Looting 'fuelled by social exclusion'--no reason to obey social norms (influenced by elites?)

[Karmadillo]

As our global elites loot treasuries and slash social safety nets, the dispossessed display a similar lack of interest in maintaining social norms. It makes one think of Chris Hedges in the Empire of Illusion when he was writing about the amorality that underlies so many of the backstories in wrestling: "If the world is rigged against you, if those in power stifle your voice, outsource your job, foreclose your house, then cheat back. Corruption is part of life."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/08/looting-fuelled-by-social-exclusion

Looting 'fuelled by social exclusion'
Young looters from poor estates have nothing to lose and no reason to obey social norms, say experts
Alexandra Topping
Monday 8 August 2011 19.58 BST

After the riots came the looting. Across London windows were smashed, and shops emptied. On Monday experts said social exclusion and the breakdown of law and order could have spurred looters to disregard social norms.

"Many of the people involved are likely to have been from low-income, high-unemployment estates, and many, if not most, do not have much of a legitimate future," said criminologist and youth culture expert Professor John Pitts.

Unlike most people, some of those looting had no stake in conformity, he said. "Those things that normally constrain people are not there. Much of this was opportunism but in the middle of it there is a social question to be asked about young people with nothing to lose."

On much of the footage of the widespread theft after the riots, looters can be seen brazenly taking the goods they want, some without taking the precaution of covering their face. In one video shot early on Sunday morning in Wood Green, people can be seen leaving H&M with a haul of goods, with others standing around JD Sports apparently waiting for their turn to take goods.

more...

[fascisthunter]

1. The Wealthy in the US have set a Precedent...

...now they will have to live with that monster they've created.

[amborin]

2. oh gosh, I didn't see this OP, sorrry! the revenge of the lumpies

[Karmadillo]

9. LOL.

nt

[xchrom]

3. Sometimes you have nothing left to do but riot. Nt

[cali]

10. and endanger the lives of innocent people- like those jumping from burning

buildings in Croydon. One can understand that it's inchoate rage stemming from a likely bleak future, but one can still condemn the mindless violence.

[MellonCollie]

4. Looting 'fuelled by shit parenting' n/t

[villager]

8. Agreed - if the elites' had more generous, authentic parenting, they wouldn't be looting psychopaths

...taking down the societies that host them.

[applegrove]

5. True. What made the West so rich & powerful was the idea that 'we were all in this together'.

Such thinking was kicked to the curb when the rich elites stole power from the educated elites.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. frustrated and aggravated.

[notadmblnd]

7. Didn't Janis Joplin say that is what freedon is?

"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose......"

[Karmadillo]

11. Kick

nt