Train burglaries in the US, do we have anything at this scale in the UK?

[Diddums]

Damn times changed for the worse, I left SA in late 80s early 90s, went to a mixed race private school (CBC in Boksburg) some of my best friends were black, I also had some who worked on my dads golf course, one of which was unfortunately stabbed and killed when I was 10 or 11. Not to say I haven't seen my fair share of racism though, some of it was shocking.

It's really bad now, the whole country has slid downhill to the point that anyone who can, is getting out. Daily robberies in broad daylight, hijackings everywhere, murder up, rape up, the country's electricity infrastructure has been left to rot and now the country has frequent rolling blackouts to cope with the strain and lack of power, I can go on and on. It's shockingly bad.

What's most amusing is that all the older black folks are still blaming the white people from many years ago, whilst the younger generation, the ones who never knew apartheid are all "you've run this country for over 25 years, the population of white people is less than 5%, time to own your screwups and stop blaming the past". Of course the gov's corruption is absolutely rife too, they're so blatant about it that they're justifying nice new swimming pools as "fire fighting pools so in the event of a fire the fire fighters don't need to run far to fill their buckets" (!!!).

It'll take a long, long time for the country to get back to its peak, if it ever does.

 

[JBod]

I grew up in South Africa during the apartheid years. Not being able to hang out with my black friends because not only was this absolute taboo with the older generation, but because in most cases it was flat out illegal. I witnessed the fall of apartheid when Mandela was voted in and only left in 1999.

So tell me again how I don't know anything about racism?


Just to be clear as both you and the squirrel seem to be missing the point, my political and social beliefs have not at any point been on display in this thread. My previous posts were deliberately reacting in the ridiculous fashion that Combat Squirrel was, in the hope that he'd read between the lines. Sadly he was too busy being offended to try and engage in a reasonable discussion and instead resorted to name calling and running away. He did a fantastic job of garnering support for his beliefs, as are you with your wildly inaccurate assumptions and petty name calling.

People wonder why lefties are often ridiculed, this is why.

I see you are going with "I have a black friend" defense, that doesn't change how you are representing your personal points of view. I am not naming calling, I am simply assessing based on how you present yourself. You also have demonstrated that you neither understand the intricacies and embedded systemic racism in the United States nor are you above using terms such as "lefties" in a pejorative fashion. If anything, by pointing out you grew up in SA during such a time and yet you STILL behave and present yourself like this? A very disturbing commentary on how humanity is able to warp reality to their own beliefs, rather than understanding the injustices around them and behaving accordingly. You do realise that the right-wing of the United States, which you seem to align behind, fundamentally believe and are pushing for an apartheid-style system? There is already a somewhat segregated society, they abhor mixed race (as well as gay relationships) and they are actively seeking to inhibit (if not fully remove) voting rights for people of colour.

When this is the reality within which some people live, every single day. Then people such as yourself come along who misunderstood, or worse, are willfully ignorant as it threatens your viewpoints and/or lifestyle. You can at least appreciate why it upsets some people who have more compassion and empathy than you have thus far demonstrated.

You should learn the meaning of the word racist before banding it about.

People dispelling the propaganda around holding GF up as some sort of angel is not racist.

I fully understand the word, thanks for checking. Perhaps you are not racist, and for that, I am happy to apologise. But you are pushing the narrative of those who are racist by suggesting GF deserved what he got and somehow had a choice as to his lifestyle. As I have said before, there is disgusting historical systemic racism that is still rife in US society today. It will take generations to solve, but far too many Blacks and Hispanics are locked into a cycle that is extremely hard for them to break out of. The Republican right-wing party is actively (not even subtly) acting in a fashion to ensure that this status quo is not only maintained but actively pushing to revert back to remove rights from these racial groups.

Again, these are parts of the United States that are substantially different from the United Kingdom and Europe, there are no analogous lines that can be drawn. It is VERY VERY different from the Brexit arguments that both sides debate.

My perspective is simply that people are debating issues of which they know very little about and certainly have no first-hand experience.

