Would you class skateboarding as anti social behaviour.

rpc

TheEffect wrote: »

I work with the ASB team for one of the London boroughs, who do get a surprising amount of calls about skateboarding, mostly from elderly people who have a list of other complaints, or whom may feel intimidated.

I think there's a fair bit of stereotyping applied, whether consciously or not.

Kids hanging around in groups must be up to no good because that's where the ASB, drugs, etc happens. There's so much of this carp in media coverage that it creates a bias in people's minds.

In some areas we've ended up with the situation that kids shouldn't stay in and play computer games (because that's bad) but they aren't allowed to play outside because that's anti-social behaviour.

I'm not trying to diminish the problem and impact of true ASB, but that brush is used to tar too many kids and too many activities.

Jagraf

rpc wrote: »

I think there's a fair bit of stereotyping applied, whether consciously or not.

Kids hanging around in groups must be up to no good because that's where the ASB, drugs, etc happens. There's so much of this carp in media coverage that it creates a bias in people's minds.

In some areas we've ended up with the situation that kids shouldn't stay in and play computer games (because that's bad) but they aren't allowed to play outside because that's anti-social behaviour.

I'm not trying to diminish the problem and impact of true ASB, but that brush is used to tar too many kids and too many activities.

I agree with this, but the problem is bigger than antisocial behaviour. I think we are in such a culture of 'blame' and 'fault' that authorities need to take into account any perceived danger, to anyone.

I saw a teen rollerblading down a slide the other week at out local park. It was a girl actually and the park was relatively empty, so she was of no danger to anyone other than herself. Yet, had she injured herself, I'm wondering what the course of action may have been - for her parents, for the council etc.

The real crux of the issue here is that the skateboard park is a mess. A legitimate and better place for skateboarding is much better than the back alley of somewhere, for all concerned.

Teens hang around in areas as there is nowhere else to go. And then they look like a threat to others.

Having said that, the speed my MIL goes on her walker even she needs a helmet, I'm sure she could scare a few teens!!