balaclavas.

And my DH is in his 50s and he can certainly remember the “roadmen “ of his youth
it’s not a new word at all - although it might seem like that

This is old now, but a handy guide:-

Sorry just read your latest update. Six months maternity leave has impacted your career by £220k??

Oops! Wrong thread

Same here. The first time I heard the term I had a mental image of teenagers donning hi-viz jackets and getting to grips with that 'thumping' device used to level out tarmac.

@ObjectionHearsay tbf this is the danger of playing at being at a G!

I too thought this was going to be about road workers in hi viz... I've never heard of or seen this but frankly I'd be scared shitless and phone the police. I'm terrified of teenagers at the best of times