 

[Diddums]

I see you are going with "I have a black friend" defense

Ignoring the fact that this is such a stupid cookie-cutter response that has no place in any reasonable discussion, please do point out where you got the impression that I'm racist.


I'll wait.

 

[JBod]

Ignoring the fact that this is such a stupid cookie-cutter response that has no place in any reasonable discussion, please do point out where you got the impression that I'm racist.


I'll wait.

Thank you for waiting, your call is important to me.

Please read the entirety of my post. Go ahead, I'll wait.

 

[Diddums]

Thank you for waiting, your call is important to me.

Please read the entirety of my post. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Come on, don't move the goalposts. You know exactly what the implication of that statement is, don't try hide from it. Now point out where you thought it'd be a good comment to make to someone who's just explained to you why he has such an intimate understanding of racism.

Like most lefties, you seem to have a complete mentality of "I know what's right and that's the end of it" when in reality you're just a little goldfish swimming in an ocean of people who could very well know more than you.

You even say it yourself:

My perspective is simply that people are debating issues of which they know very little about and certainly have no first-hand experience.

Seeing as this is your "perspective", can you clarify how your perspective nullifies the opinions of others?

 

[JBod]

Come on, don't move the goalposts. You know exactly what the implication of that statement is, don't try hide from it. Now point out where you thought it'd be a good comment to make to someone who's just explained to you why he has such an intimate understanding of racism.

Like most lefties, you seem to have a complete mentality of "I know what's right and that's the end of it" when in reality you're just a little goldfish swimming in an ocean of people who could very well know more than you.

I am not trying to hide anything, I think my post was quite clear. I'll go ahead and indulge you.

First off, using "lefties" in a pejorative fashion demonstrates your viewpoints quite clearly. You think having empathy for others makes those people weak or lesser than you. Echos of "they should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps!" and concern that maybe, just maybe, you have some blame to shoulder. But that would require you to take a look in the mirror and assess if you like what is looking back.

You question my assessment of you, your perspective is built from a very polarizing and overt type of racism. Direct segregation based on the colour of someone's skin. Modern-day racism is far more subversive than that as it is generally accepted that racism is a bad thing. I truly think and believe you know this and you are not deliberately being racist. However this leads into the next question you have, I put this (twice) in my prior post. Those you are aligning behind and the information you are posting is directly from the playbook and propaganda put forth by the more right-wing extreme sections of the United States, they are factually racist in their approach and the manipulation they are putting forth. I hope you may not even realise you are doing so or where the information has come from.

You even say it yourself:



Seeing as this is your "perspective", can you clarify how your perspective nullifies the opinions of others?

This was my opening statement in my first post to this thread. I am literally living in Los Angeles and have done for nearly a decade at this point. My entire social group and close friends are made up of people from all sections of society in the United States, from a close dear friend who grew up in a LA ghetto to white Trump supporters in middle America. My perspective is directly first hand, I saw the riots taking place from my house. I saw the direct aftermath on the streets. If I wasn't busy I could go snap a few photos of the train lines in the opening post. I can literally see downtown Los Angeles from my house out my window as I type this. Until you have immersed yourself in society all judgment comes from biased news outlets and what creates advertising revenue and click bait shock stories.

Yes a high percentage of the crime, the train robberies included, will be from people of colour. Pointing this out doesn't make someone racist. Supporting the systematic racism in the government, and supporting those that would keep creating legislation that is directly targeted at disenfranchising those that need the most support in US (or any) society does, unfortunately, make you racist, even if you don't realise it.

 

[Diddums]

First off, using "lefties" in a pejorative fashion demonstrates your viewpoints quite clearly. You think having empathy for others makes those people weak or lesser than you. Echos of "they should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps!" and concern that maybe, just maybe, you have some blame to shoulder. But that would require you to take a look in the mirror and assess if you like what is looking back.

Ohhhhh, now I get it. Because I use the term "lefty" I am immediately a racist gammon lacking compassion, is that right?

