What do you think? Do you think it's just mindless chaos or does it have a general principle behind it that most people can't see? Do you think that in the end these riots are going to positively influence England and by extension the world?
I think it's pathetic and uneccessary. It started out as a peaceful riot from one man getting shot, and now the people who's rioting don't even know what they're really rioting about. (However the media seem to be targetting the teenagers a lot) A lot of interviews shows them boasting about looting, and it's the rich peoples fault and they can't get jobs...none of it really makes sense. Plus they are setting fire to shops that could potentially give them jobs anyway. And I don't understand why all the other cities are copying riots. Glad I'm from Cardiff, no riots here (yet?)
People have been growing increasingly pissed off for a while, in my opinion. I'm biased because I loathe the "new" government - they've never kept it secret that they were going to essentially close down the NHS (the public health system) but in fact, they're doing much more than that - they've ruined the health system for the next ten years or so. You know that this is close to my heart, so, whatever shit gets thrown at them, I am extremely happy.
Sadly, people are just being idiots and burning innocent people's homes and businesses. People never seem to clue in on the real cause of their feelings, I don't know why. And now people aren't even rioting in anger, they're just in it for the vandalism.
As far as I understand it, it's a little of government provocation, media control, mindless rioting and social issues and it's a chance to cause damage and "not to get punished for it".
/conspiracy theory mode on/ What I'm afraid of, is that it might be a government provocation on some level. Causing the riots among non-white immigrants from Africa/Asia (at least the media said the majority of rioters was non-white) by setting up certain situations and using provocateur agents might build a foundation for stricter immigration laws, deportations, and shifting the country towards a racist police state. V for Vendetta anyone? This scenario isn't unreal. As someone mentioned before, it was mindless chaos - no leaders, no demands, just pure destruction, yet, those people seemed organized in a way. Someone was telling them, via twitter or facebook, when and where the police forces were present, and how to avoid them to cause more and more chaos. Curious, isn't it?
I like how people make a statement against violence by burning buildings and cars, killing other people (like those 3 that got killed while defending their homes) and stealing merchandise because they feel that they are owed that by society. Fuck those people.
It's some of both I think, I think it's some of the underlying social issues that have been there for however long as well as people just joining in to break stuff for the hell of it. As for the long term effects of this there will be some analysis after everything calms down but I doubt there will be many if any changes.
Sadly, people are just being idiots and burning innocent people's homes and businesses.
What they are about and why they are being done,
so I really can't make an opinion one way or the other about them.