Riots in the UK

[Michael2402]

I was just wondering how much coverage there is in the US about the riots that are currently tearing through the UK?

Looting is happening in many of our cities and shops are being set on fire.

There was a massive fire in Croydon - Just outside of London - Last night - As well as in other parts of the city and country. This fire, however, is just a few doors down from my LCS. I have spoken to the owner, who confirmed that all the staff are ok, but I'm not sure if his stock has been smoke damaged or not.

I called DKR irrelevant in today's society in comparison it to watchmen. Watching the news now has proven me sadly wrong.

There's certainly a lot of dissatisfaction and lack of hope from the poorer parts of the UK at present, especially with the youths, but that doesn't condone their actions or change the fact that what is currently occurring is incredibly sad for all of those affected.

Also I hope that any of our forum members and their families closer to this chaos than myself are ok. I can't imagine the anxiety in the cities at present.

[Night (Travis) Nurse]

CNN's covering it pretty frequently in the states. Ive seen many reports rolling in over today, didnt see as much yesterday.

Travis

[Farrell]

It's incredibly frightening and disheartening to see how quickly and completely these things can spiral out of control.  It's surprising how close the line is to chaos and barbarism.  We like to think we're sophisticated, walking around with our I-devices on our way to our IT jobs, but you hear about (or experience) stuff like this and the riots recently in Canada and...I dunno.  

I hope all of our forum members, their friends and their families are keeping their bodies and possessions safe, and I hope this passes soon.

[Lucien21]

It sprung from a peaceful protest and has now blown up into these gangs seeing this as an opportunity to loot and generally cause mayhem.

I hope they arrest every last one of the idiots.

We have had no trouble north of the border and so far there is no indication of delays to this weeks comic shipment.

[bean6344]

My best wishes to all of you in the UK.  My thoughts are with you and your famalies.

Bean

[Chris Campbell]

There is definitely coverage here, but just as with the Oslo bombing/shooting, it still isn't up to the level I expect.  I have family in both, so I'm more plugged in, and I'm just sick to death with some of the reports of bad behaviour in the UK.

[Chris Campbell]

My best wishes to all of you in the UK.  My thoughts are with you and your famalies.

Bean

Is your avatar a video of Jennifer Connelly?  And is she doing what it looks like she's doing?   

[bean6344]

Is your avatar a video of Jennifer Connelly?  And is she doing what it looks like she's doing?   

It is, but she's not.  Its from Career Opportunities .  She's riding a mechanical horse at a Target.  I so crushed on her back when she had some baby fat in her face.


I was tempted but could not use this one from Requiem For A Dream.  It's too much (especially out of context.
NSFW

Bean

[MatthewA]

Man, this is crazy...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/aug/09/british-film-distributors-warehouse-fire

Arrow Video also had all of their stock burned.

[darker_nite]

It has been crazy here, but seems to have calmed a bit tonight compared to yesterday. This has really damaged my faith in humanity.

[jdudley]

I recently picked up the Scarlet hardcover and it was really both fascinating and frightening how relevant it is to so many things happening within these youth movements across the world (Egypt and across the middle east, in particular; and now the UK, to an extent, as well)
Absolutely shocking how one awful event can ignite festering, dormant feelings of revolution.
And then, it is often the "what now?" period after the fires go down that can be the must dangerous time.
I think we all just have to hope that nobody else gets hurt and this can all be resolved peacefully.

[Sean M.]

Manchester(my adopted home-town- although I am about 7 miles out of the centre) took a kicking today. Not as bad as London- this was a 'hit the footlocker (and Band and Olafsen), steal, steal' not a protest. I am beyond fucking depressed.   

[Night (Travis) Nurse]

It is, but she's not.  Its from Career Opportunities .  She's riding a mechanical horse at a Target.  I so crushed on her back when she had some baby fat in her face.


I was tempted but could not use this one from Requiem For A Dream.  It's too much (especially out of context.
NSFW

Bean

The poster for Career Opportinites will be forever etched in my mind. Her leaning over a dudes shoulder with full rack out in front. I crushed hard on her during that time period. When I saw Requiem, as fucked up as that scene is, shes so HOT.

