Sensibilities of the Senseless

Driving around most of Nottingham this evening, one would be forgiven for thinking it is just another sunny day, in a great city. The city centre was full of shoppers earlier, with many making their way to the local derby football match this evening. Trouble in an area last night (where 50 cars were wrecked, and people’s homes attacked) seemed almost a foggy nightmare to many. Underneath this almost idyllic picture is clear signs that society is falling apart in various ways.

The terrible events that parts of England have witnessed over the last few days have shocked the nation. Being from Northern Ireland, aged 36, I’ve sadly saw all this before, and much worse. For myself & my fiancée, it is almost ‘business as usual’ in our personal security measures, in which we amp things up to a level that would be akin to ‘normality’ back home.

I’ve been caught up in riots before, as an innocent bystander. The sudden momentum of it can take ones breath away. It is confusing, but can equally be hypnotic, in some sadomasochistic way. One would be, after all, witnessing something that their consciousness has had no comprehension of before. Having never taking part in a riot myself, my fellow gang members & I still waged our own personal little ‘war’ against society, and the criminal Justice System. Even though i totally condemn all forms of illegal activity, I understand the mindset that brings a person to such extreme (albeit miss-guided) acts. This article will share some insight into the ‘sensibilities’ of the senseless.
Gathering some ingredients

Hollywood films & games entertainment, such as Xbox, PS3, etc. We as adults are so de-sensitized to violence, it seems we are blind to the gratuitous events we watch on screens, or, the seemingly ‘innocent’ blockbuster movie with sexual undertones, with i might add an apparently sensible age restriction rating . We are so ignorant, we allow our kids exposure to this environment also. Watching the charismatic drug dealer or armed robber on TV. Chopping off someone’s head in a computer game, ‘Grand Theft Auto’, what is going on! Television sitcoms, in which everyone is having sex with one another, stealing from each other, abusing alcohol/drugs, and alternating between suicide and murder. Brainwashing ourselves, and our children. Psychologically conditioning oneself to accept such ‘realities’ as real.

Consumerist society. Our whole reality is based around perpetually consuming goods. It is important for governments that we populate, and continually buy. The more a nation populates, the more it can potentially earn. And the more it can potentially earn, the more it can borrow. Items are deliberately made so that they will only last a relatively short time. In order we buy their product once more. Every single day we are bombarded with outside stimuli prompting us to consume more products. Whilst at the same time, the media is reminding us of how absolutely crap this world is. Self-esteem gets so low, we really believe a new house, or new car, will be the answer to the empty feeling inside oneself. Enter the wish to steal, make money by any means.

Something else quite noticeable, is the fragmentation of society. Families, and indeed communities, are becoming much more isolated within themselves. In many ways, the pervading atmosphere is one of ‘every person for themselves’. If even on a subtle level.

Many of today’s youth are angry. Angry at what, they’re not even sure themselves. It can be anyone, any institution, any identifiable social construct. They, and indeed society at large, will blame everything, and, everyone else. Totally ignoring personal responsibility. Society has tried to be too deeply involved with the individual. And, like a scorned child, when someone is displeased, it is the authority figure that is too blame. The police, politicians, courts, governments, race, religion, etc. You name it, it’s their fault, not yours.
Keeping it real

Dis-affected youth. Give me a break. I was one of ‘those’, for over a decade. Nice label, put that on my C.V. With the rest. It’s quite simple really. I just couldn’t give a shit about authority back then, or the consequences. And certainly, many of us had no regard for human values. There simply was no respect. It’s as true 13 years later as it was back then. In fact, there is much more opportunities for a kid now, than when I was one. The fact that troublesome youths still lack a collective motivation to do something productive, as opposed to destructive, indicates this complete disregard for societies rules is as strong as ever. If not more so.

A person can give an almost infinite amount of reasons why they do what they do. ‘My parents didn’t cuddle me’, ‘I want respect’, or a favourite – ‘there is nothing else to do’. It’s human nature to seek out a sense of belonging. We see evidence of this by virtue of the many ‘Congregational’ groups humanity has created. So, although one may feel isolated from family, or indeed a community that seems to neither understand them, or care to, youth, being human, have a need to feel they belong to something. Enter – Gangs. And their perceived benefits. A sense of belonging, understanding among fellow members, appreciation, respect, employment, excitement, identifying with the ‘romanticism’ of the media & crime. Not to mention the added ‘perk’ of having the same interest – hatred of the establishment, and all conventional forms of legal authority. These are powerful enticements, intense pleasurable lifestyles when compared to the frustrated, boring, no-mans land alternative existence.
A Start?

Society expects some form of punitive response to crime. I can tell you with all honesty, that a prisoner quickly becomes accustomed to his loss of freedom, that, as history and current examples in other countries have shown, has little or no bearing on the level of ‘comfort’ a prisoner has whilst in prison. Quite often, being in prison will also wreck the life of the person who committed the crime, and his family. A person who has little to go back out to is someone who will care even less about the ‘threat’ of prison again. Having said that, to many, loss of freedom is a terrifying thing. I believe it is necessary to have prisons, however, their effectiveness is dependant on many things, some I broach below.

All the ‘programs’, all the funding, all the resources can be largely impotent unless one critical aspect is first in place. The criminal (and they are criminals) must accept responsibility for their own actions. It is very, very rare a person has no choice in what they do. Peer pressure exists of course, but if one can accept they did have a choice, inspite of at any point of time they failed to see it, this is the most important foundation.

The next most important piece of the puzzle is being truly sorry for their actions. To many this may seem a little back to front. It’s useless however, and all too common, to feel sorry for ones actions, yet ultimately blame others for the reasons why it was committed. This perpetuates the cycle once more.

Thirdly, a willingness to change must exist. Programs are offered for offenders/ex-offenders, but often it is more going through the motions. And, when criminals are together, the ‘bravado’ old ways of interacting can easily come into play. The in-difference to authority shown once more, even if it is a little artificial at this point.

I could go on, and elaborate on some possible further tactics, or essential ingredients. It’s late however, and Nottingham is active with many police sirens. I have just heard the local police station has been attacked. It is some 500 yards from my home. I think I’ll have a cup of tea, sit back, listen to some of the activity. Half-reminiscing/half-hoping with a tear in my eye, they’re not being ‘baptised’ tonight in the life I lived & shared.

Stay Safe

Wayne