Riots Make Me Smile (1212 hits)
Category: Science & EnvironmentalRating: 1.29 on 29 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Manicmother (View user info) at 2005-01-22 10:39:27 EST
This was not what I wanted for my first post here. I wanted to write something a little
more literary but my Muse took a hike shortly after my first daughter was born and hasn't been back since. So after four or five posts that I have written and then erased, I've decided to go another route.
My other passion is people. For as long as I can remember I have watched humanity like a primatologist watches apes. Individuals hold greater insight to why society is what it is but people together as a group working on our more baser instincts has always been more interesting to me. I was in school for Sociology( and currently stuck not going beacuse kids are pretty damn expensive)and was working toward the understanding of what happens in thoes large crowds that turn angry. Riots, mass demonstrations, and looting are what really interest me. The mass demonstrations are easy, groups of people believing the same thing and comming together to speak their ideals and shout it to the world. But what makes these protests go wrong? How do they turn from peaceful rants of ideals to stick weilding nut cases taking on riot police? I became truly obsessed with riots after living in Lansing, MI. Michigan State students are great for riots, Our team lost let's burn liquor soaked furniture in the streets, Our team won let's dance on cop cars, The school tries to ban the mother's milk that keeps these kids fuled up, boy was that one ugly.
Before children I found a way to be there. I have pictures like you wouldn't believe,notebooks full of info scribbled hastily by the light police cars and once again Burning Furniture but unfortunatly, like all thoes with small children know, the freedom to leave your house at 9:30 pm to go and try not to get arrested while you take notes is just not possible. So I ask the wise and completly insane Uberites to give a girl a hand. What are your thoughts? Have any of you been a part, an observer, a ranter, a griller of that ugly lay-z-boy that sat in your room? It's strictly for science( not to mention a little amusement on my part). Give me something worthy of stating
"It's not really their fault, they move with the crowd and the crowd moves them to throw bottles of cheap beer at peace officers."
Thank's Uber I know you won't let me down.... 'cus everyone here is just as nuts as me.
User Reviews
Submitted by phauna (user info) at 2007-01-02 21:00:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It's pretty much diminished social resposibility. Also being part of something bigger, a group, is a powerful motivator. I think the magic number is 7, above which a group no longer feel individually responsible.
Submitted by Obscured_by_Clouds (user info) at 2005-08-25 22:59:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, look at me! I'm making people happy. I'm the magical man from
Happyland in a gumdrop house on Lollipop Laaane! Oh, by the way, I
was being sarcastic.
-- Homer Simpson
Flaming Moe's
Submitted by buttmonkey (user info) at 2005-08-16 13:58:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-05-12 19:20:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
HA
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2005-05-12 19:02:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That was pretty good. Let's fuck.
Submitted by Affinity (user info) at 2005-04-19 19:17:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 to piss off EscapeArtist
Submitted by podium (user info) at 2005-03-22 18:56:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by kai070169 (user info) at 2005-02-11 14:26:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
We should riot together sometime.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-02-03 17:41:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
My first question is how the hell did this post come back up after over a month?
Second- Shlongy get bent!
Third- It's not just how it starts but where, and when. It's like the eye of the storm I'm looking for. What makes generally rational people decide it's ok to start heaving stuff through windows for a little late night shopping? Why does the drunken idiot think it's ok to piss on a cop car in the middle of a thousand people and staring at the pigs while he does it but it's not when he's out whoring with his friend in the same state, the car is empty, and no one's around? Why is it usually the innocent bystanders who get hit with the pepper spray instead of the asshole dancing around his burning dinette set? Where is the epicenter of the group who decides he's had enough of being ignored and begins the rock throwing melee? (can anybody tell me how to get the damn accent mark on here) Stupidity and large quanities of controled substances lead to student unrest but who decides it's time to start trashing the place instead of bitching? People are sheep, you direct a bunch one way and most will follow, how it sustains itself isn't the question. I want to find the Who of the equasion. I want to know If it was so ok last night why do you have Rioter's Remorse this morning?
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-01-28 01:07:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Easy.
People refusing to listen to other people's opinions and accept the fact that they might be wrong. People will die for something they truly believe in.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-01-24 12:22:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Roits are what drunk men do when they can't get laid.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-01-24 12:08:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I used to be on a national guard riot squad. Most "protesters" are stoned/drunk and are only there because their friends led them there by the rings in their noses.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-01-23 14:42:47 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Whew...it smells like bad beaver in this post.
