Why can't I just walk home without being interviewed by thugs?

Why do a bunch of (clearly very pathetic) youths sit outside a church at 10 o'clock at night on a Thursday, and then one of them jumps up when you walk past and follows you, wanting to know your name, where you live and where you're going?

I was walking to my car from the train station, and one of these such thugs decided to do this. He said he was from a nearby town and was trying to convince people that they weren't thugs. This has probably happened to you, it seems to happen to me a few times. He just kept asking questions in a very similar way to a guy who mugged me about five years ago. It frightens the life out of me when people talk like that now.

Then, one of his mates ran up behind us. The guy who was talking to me quickly turned around and shouted to him "no he's all right mate". So the first guy left and the new one followed me all the way to my car. Again, seemed interested to where I lived and where I came from and where I was going.

Now, they look like thugs and smelt like thugs. So I drove away at a good pace and didn't look back. But it just annoys, upsets and worries me that I can't get home without somebody pestering me and causing grief. I almost expect this in the centre of London, but not in my village.

[/rant]

Two words...

http://www.pimall.com/nais/images/stunflash-red.jpg
Stun Gun.

One zap, and don't look back.

It's like a zombie town around here, people off their face on drugs 24/7

Where do you poor kids live? Move somewhere nicer, or work out more...

I'm never bothered by kids, but wouldn't hesitate to smack one right in the chops if they were narking me and I'd told them to go away.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by robbmcaulay

It's like a zombie town around here, people off their face on drugs 24/7

---

Where do you live? :smoov:

I got surrounded by japanese schoolgirls on the train today. Now that was intimidating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WannaBe_80z

Where do you live? :smoov:

---

It's not like that at all... what we like to call smackies, i'll try get some photos of them tomorrow.

One came up to me and a mate today to ask for a draw of my mate's fag and we told him we studied computing...

...he asked if computing was 'the one with the keys and stuff, and the big tv' :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ctranter

I got surrounded by japanese schoolgirls on the train today. Now that was intimidating.

---

I can imagine, i'd be scared stiff ;)

Boooooooooooooooooo! :D

I'd like to shake the hand of the guy that came up with those uniforms.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ctranter

I'd like to shake the hand of the guy that came up with those uniforms.

---

heh, the sailor uniforms, eh? god, you livin in japan or somethin?

Ah, I remember those days when I was smaller. I used to go to school in the center of London, got hassled SO much...

You look scared, you attract attention. Simple as that. When I learnt that, and grew afew feet, I just manage to walk past with no problems.

Scum spreads, you'll just have to deal with them invading your area.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_Xell

You look scared, you attract attention. Simple as that.

---

He's right - your demeanor is everything. Don't drop your head when you walk by a group like that, look them in the eyes. Walk normally. If they confront you check their stance - something like a legsweep is a very good way of buying a couple of seconds to get away. If your not trained to fight, you don't stand much chance against a group.

obviously they were trying to intimidate you. i guess what i find odd is your approach of questioning why as if its some kind of accepted behavior. i probably would have taken the same course MarkP described. but, it would probably be the stupidest course of action and would only be because i have a bad temper. in any case, you ought to turn them in. to hell with anyone who thinks its cowardly. who is to say that you might not be saving some other persons life that they may actually gain the balls to mug.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ctranter

I got surrounded by japanese schoolgirls on the train today. Now that was arousing.

---

;)

Indi is right... go to your car, call the coppers... explain they were acting sususususususpiciously and then go home feeling you're a good and productive citizen... or buy a tazer ;)

Quote:

---

or buy a tazer

---

That would be illegal, and British youths wouldn't know what the **** it is. They'd more likely try and steal it thinking it's a phone.

A far more effective weapon of mass intimidation would be a switch knife. Just a small one. Still illegal, but hell, you could carry it in your wallet. But use it to intimidate, not puncture people like balloons. Youths are far more responsive to shiny sharp metal things. If you were somehow foolish enough to walk into a gang of youths, run like the wind, shouting some Devvo impersonations as you go. Works a charm.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by krona

A far more effective weapon of mass intimidation would be a switch knife. Just a small one. Still illegal, but hell, you could carry it in your wallet. But use it to intimidate, not puncture people like balloons. Youths are far more responsive to shiny sharp metal things. If you were somehow foolish enough to walk into a gang of youths, run like the wind, shouting some Devvo impersonations as you go. Works a charm.

---

what a ****ing stupid thing to suggest.

1) if you don't know how to use a knife in a fight you're likely to get it taken off you.

2) if you carry a knife you're likely to use it if the other person isn't intimidated by just showing it

^what he said^

Quote:

---

1) if you don't know how to use a knife in a fight you're likely to get it taken off you.

---

You don't need to know how to use a knife to be able to keep hold of an object. And ****, a knife is a pretty easy thing to use. People have been using them for millions of years. You don't need to be Steven Segal to know how push it into someones thigh. Not that thats a good thing to do.

Quote:

---

2) if you carry a knife you're likely to use it if the other person isn't intimidated by just showing it

---

My views are probably a little distorted by the fact I live in pissing distance from Moss Side. Hell someone was shot in the face here 3 weeks ago. but Fair doos. If you look so weedy that a run of the mill chav isn't intimidated when you pull a knife on him, you shouldn't be carrying one. Just take a beating like a man.

So carrying a knife will stop you getting shot in the face.

and you have to be pretty handy to carry any weapon because, believe me, you will come up against someone that can take it off you if you are innexperienced.

Quote:

---

So carrying a knife will stop you getting shot in the face.

---

Nope. Neither will a stun gun. Someone isn't going to shoot you because your wallet is empty.