To clarify my stance a bit, I don't consider myself left or right leaning. I love making money and I love helping those less fortunate than myself. I have moved countries not once, but twice so I am eternally grateful for the opportunities afforded to me by those countries and I will never, ever rely on the state for handouts. I have more experience in different cultures and different levels of poverty and wealth than you will ever have and I also have more experience with systemic racism than you will ever have. Of course none of this matters because I called you a "lefty" which immediately invalidates anything I say, thereby proving my entire rhetoric in this thread.

I don't really care about left or right, I have my own moral compass and it covers more aspects than can be distilled in to one or two categories. I don't have a problem with left leaning people either, provided they're at least willing to hear the other party out and have a reasonable discussion, a perfect example of this is @StriderX. Dude's left leaning as they come but also respects the views of others. When someone like you just shuts down all conversation based on one word without even attempting to have a reasonable discussion, you're gonna get peoples' backs up and face confrontation, like you have here.

Out of curiosity and to eliminate any potential hypocrisy, what have you done to help others in the last year?

Here's my list:

-Helped with an Afghan refugee charity to collect basic supplies for pregnant asylum seekers.
-Helped my local AGE concern by teaching people how to do basic home maintenance.
-Helped at a soup kitchen over Christmas.
-Volunteered a few days for our local Dons to collect food for homeless people.
-Donated hundreds of pounds to homeless people.
-Donated tons of goods to homeless people.

This is just what's off the top of my head, I can probably list more.

So, now that you have a better idea of who I am, can you clarify your opinion based on one word?

 

[JBod]

Ohhhhh, now I get it. Because I use the term "lefty" I am immediately a racist gammon lacking compassion, is that right?

To clarify my stance a bit, I don't consider myself left or right leaning. I love making money and I love helping those less fortunate than myself. I have moved countries not once, but twice so I am eternally grateful for the opportunities afforded to me by those countries and I will never, ever rely on the state for handouts. I have more experience in different cultures and different levels of poverty and wealth than you will ever have and I also have more experience with systemic racism than you will ever have. Of course none of this matters because I called you a "lefty" which immediately invalidates anything I say, thereby proving my entire rhetoric in this thread.

I don't really care about left or right, I have my own moral compass and it covers more aspects than can be distilled in to one or two categories. I don't have a problem with left leaning people either, provided they're at least willing to hear the other party out and have a reasonable discussion, a perfect example of this is @StriderX. Dude's left leaning as they come but also respects the views of others. When someone like you just shuts down all conversation based on one word without even attempting to have a reasonable discussion, you're gonna get peoples' backs up and face confrontation, like you have here.

Out of curiosity and to eliminate any potential hypocrisy, what have you done to help others in the last year?

Here's my list:

-Helped with an Afghan refugee charity to collect basic supplies for pregnant asylum seekers.
-Helped my local AGE concern by teaching people how to do basic home maintenance.
-Helped at a soup kitchen over Christmas.
-Volunteered a few days for our local Dons to collect food for homeless people.
-Donated hundreds of pounds to homeless people.
-Donated tons of goods to homeless people.

This is just what's off the top of my head, I can probably list more.

So, now that you have a better idea of who I am, can you clarify your opinion based on one word?

So you stopped reading when I point out that you are using inflammatory language to gain attention and think I am offended by your use of the word? I am simply pointing out how you do yourself no favours. It is also interesting how you make assumptions about someone's wealth based on what data?

If your list is true, then I am even more disappointed. Your actions suggest you are a good human being yet your rhetoric is divisive and in support of those that would keep others down. That is the very definition of hypocrisy.

You have failed to address any of the key points that I have raised and instead have settled on virtue signaling. Careful that is very "leftie" of you. I am not here to prove myself to you or others, I do what I can and I truly hope I am making a difference where I am able.

 

[Diddums]

So you stopped reading when I point out that you are using inflammatory language to gain attention and think I am offended by your use of the word? I am simply pointing out how you do yourself no favours. It is also interesting how you make assumptions about someone's wealth based on what data?

