To wonder whether the media headlines about teenage gatherings in Clapham have been a bit exaggerated?

[Carla786]

I live near but not in Clapham. I understand it must be very scary if you are in the area, having these crowds of teenagers suddenly turning up.
But AIBU to think the media are exaggerating the danger? I have heard there was some looting and one girl arrested for attacking a police officer but overall there doesn't seem to have been mass violence or theft. Just a lot of teens, some of them disturbingly masked, gathering in one place in big numbers because of some TikTok trend.

I honestly wonder if all the media coverage was unhelpful in the sense that it may have given them the reaction they wanted.

AIBU?

Come on...

Just read your own posts and have a think about what you've put. I can't be arsed with someone looking for an argument. I fully agree that very often, media outlets opt for sensationalism. However, nothing excuses illegal mob looting. I've been involved in many well-known protests over the years, from the poll tax riots to political protests. But I've never got involved with illegality at such events. It's easy not to.

One question, what were they all doing at Mc Donald's? Did they storm the kitchen looking for Mc Flurries or make their own fries and burgers? What did they expect to find inside? And yes the Maldives comment was tongue in cheek, though this is how lefties do explain away these 'poor munchkins' disordered behaviour.

I agree- interesting to hear about mods & rockers doing similar then.

Does footage show mostly black teens? The stuff I've seen looks more mixed. We will have to see. Whatever the truth is, racist rioting is not the answer

I think the headlines about 'carnage' , 'riots' etc were exaggerated given the actual looting and violence, terrible as it was, seems to have been a minority.. on the other thread, some are claiming more got away who should not have, so maybe there was more we don't yet know about .
Why do you think it's silly to suggest the CCP could have been encouraging it? We know China owns TikTok, deliberately makes it disruptive & addictive, and there's evidence of more.

I don’t think it was overhyped. They are getting away with more and more and getting more and more brazen in what they get up to. There needs to be more consequences, especially if the parents aren’t dealing with it.

School were evacuated? Why wasn't this reported?

Very disturbing.

The idea of a bunch of CCP top bods sitting in a room, shouting "now go Mcdonald!" and "now raid fridge at Mark Spark!" or "now run dow middle of road!" down the phone to a bunch of teenage thugs who've had too much caffeine is comical. But it's essentially what you are suggesting has happened.
I know their intentions are generally not favourable to the West, but you're slipping down a conspiracy black hole

Watch the YouTube footage. It's not kids letting off steam, it's a breakdown of civilization.

Who are these teens, where are their parents and what are the consequences?

If the parents don’t care and there are no consequences what do you think is likely to happen?

Isn't it scummy. This is what happens when society breaks down. No discipline, no consequences for shoplifting, no respect, no parental control. Coming to a town nearby you one day sadly.

Shit kids with shit parents and soft touch authorities giving out ridiculously ineffective consequences.

Exactly what do we expect when society is soft, all discipline was removed and there were no consequences for shoplifting

I Used to think one day people will just walk into shops and walk out with god's and not even try and hide it, and then I read this.

We need to go back to the drawing board and start again .
I think I'm right in saying in Australia there is no difference between children and adults committing crime in terms of sentencing.
Here we cant even name a person under 16 let alone give them an adult sentence.

Agree!

it’s appalling behaviour an all recorded on social media …it’s as clear as day who the culprits are.

Where I live there are a group of teenage girls who are beating up other girls on buses, in the street and walking into shops racially abusing staff and stealing things. All being caught on camera and being named and not a thing is being done. The parents don't give a shit, so innocent people are being beaten up and small shop owners are having things stolen and their profits being damaged. The response from some in the community ranges from 'their just kids', there is nothing for them to do' and 'its just a few packets of crips, bottles of xyz'.
Adults making excuses, parents taking no responsibility and police doing nothing is making it 10 times worse.
My son is 18 and I would be ashamed if I thought he was doing this sort of stuff.

One of the shop employees had ammonia thrown in their face.

It was being downplayed if anything, earlier in the week

Same near me too in a London suburb.

I think there is some truth to this - we all need to make our teens aware that fake videos are riling people up and not to follow like sheep. Show them how many get stuck up mountains after believing a tiktok trail, people falling off cliffs for a photo...these platforms thrive on lack of critical thinking and group psychology and we know how political these sites have become. Farage will be having a field day.

Just don’t. Adults constantly giving people a get out of jail card is the issue. Covid. Send. Social media. Please feel free to add excuses for these kids. This isn’t countrywide. This is a specific area.

It’s crappy parenting. Children with zero empathy. Intelligence at an all time low. Zero respect.

I'm sure that approach will resolve it all.

Well the approach of “poor beleaguered vulnerable deprived babies,, who should never hold responsibility for their actions” is going so well!

Fantastic. What’s your approach? I’m going with honest but you seem to have a better answer?

Im happy to be shot down.

Lock them up and keep them locked up. That is the only answer that has been proven to work, time after time.

Prisons are overcrowded. Do you want to build more?