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dreamer_easyObviously, in a population of millions, there must be some young people who match the "feral animal" stereotype. But the danger of that stereotype is that, when you see someone who looks and sounds like a "chav", you immediately connect them to theft, violence, breeding like rabbits, etc - when in fact you almost certainly know nothing about them at all.
Previously I pointed out that statistics don't match the idea that British mothers on welfare are popping out more kids. I'm still trying to find specific information on the victims of crime committed by young people (basically, who robs whom?) But what I have managed to find so far doesn't lend much support to an image of kids "preying" on the rest of society. Britons are more likely to be the victims of violent crime if they are young, single, unemployed, live in a deprived area, and/or live in "social-rented accommodation" (council flats, etc). ETA: And here's a picture (thanks, Lance!).
Just as a side note, one of the odder comments made about "chavs" in the GB thread was the half-joking suggestion that they'd vote for the BNP because they were "first on the ballot". May as well set this one straight too. BNP supporters are more working than middle class, but by income aren't much worse off than the average Briton - and three quarters of them are older than 34. Which said, since voting isn't compulsory in the UK, you might imagine lazy, ignorant voters of any stripe wouldn't get as far as the actual ballot anyway.
Previously I pointed out that statistics don't match the idea that British mothers on welfare are popping out more kids. I'm still trying to find specific information on the victims of crime committed by young people (basically, who robs whom?) But what I have managed to find so far doesn't lend much support to an image of kids "preying" on the rest of society. Britons are more likely to be the victims of violent crime if they are young, single, unemployed, live in a deprived area, and/or live in "social-rented accommodation" (council flats, etc). ETA: And here's a picture (thanks, Lance!).
Just as a side note, one of the odder comments made about "chavs" in the GB thread was the half-joking suggestion that they'd vote for the BNP because they were "first on the ballot". May as well set this one straight too. BNP supporters are more working than middle class, but by income aren't much worse off than the average Briton - and three quarters of them are older than 34. Which said, since voting isn't compulsory in the UK, you might imagine lazy, ignorant voters of any stripe wouldn't get as far as the actual ballot anyway.