If your list is true, then I am even more disappointed. Your actions suggest you are a good human being yet your rhetoric is divisive and in support of those that would keep others down. That is the very definition of hypocrisy.

You have failed to address any of the key points that I have raised and instead have settled on virtue signaling. Careful that is very "leftie" of you. I am not here to prove myself to you or others, I do what I can and I truly hope I am making a difference where I am able.

Was my reaction a bit OTT? Yes, absolutely. However it wasn't aimed at you, you just decided to respond to it so I engaged. When someone jumps to the conclusions you did with only a tiny bit of information, it will provoke crap responses, like mine. I will be the first to admit that I suffer this woke offended-on-behalf-of-others rubbish very poorly as that attitude tends to go hand in hand with top shelf hypocrisy.

To that end I will offer an apology as it's evident that my posts gave you the wrong impression, but they weren't meant for you, they were meant for someone exhibiting a texbook example of what I just described.

Shall we be friends instead?

 

[JBod]

Was my reaction a bit OTT? Yes, absolutely. However it wasn't aimed at you, you just decided to respond to it so I engaged. When someone jumps to the conclusions you did with only a tiny bit of information, it will provoke crap responses, like mine. I will be the first to admit that I suffer this woke offended-on-behalf-of-others rubbish very poorly as that attitude tends to go hand in hand with top shelf hypocrisy.

To that end I will offer an apology as it's evident that my posts gave you the wrong impression, but they weren't meant for you, they were meant for someone exhibiting a texbook example of what I just described.

Shall we be friends instead?

I am always happy to be friends We are probably more similar than different. I am disillusioned with both the governments I see in both the US and UK and all of the available political parties. Having the choice of a lesser evil is no choice at all. But here we are!

 

[Diddums]

I am always happy to be friends We are probably more similar than different. I am disillusioned with both the governments I see in both the US and UK and all of the available political parties. Having the choice of a lesser evil is no choice at all. But here we are!

I consider it a form of extremism. I fully support anyone with good intentions and respect those who put it in practice. But when people just shut down anything that questions their beliefs with a load of whinging waffle and then run away when the handbags are flung, it just winds me up. We're all adults here, we're all capable of having a reasonable debate and we're all capable of understanding other peoples' viewpoints whether we agree with them or not. Unfortunately some people are incapable of this and resort to petty name calling and insults before disappearing with their fingers in their ears. These people tend to get both barrels.

I respect anyone's opinions, whether it's Chris Wilson's oddly outdated views on certain topics or your opinion on racism, provided they communicate this respectfully, and I suspect most people are like this.

Imagine if everyone all had the same beliefs, what a dull world this would be

 

[JBod]

Some action is being taken:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/01/20/governor-newsom-brings-in-state-support-for-rail-theft-in-los-angeles-highlights-state-efforts-to-fight-and-prevent-crime/

 

[Twinz]

Some action is being taken:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/01/20/g...hts-state-efforts-to-fight-and-prevent-crime/

Looks like lip service from a politician. The bulk of that talks about picking up trash left behind after the thefts. (With a few mentions of enforcment sprinkled in.)

"Enforcing" weak laws just makes the revolving door spin a little faster. Criminals are still back on the street in short order.

 

[deuse]

California isn't a **** hole any more than London or Manchester etc. is. If you judge something by its worst quality, that says more about you. Whoever said everyone is leaving California for Texas is just wrong. Sure some people are, just as people are moving into California.

More leave then come to CA. Fact.

And where you live is a carless poo hole.

 

[deuse]

You also have demonstrated that you neither understand the intricacies and embedded systemic racism in the United States nor are you above using terms such as "lefties" in a pejorative fashion. .

Please show me just 1 law that proves your point.

 

[Blackjack Davy]

This was my opening statement in my first post to this thread. I am literally living in Los Angeles and have done for nearly a decade at this point. My entire social group and close friends are made up of people from all sections of society in the United States, from a close dear friend who grew up in a LA ghetto to white Trump supporters in middle America. My perspective is directly first hand, I saw the riots taking place from my house. I saw the direct aftermath on the streets. If I wasn't busy I could go snap a few photos of the train lines in the opening post. I can literally see downtown Los Angeles from my house out my window as I type this. Until you have immersed yourself in society all judgment comes from biased news outlets and what creates advertising revenue and click bait shock stories.

