Gangs

[Max Power]

" Getting a job meant becoming a “jed” a mug, a loser "
Says it all :roll:

 

[barkwindjammer]

Ok, it didn't 'flow' as grammar should, but I could read it and understand it, being an east ender from Glasgow maybe my skills are more 'varied' ? .

 

[Jacob]

" Getting a job meant becoming a “jed” a mug, a loser "
Says it all :roll:

Exactly. He is trying to say it all. That's what makes it a good read.

 

[Jacob]

Ok, it didn't 'flow' as grammar should, but I could read it and understand it, being an east ender from Glasgow maybe my skills are more 'varied' ? .

If you read it out loud it flows quite well.

 

[nanscombe]

Almost sounds like something out of Oliver Twist.

 

[Benchwayze]

Ok, it didn't 'flow' as grammar should, but I could read it and understand it, being an east ender from Glasgow maybe my skills are more 'varied' ? .

If you read it out loud it flows quite well.

:roll:

The Bronte Sisters would be turning in their graves; or are you a Lancaster man Jacob?

BWJ,

I did understand most of what he was trying to say, (Although the street-language has altered a little since my day.) That doesn't mean I have to accept his excuses and his clumsy uneducated style.

John

 

[gus3049]

For those who aren't familiar with it, might I suggest you visit YouTube or click the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1TfZBjgG6c

 

[Lardman]

Well I've just read it.

"peer pressure made me do it, it's everyone elses fault but mine" just about covers it.

Note that it didn't require reams of self indulgent back slapping either. Same old excuses its neither insightful or enlightening and certainly isn't "powerful, excellent and crystal clear".

 

[Jacob]

Well I've just read it.

"peer pressure made me do it, it's everyone elses fault but mine" just about covers it.

Note that it didn't require reams of self indulgent back slapping either. Same old excuses its neither insightful or enlightening and certainly isn't "powerful, excellent and crystal clear".

I'd read it again if I were you!
I didn't think he was making excuses - just describing how difficult it is to get free and be independant in those circs. Mostly kids remember - 11 to 18 year olds. He did get free himself.

 

[barkwindjammer]

BWJ,

I did understand most of what he was trying to say, (Although the street-language has altered a little since my day.) That doesn't mean I have to accept his excuses and his clumsy uneducated style.

John

He states at the beginning that he started to correct it grammaticaly-then gave up, and decided to use his 'own speek', if it had been honed I think it would have had less of an impact to the reader and less credibility. All the same it is (IMHO) powerfull stuff.

 

[Lardman]

I'd read it again if I were you!

Why? has it changed since I read it the first time.

 

[Anonymous]

I have to admit peer pressure is a huge thing in life.

I have a very good friend who has come from a hellish upbringing, he has been in 35 foster homes, he was beaten as a child by his heroin addicted mother and his alcoholic father, he has been in trouble with the police numerous times, and avoided going to jail by the skin of his teeth. when he was 19 he was taken in and 'adopted' by a great lady in her 70's who just happens to be very wealthy. She taught him right from wrong, she mothered him and cared for him and then provided him with an education from the basics upwards to degree level, she had him help her out around the house and running errands in return for driving lessons and then a car.

I have got to know him very well over the last 2 years and he is a brilliant and very kind guy. We often speak of his upbringing and how horrible it was for him but he tells me how he just got on with it. we speak of what has been done for him in recent times by this lady, i ask him what the greatest thing she has done for him, his reply is simply she gave me an education, encouragement and most of all mothering love.

He was saved by being mothered and cared for, and he says being in a gang was a very bad substitution for the belonging and love he and everyone he knows craves.

 

[Dibs-h]

She taught him right from wrong, she mothered him and cared for him and then provided him with an education from the basics upwards to degree level..

..i ask him what the greatest thing she has done for him, his reply is simply she gave me an education, encouragement and most of all mothering love.

There are plenty of folk who won't do that for their own and they don't have addictions to blame.

