Whilst I entirely sympathise, I have to take issue with the line “there are so many laws protect youths these days”.

What laws are these exaclty? Laws protecting everyone against assault, abuse and threat of violence, perhaps? The only law I know of that protects young people is concerning Data Protection over the use of images of children under 18.

I understand that the law and case law indicate that self-defence is a proportionate response to an attack, and there must be no element of malice, revenge or additional attack other than to stop the attacker.

That’s pretty clear to me – in other words if you attack someone who hasn’t attacked you, it’s an offence. That’s not protecting young people any more than it’s protecting you.

Conversely, if someone attacks you, you are entitled to defend yourself using the same amount of force that you are being attacked with – and nothing more.

The problem is far, fare more complicated that individual instances such as this, and the individuals involved. There are structural reasons for this to do with diminishing opportunity and social mobility (and the resentment that causes); an obsession with image, ephemera, novelty and celebrity rather than substance and permanence; a cultural stigma against intelligence and reason in favour of physicality and aggression; and a massive collective guilt of the middle class over their own circumstances. In other words, middle class people pretending to be working class when they clearly aren’t, meaning that they are reluctant to condemn bigotry, ignorance and violence because they are scared of being labelled “snobs”.

There is no justification for the kind of behaviour described in the letter. It may be possible to understand root causes (poverty, ignorance, lack of positive role models, lack of responsibility of their parents, a “consumer society” that prioritises “rights” over “responsibilities” etc) but those don’t excuse unacceptable behaviour.

And Em Jay, this phenomenon is the same the world over, and has been the same throughout history. We hear about it more because of more news, more media, more information. We remember it less because of nostalgia. I’m sure that the hordes of retired taxi driver who have emigrated to the Costa Del Sol are just as rude, aggressive and obnoxious as the very “yobs” that they are keen to escape from.

The response shouldn’t be “I’m off” but “I want to make a difference”. That shouldn’t have to mean putting yourself at risk by confronting these individuals, as the problem is a social and cultural one, not an individual one. The mature response is to try and understand why many people are so aggressive and lack any kind of respect or tolerance for anyone or anything, and to support activities and interventions that attempt to tackle those problems.

Fighting back, shouting, vigilantism and emigrating won’t help.

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Connor, a wonderfully constructed and eloquent retort I may say. Your sociological analysis is indeed insightful. However in the abscence of a few basic facts I feel compelled to forge my own retort to some of your insights. Diminishing opportunities such as what exactly ? opportunity to committ punishment free crime, the opportunity of freedom to abuse property, person or environment, opportunity to de-value society. Society has provided opportunity for people to not behave like this , yet I fear it’s not lack of opportunity here it’s more likely linked with lack of punishment , cause and effect, why respect others when ‘I can do as I please with no real punishment’( try reading social learning theory). I am sorry, but I fail to see your Marxist view and how class reaction has a link with youth crime??? the inability as you put it for middle class inadequacy and labelling fear of snobbery suggests the real undertone here is your almost finger pointing at social classes as the reasons for youth crime??? a tenuous link at best I fear….a class less society eh! selling the virtues of the working classes and limitations of middle classes hmmmmmmm The suggestion that this social attitude is world wide and historical is not quite correct. Australian society does not behave like this, as we now live here I am in a position to comment factually and with good comparison, and believe me if the situation had arisen as described above here, those individuals would have learnt a swift social lesson. It’s only fear that prevents and allows this sort of behaviour to continue as rightly identified by the author! There is no need for a vigilantee here when respect is fostered and crime not rewarded! Emigration works, saddly with foresight and being a victim of that society we left the UK 4 years ago watching it’s continued social decline for what ever reason’s, so long as there is no recourse for wrong doers and youth are not exposed to right and wrong and it’s consequences, then I applaud your support and pride for this culture whilst I choose to sit it out where I am respected and not routinely abused or have to live in fear of the very society I pay to live in! Good Luck!

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