Yes a high percentage of the crime, the train robberies included, will be from people of colour. Pointing this out doesn't make someone racist. Supporting the systematic racism in the government, and supporting those that would keep creating legislation that is directly targeted at disenfranchising those that need the most support in US (or any) society does, unfortunately, make you racist, even if you don't realise it.

What I think people over here don't quite understand is the separation of society or rather the extremes in the US, or LA at anyrate. It was very noticeable the people at the top the wealth creators and movers and shakers were white, the people in the middle i.e. service industry hotel maids etc were almost all latino and the people at the bottom of society mostly in the south LA ghettos where the riots were were black. The sheer scale from top to bottom was startling and these days there are even white people homeless who literally live on the street in tents or inside an underpass literally inside the box section

 

[agnes]

America really is going off the rails

Going off the rails? As someone who lives there for years and moved back to Europe 18 months ago, it's already left the rails. The country is an absolute joke, it's 3rd world at best.

 

[Freddie1980]

Going off the rails? As someone who lives there for years and moved back to Europe 18 months ago, it's already left the rails. The country is an absolute joke, it's 3rd world at best.

In your opinion what are the biggest problems America needs to deal with? On the face of it the U.S is a rich country with plenty of opportunities but the other there's a big divide from the 'haves' and 'have not' as well as all the documented racial issues (or is that just hyperbolically nonsense drummed up by the media?)

 

[agnes]

In your opinion what are the biggest problems America needs to deal with? On the face of it the U.S is a rich country with plenty of opportunities but the other there's a big divide from the 'haves' and 'have not' as well as all the documented racial issues (or is that just hyperbolically nonsense drummed up by the media?)

Honestly? The lifestyle, it's all about 'got mine', people just don't care for anyone else. And work, it's ALL about status, every conversation with someone new starts with what you do for work, what position you're in, what company etc, it's all a competition to see who is doing best.

Homeless people are everywhere, there were shanty towns all over the place (I lived in Alameda, worked in San Francisco). The whole country is raised on sports which ends in this horrible 'I have red flag, blue flag guy is bad' mentality. So if you're on one side, no matter what that side is ALWAYS best and they won't hear any difference. I personally believe this is what causes such huge divides in their political agendas. They pick a side based on some loose beliefs and thats that, they will fight and defend their position until the end without listening to any arguing statements (granted, this is mostly the republicans, however, has anyone tried to convince a democrat to do the same?).

I'm speaking broadly by the way, I met some of the best people I've ever known and have stayed great friends with them.

It's just not a nice place to live long term, unless you're rich and very successful, if you're a retail worker, you're screwed.

Mental health, it's a HUGE issue, there is almost no chance of support and help if you suffer from mental health and have no insurance/backing funds.

Oh, and the financial system is insanely screwed. Here in the Netherlands, the system is if you have it, you can spend it. Over there, it's kind of like the UK but on steroids. Unless you owe money in some form, you can't borrow money...

 

[Twinz]

In your opinion what are the biggest problems America needs to deal with? On the face of it the U.S is a rich country with plenty of opportunities but the other there's a big divide from the 'haves' and 'have not' as well as all the documented racial issues (or is that just hyperbolically nonsense drummed up by the media?)

We do not seem willing to choose between equal opportunity and equal outcomes. (I prefer equal opportunity myself, but it does have the downside of unequal outcomes and the envy/hostility created therefrom)

Also, while I have not watched "Don't Look Up" yet, a friend explained the plot to me and I feel like we have been living it in real life. Instead of a meteorite, we have the national debt and "entitlement" spending.

Every time it's discussed, politician A claims that his or her plan will keep us solvent until X date that is always claimed to come longer than the plan offered by the competing politician's plan.

I have yet to hear a single reporter throw it back in their face...."And then what?" "Then we default?"