The old lady certainly does make humanity's light shine brighter in these times. Sounds a wonderful person and someone to emulate\admire!

Dibs

 

[studders]

I started to read it, quickly realised it was the same old same old and gave up.
Frankly, I'm sick of all the excuses and 'reasoning'. I dare say the Crays could have done similar.

 

[gus3049]

Well, I have now struggled through the whole thing and it still sounds to me like a ten year old writing it.

The whole gang culture also sounds like ten year olds or younger inhabit it. I wouldn't equate education with intelligence, the two are clearly not the same thing. I was educated to death, my wife left school at 16 having skipped most of it. She is far smarter than I am.

This lot seem to exhibit the worst of all worlds. No education, no support from those who are supposed to provide it - parents first, it all stems from that, then the rest of the system - but judging by the tone and content of this article, assuming he is typical, a sad lack of intelligence too.

Of course, peer pressure is a large component of childhood. It was when I was a kid just as it is now. The intelligent kid knows how to go with it so far but not be bent by it. The balance seems to have been lost by a section of this generation.

Whilst they think its 'cool' to be part of all this then the ones who escape into the 'normal' world will be few and far between. Strange thing really, I've spent my entire life trying to escape the 'normal' world and have only just managed it in part. Changing is not easy, whichever direction you choose.

 

[gus3049]

I started to read it, quickly realised it was the same old same old and gave up.
Frankly, I'm sick of all the excuses and 'reasoning'. I dare say the Crays could have done similar.

They all can. The words of the Dire Staits song just came to mind

"treachery and treason, there's always an excuse for it"

Never a good reason to hurt those who are innocent and whose lives you will ruin just because you feel hard done by. Its all the produce of the 'normal' world that this lot seem to want to steal though. None of the things they crave would be produced if someone didn't have the job to make it.

As always, the thief wants the benefits with putting in the effort. The thief is the one who robs people of their chosen lifestyle just as much as the goods.

They can do anything they like of course but only if it does no harm to other people at the same time.

 

[Anonymous]

She taught him right from wrong, she mothered him and cared for him and then provided him with an education from the basics upwards to degree level..

..i ask him what the greatest thing she has done for him, his reply is simply she gave me an education, encouragement and most of all mothering love.

There are plenty of folk who won't do that for their own and they don't have addictions to blame.

The old lady certainly does make humanity's light shine brighter in these times. Sounds a wonderful person and someone to emulate\admire!

Dibs

There is something I have to say, she is the most wonderful caring lady you could wish to meet, she took on another guy in a similar situation and helped him or probably should say encouraged him to get into Sandhurst, he is now a captain in the army, but i only met him once so couldn't comment on what/how he felt.

 

[Tom K]

Jacob, the only reason you are so taken with this drivel is because it fuels your belief that
the poor darlings are hard done by socialist crusaders looking for equality.
The truth is they are scum.

 

[gus3049]

There is something I have to say, she is the most wonderful caring lady you could wish to meet, she took on another guy in a similar situation and helped him or probably should say encouraged him to get into Sandhurst, he is now a captain in the army, but i only met him once so couldn't comment on what/how he felt.

I'm quite sure that Sandhurst is pretty low on the gangs' list of desirable options.

Its way down on mine too as I hate everything it stands for whilst recognising the need.

It does show the importance of help and guidance though and showing the possibilities that life can offer.

 

[Anonymous]

There is something I have to say, she is the most wonderful caring lady you could wish to meet, she took on another guy in a similar situation and helped him or probably should say encouraged him to get into Sandhurst, he is now a captain in the army, but i only met him once so couldn't comment on what/how he felt.

I'm quite sure that Sandhurst is pretty low on the gangs' list of desirable options.

Its way down on mine too as I hate everything it stands for whilst recognising the need.

It does show the importance of help and guidance though and showing the possibilities that life can offer.

oh sorry she should left him on the streets then instead providing him with an opportunity to do something with his life.