So I’ve been on vacation and since I do not watch television and do not spend much time online (on ‘the Google’) I admit I was negligently unaware of the riots in England…until I happened to catch a tweet from Jon Ronson. Then I caught a segment on NPR and realized the extensive nature of the thing. But couldn’t learn what was the catalyst. What started it all? Anybody?
I get that once a riot’s going on, people will hop on the bandwagon. I get that Avergae Nigel Brit, tipping back a pint of warm ale and watching the football game* at the Crown and Thistle might have a mind to go out and view the chaos with his own eyes and then, if he’s young, dumb, drunk, and painfully ignorant of the fact he’s being recorded and will later be arrested might go on and nip a pair of sneakers since everyone else is doing it. Okay, that’s the herd mentality. Not an excuse, but at least a reason to act like a daft punk. But again, what started it, how did it spread out of London…and why did five people have to die for it? What the hell…
Thanks Jon Ronson for the Twitter reportage; believe it or not, there are those of habitating under rocks who might otherwise have not been clued in to this week of tragedy.
*Soccer game