Travis

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

I don't keep up to date with the news 24/7 but I see some coverage whenever I tune in. I'm in Australia by the way. I hope none of you UK fellas get caught up in all of this.

There's certainly a lot of dissatisfaction and lack of hope from the poorer parts of the UK at present, especially with the youths, but that doesn't condone their actions or change the fact that what is currently occurring is incredibly sad for all of those affected.

That's what I was thinking too, people are upset and unhappy and for some, they've had enough. But it sucks for them to make things worse for everyone else (especially those who are also unhappy about things just like them).

[Dean S.]

I really don't watch the TV news, but it is certainly being well covered by all the internet sources I pull news from (CNN.com, Foxnews.com, Drudge, etc.).  I really hope for the best for all the folks in England and the rest of the UK who are doing it right. 

For those of us in the States.....  If it can happen in England, it can happen here.  I encourage all my family, friends, co-workers to make sure they have the stuff in their home to deal with a period of social unrest.  If you're interested in a dive into one of the nuttier sub-cultures on the internets, google "when the shit hits the fan" and soak it all in. 

One, it is highly entertaining to have a few laughs at the extreme fringe element.  They're eff-ing nuts! 

Two, but....under all the nuttiness... there really are some useful and prudent tips about things like having a way to filter clean water for your family, having food, etc. 

Three, many of these supplies are FUN to shop for.   

[elemental]

There was some rioting in my home city last night, as a large amount of the police were at the local football game and some saw this is an oportunity.

On the news the last two days I have seen two Forbiden Planet Shops (National comic shop & related merchandise) have been attacked, it might be time to pick up my cricket bat (Shaun of the Dead Style) and go defend my LCS.

Hope the rest of the UK based people from this forum have managed to avoid the riots

[Chris]

I think this is coming to a lot of countries.

When 400 people control more money than the bottom 150 MILLION in the US, there's gonna be a reckoning. I don't condone it. I don't look forward to it. But I feel it coming in my bones. People are fed up and the least of us will try to even the field with guns, rocks, sticks and fire.

[Jeppe]

I've seen several commentators and news anchors make vague references to the recent uprisings in the Middle East. I think that such a comparison is entirely off the mark. The only thing the two events have in common is people on the streets and, to some extent, the use of social media to mobilize them. As I see it, these English lootings have much more in common with the 2005 civil unrest in France (particularly in the Parisian suburbs) than with actual political uprisings. It is dis

[jdudley]

I've seen several commentators and news anchors make vague references to the recent uprisings in the Middle East. I think that such a comparison is entirely off the mark. The only thing the two events have in common is people on the streets and, to some extent, the use of social media to mobilize them. As I see it, these English lootings have much more in common with the 2005 civil unrest in France (particularly in the Parisian suburbs) than with actual political uprisings. It is dis

I would say that they are quite similar actually—but that the riots in the UK are just on a much, much smaller scale relative to Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle east. It's all about power imbalance, most riots are.
Again, just to touch back to comics a bit. I think Scarlet is a book which touches on a lot of these issues. I'd really reccomend picking up the book 1 hardcover for those interested. It's all about how the unjust murder of one person leads to a massive riot much larger than Scarlet herself. And the use of Social Media plays a huge role as well.

[Jeppe]

I would say that they are quite similar actually—but that the riots in the UK are just on a much, much smaller scale relative to Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle east. It's all about power imbalance, most riots are.

Besides the very superficial factors that are pretty much part of any larger manifestation of civil disorder (one key event sparking existing tensions, fluid network of protesters with a highly decentralized, if any, organizational structure, etc.), what do you think are the similarities? Thinking specifically in terms of motivation, goal, and politics, I'd say that there are very, very few, if any, similarities. 

As far as I can tell, we are talking about a large amount of apolitical, disillussioned people, the vast majority of them under 25, who are using the opportunity to loot, destroy property, and taunt the governmental authority figures in the form of the UK police force. I wouldn't even compare them to the typical anti-globalization rioters who employ some of the same tactics, since they at least have a political agenda behind their actions. What is the agenda of the current English looters?

Without taking it seriously at all, it does speak to the situation that the official news outlet of the Gadaffi regime went out in support of the London rioters yesterday.