Submitted by FuckTheArmy (user info) at 2005-01-22 21:55:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Not all riots start because some people get into a fight with themselves because they're pissed off at injustice; what about industrial riots? Yes people join in because they can get away with it, but also because they can see the point in taking the company for all it's worth to get a decent living out of it. Or the anti-war riots in the late 60's/early 70's over in Berkeley etc.
Sometimes it's not just anger. The conflict can be a fundamental disagreement of logic.
On that note though, it's not how the riot starts, it's where it goes.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-01-22 19:13:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Riots and such are pretty interesting. There's tons of psychological studies that have been done on mob mentality. I think what Arm said is quite true; it's usually a small contingent of people who are pissed off beyond all hope of reason, followed by a massive crowd of people who like to burn stuff and know they can get away with it.
But as to how it starts in the first place, it's the same thing on the big scale as it is on the small scale. Two guys posture and call each other names and get all fired up emotionally and mentally, until finally it escalates into a push or a punch and then they go at it (not sexually. well, not usually). Now imagine that happening with a hundred or so people all at once and having them go at it. Again, not sexually.
Though I think it would be awesome if orgies broke out instead of riots.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-01-22 15:49:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
So you see boys and girls, the more you antagonize the mindless beast the more pitiful his comments become. Slowly, from feined indifference he is pushed to even the lowest depths of childish comments of rancid genitalia in his futile effort to one up someone who doesn't give a rats ass what his diseased mind has to say. It's times like these (sniff) that I am just so proud there are assholes like you who will take the bait. It really makes me smile.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-01-22 15:23:27 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
My oh my...aren't you a bitter one.
$20 says there's flies circling your crotch. Are we on?
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-01-22 15:19:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Shlongy, Shlongy, Shlongy, that must of been some venereal disease your mother had when she bore your sorry ass. You can talk as much shit as you want, all it will do is put a smile on my face and song in my heart. Probably something along the lines of "Die Shlongy Die" but I will enjoy it.
Submitted by FelizJbirth (user info) at 2005-01-22 14:41:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Plenty of vultures out here that'll pick your bones clean before dawn.
You fucking whore.
Submitted by Dustbrother (user info) at 2005-01-22 14:25:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No more of that talk or I'll put the fucking leeches on you, understand?
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-01-22 14:18:48 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I don't watch "period pieces" so you must have me confused...probably with your husband, who's using movies like that as an escape valve after having to live with you and watching you put on the pounds.
Why don't you write about that time where you and the four guys went out on that back road in the van?
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-01-22 13:52:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-01-22 13:22:09 (#)
Ranking: -2
How uninteresting.
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Shlongy, you're just pissed off beacuse the only thing you do in your spare time is sit around in ripped whitie-tighties watching "Spartacus" and wishing Tony Curtis was there to touch you in your "special place"
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-01-22 13:22:09 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
How uninteresting.
Did you write anything about under what circumstances you conceived your kid? Post that.
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-01-22 12:10:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
wow, that fascination of yours is actually kinda cool. i've been in some at college before, but they never really got too violent (a few punches, but that's about all).
some asian pricks were playing dirty in a soccer game and didn't have the skills to justify playing at that level. they started jawing at the fans and one thing led to another. the refs called that game...which sucked, because i had some good stats! now, i don't get credit for any of the steals, assists, and such. dangit!
Submitted by Chronicles_of_College_Guy (user info) at 2005-01-22 12:00:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
+1 for actually taking my advice and finally posting something. Plus, riots are cool.
Submitted by professorfuckface (user info) at 2005-01-22 11:48:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Since I'm not outraged by any social injustice I would never get involved in a protest, much less a riot. But I love watching riots on TV, riot cops pounding into demonstrators while gas fills the streets. I don't take sides, it is just good to see that level of violence, and it is great to watch when a group of protestors somehow manage to seperate a riot cop from the rest and start kicking him to death.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-01-22 11:45:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2005-01-22 11:38:37 (#)
Ranking: -2
Haha your life sucks because you have kids. This -2 is only a fraction of what your kid infliccts on you every day
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yeah, don't remind me.
Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2005-01-22 11:38:37 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Haha your life sucks because you have kids. This -2 is only a fraction of what your kid infliccts on you every day.
Submitted by Arm_The_Homeless (user info) at 2005-01-22 11:26:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Indignation is the root of the riot. Over some real or imagined injustice, a feeling of being oppressed. That's what they all have in common. At least that's at the heart of it.
A riot is started by a small core group, and these are the guys who are righteously furious. Everyone else doesn't really give a fuck. They just realize they can join in and get away with it.