Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder how well we'd survive if the police totally lost control?

35 replies

RedAmberGreen · 09/08/2011 23:23

I've been thinking alot about this today. I've got 3DC and I've brought them up to respect other people, share, not to hurt people or steal etc.
I'm now thinking if the police lost control and those people rioting took over my kids would have no chance.

Survival of the fittest....well my kids wouldn't survive because they aren't streetwise. I work with alot of very streetwise kids who have been taught by their parents to behave in the way these people are on the news.

My nearly 6 year old was telling me earlier that it was ok because the police would get all the baddies and put them in prison. I agreed with him and reassured him it would all be ok. Secretly I wonder because in the real world I know that the morals and values I've tried to instill in my children probably mean that should there be complete anarchy they would be toast.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 09/08/2011 23:25

my 8 year old was arguing with his 3 older teen siblings. he was adamant that this was all about 'their generation' he was not having any of the 'this is your generation too' he had tears in his eyes.

RobynLou · 09/08/2011 23:27

have you seen the pictures of what happened today in london?

people out in force in clapham to clear up the mess and reclaim their streets - static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/8/9/1312907555533/Locals-in-Clapham-turn-up-050.jpg

people creating a wall of reasons why they love peckham - twitpic.com/63hxa2

There are tonnes more pictures out there, and already there are clear ups planned for tomorrow in manchester.

there are ALOT more people who are decent than there are thugs. If it came to it they would rise up and stop the destruction.

Birdsgottafly · 09/08/2011 23:30

The way that the rioters/looters are behaving is not 'streetwise'. My Dc's are exceptionally streetwise and wouldn't dream of doing any what is on the news. Do not normalise this behaviour.

Original poster
RedAmberGreen · 09/08/2011 23:33

Robyn those pictures help me to keep faith in humanity. It's times like this that you realise how quickly you're life can go up in smoke and that material things are so easily taken away.

ILove it's hard to see the kids so upset Sad

OP posts:
Whatmeworry · 09/08/2011 23:33

We'd form neighbourhood "self defence" groups and then the police would arrest us instead........

Tidybush · 09/08/2011 23:34

I had this very discussion with my DD today and I agree with Robynlou that the decent majority would rise up against the lawlessness.

RobynLou · 09/08/2011 23:35

birds is right - this is a tiny minority of kids.

don't let these greedy idiots make you think we live in an awful country.

most people are fundamentally good. that hasn't changed.

GypsyMoth · 09/08/2011 23:35

just shouted at my 17 year old.....trouble up the road in milton keynes,her mates wanted to drive round 'for a look'.....i said no way,and embarassed her by telling the car full of teens to get home!

she's in her room in a strop....17 or not,she is GROUNDED

Original poster
RedAmberGreen · 09/08/2011 23:35

Birds I'm not normalising this behaviour and I'm offended at the suggestion!
When I talk about streetwise I mean kids who have learnt to look after themselves to survive by any means. Not kids who have been taught about safety and responsibility by their parents.

OP posts:
stretch · 09/08/2011 23:42

Remember, individual people, decent people, don't make the news but make up a larger number than the ones who are causing trouble. Smile

Birdsgottafly · 09/08/2011 23:43

My kids and i, if i had to, could survive by any means, but unless i had to, i wouldn't harm anyone else (not that i do but tough upbringing). I know of criminals (ironic, i know) who think that this is disgusting and pointless. I have mixed with 'old school' armed robbers, who see guns as an easy and quick way to finish a job, they dispair and the gun culture of today.

This is something very different and tbh, i don't think that is easy explained. My point is, i agree, people would band together and it would come from all sections of society, to protect vulnerable people.

Strawbezza · 09/08/2011 23:44

Without police you'd get local vigilantes meting out their own punishments, like they did 100+ years ago. Society wouldn't be lawless. Obviously lots of problems with such an approach - but let's face it, if some of these ignorant thugs had been properly disciplined at an early age they might know how to behave now.

Nihilisticbunny · 09/08/2011 23:49

I do think in an extreme/lawless situation, community spirit would suddenly re-emerge, there would be the odd few that took to the hills to take their chances alone, but people would band together.

You just have to look at how the atmosphere of a place changes when it snows heavily Grin. You would get the local busybody organising everyone, the aloof "I'm better than you lot" would soon come running.

LordOfTheFlies · 09/08/2011 23:49

ILoveTIFFANY well done.
I'm certain you would rather have your 17yo old in a strop than a police cell, a hospital bed or a coma.

She'll see you were right.But she probably won't admit it .

TheMitfordsMaid · 09/08/2011 23:50

Well, to use the only quote I remember from my university days, life would be "nasty, brutish, and short." Cup of tea?

Original poster
RedAmberGreen · 09/08/2011 23:53

Birds I suppose if the world went that way we'd all have to do what we could to survive. I work with lots of families where criminality is a way of life and parenting is poor. I used to work in some of the areas on the news and I'd probably be able to identify some of the offenders. In alot of way I can see why this has happened and why these kids end up doing this.

The whole situation has made me think about my boys and the way society functions. I suppose you're all right, along with my 5 year old...."the goodies would sort out the baddies" The world is simple in a 5 year old's eyes Grin

OP posts:
Kladdkaka · 09/08/2011 23:54

Don't worry folks, the nerds and the geeks will rise up and protect you all. We've been planning for zombie armaggedon for decades.

Original poster
RedAmberGreen · 09/08/2011 23:54

TheMitfordsMaid I'm liking that quote.... milk & 2 sugars! Smile

OP posts:
Nihilisticbunny · 09/08/2011 23:55

I read a fair few forums and some people are willing a collapse of the system/current society, maybe in fact they just want to feel part of a community/needed. Obviously some are gun nutters who want an excuse to fire randomly at intruders, but most I think are alienated, me too, I'd love to live in a close knit community.

Original poster
RedAmberGreen · 09/08/2011 23:55

Kladdkaka we've all got a zombie plan but nobody mentioned a bloody riot plan Wink

OP posts:
CarnivalBizarre · 09/08/2011 23:58

Community spirit will usually be triumphant over lawlessness - it all kicked off in Liverpool last night , not to the extent it did in London suburbs - but this morning my MIL took it upon herslf to go down Smithdown Rd armed with a brush, shovel and binbags to clear what she could of the mess - to be greeted with hundreds of others who had taken it upon themselves to do the same - community spirit is not dead

Kladdkaka · 10/08/2011 00:00

RedAmberGreen, same rules apply. Hit them hard between the eyes and make sure you've got back way out incase you're over run.

Original poster
RedAmberGreen · 10/08/2011 00:00

Carnival God bless your MIL!

It feels like the world is collapsing Sad

OP posts:
RobynLou · 10/08/2011 00:09

it's not red, life in london carried on as normal today, people are much kinder and braver than they realise.

CarnivalBizarre · 10/08/2011 00:10

RedAmberGreen yes it does feel like the world ...or society is collapsing but my MIL is staunch in her belief that there is good in all wrong doers - rightly or wrongly that is what she thinks - she has lived in her home for 40 yrs in a very multi cultural area and has never seen such destruction since 1981 (Toxteth Riots) and she said this was far worse as it was just wanton violence as opposed to a protest that got out of hand

Personally I would just like to punch all of the little fuckers out - but I have PMT Grin