Hug A Hoodie
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5163798.stm

Here we have another of the tories and their whacky plans for getting into office.

Once again it is disposable tripe.

What appears to be a rather 'liberal' approch is just traditional conservative policies wrapped in a better public image. Support for the nuclear family and anti-drugs are what he is suggesting. there is nothing about kids having nothing to do, let alone the economics of the situation where living in poverty and being surrounded by decaying societies can have an incredibly strong demoralising effect on people.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

I'd support shoot a hoodie.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

So if every kid used heroin, would things improve?

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

I went out tonight with the sole aim of finding "hoodies" and hugging them.

My venue was a petrol station, well frequented by "hoodies" to try to buy either alcohol to drink or glue to sniff. I wasn't left waiting long. Within 5 minutes a gang of them (I say a gang - it was a trio) came trooping in.

I observed them for 5 minutes or so from afar. I wanted to make sure I chose the correct one to receive the hugging. Of course ALL "hoodies" should be susceptible to the hug, but I was a beginner and didn't want to do it wrong.

I spied the best one eventually. He was slightly shorter than the others, and seemed to have some sort of bizarre limp (probably beaten by his father in his broken home). I went up to him, arms outstretched, a big grin on my face.

"What the fuk you doin mate" I was greeted with.

But I wouldn't be stopped! Chasing the youth down over 2-3 metres as he tried to edge away from me, I embraced him solidly for at least 10 seconds.

As I pulled away, smiling at him eagerly, hoping some sort of magical transformation would occur, he pulled his hood back!

"Praise be!" I thought.

"He is converted!" I thought.

"David Cameron was right!" I thought.

Then he came right up to me and headbutted me in the face, breaking my nose.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

A plea for help in a hostile world.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

with or without garotte wire?

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

No-one is suggesting this so please don't be stupid.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

Any policy aimed at stopping the absurd demonification of children and the ensuing counterproductive criminalisation must be a good policy.

We should question the efficacy and whether there are other things we should be doing at the same time but not the principle itself.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

In Ireland we're currently trying to decide whether or not we can put an 11 year old kid on trial for stealing sweets from a shop.

Seriously.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

It´s all going to hell I tell you. Societies like ours are based on the good in man, but man IS NOT GOOD anymore. So the alternative would be a society based on the EVIL in man.

I sometimes am afraid the only thing that will help us is a good world war...

edit: I just read you are making a good start by sending 870 troops more to Afghanistan. Sadly those are now expensive, highly trained people. My suggestion is, get conscription back in, sell the Taliban some nice high-tech assault rifles and send the hoodies in with old lee-enfields in groups of 650/700.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

The sooner David Cameron creates the Thought Police the better, am i rite?

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

I´d prefer not but that is the paradox we have to live with.
Even though I am all about pacifism I acknowledge the fact that we need guns here and there. Society will protect itself sooner or later, for better or for worse, friendly or not.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

Our society, as in western society, is based on the independence and interdependence of man. Your "anymore" comment is rather strange as well. It's not exactly like we've emerged from some glorious natural stage of "the good" here.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

The only policy I would support would be **** a hoodie.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

Common sense prevails

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

We shall breed them out. Well, not me obviously, but those of a hetrosexual bent.

Primae Noctis and all that.

It's certainly a policy Stephen would support, since he has a 'thing' for chavs you see.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

When coupled with your earlier statement on the decline in the goodness of man it seems you are suggesting that we require enforced morality to prevent our fall from Grace. This, and I almost dare not say it, is worse than the many biblical arguments I have seen Travler put forward. Humanity is certainly flawed but we have put massive energy and effort into building social constructs and institutions of huge complexity in an attempt to better ourselves as a whole.

This is an evolving process and it may yet fail, and with it our society, but if anything is 'evil' here it is the belief that human life should be controlled and moderated at such a personal level.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

Well I may be an old fart but I remember a time where you could leave your bike unlocked, and car doors were left open. There used to be a lot more respect for property, graffity was virtually non-existant and politicians were actually listened to and would go if they made a mistake intead of spinning up someone elses errors so they actually look good. People knew their neighbours and looked after their kids etcetera.

Okay this was when the police still rode pigs, but this aside...

Right after world war 2 the sentiment was a lot more one of conformity. THAT is the state of good I referred to, not some biblical angel like status for all mankind. :)

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

Please forgive my ignorance, what is a hoodie? A junkie? A thief? Someone who loiters?

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

So lies the price of progress. Many of the above still do happen though.

A hoodie is a jumper with a hood attached. An article of clothing frequently worn by junkies, thieves, people who loiter, people out in the rain or cold, teenagers in general, people dressing down...

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

The daily mail cartoon today had hoodies hiding inside and peering out of the curtains, scared of all these tories running round trying to hug them outside. I'd pay to see that irl!

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We do :(:(:(

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

You forgot Jedi Knights.

They're the worst kind of hoodies!

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

The guardian yesterday had both 'hoodies' (coffee: young people wearing hooded-tops) and pensioners looking frightened of cameron, himself in a hoodie (the item of clothing) with arms in a 'gangsta'-type pose.

It seems to be yet another proposal that in summary seems reasonable enough- stating that youngsters hanging around on street corners is a symptom rather than the problem is (while fairly obvious I would hope) verging on revolutionary thinking, coming from a politician- but the outlines of possible solutions fall well short.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

"You do not want to hug me just because I have a hoodie on"
"I do not want to hug you just because you have a hoodie on"

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

So they would like you to hug everyone wearing a hooded sweatshirt? I have a few hooded sweatshirts. I fully condone really hot people of the opposite sex to give me hugs. Though I would prefer sex. No big sweaty people allowed though.

I knew before this thread that a "hoodie" was a hooded sweatshirt here in Canada. I was looking for some sort of British slang for a "hood rat" or something. For those not familiar with a hood rat: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hood+rat

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

"Hoodie" always struck me as a really stupid term since a good proportion of people who wear "hoodies" are middle class rock fans. In fact, when I was a teenager I'm sure the majority of hoodies were worn by grungers, etc.

Now the term seems to exclusively (or mainly) apply to groups of kids who wear hooded tops allegedly in order to cover their faces. It's become a sign of anti-social behaviour and banned in various shopping centres ("malls") in the UK. Presumably it's supposed to apply mainly to black or working class kids. I'm not sure if the bans have done any good, the local shopping centre to me banned them but it hasn't seemed to herald any marked improvement in the atmosphere there.

Although random bigotry is always annoying, it would be nice if hooded tops weren't worn anymore if only because they're a bit shit.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

I expect every kid in Canada owns a hooded sweat shirt. They are warm. Function > form.

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They're only warm because they're all hugging each other all the time like a bunch of gays.

Only gays hug am i rite?!

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

Sue her.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

hug a hoodie is a ****ing stupid policy, i would support something to bring childron 'back into the fold' of polite society, but without some form of respect this simply isnt going to happen, and in our society i dont think that that is going to happen any time soon

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

I surf alot. I and everyone i see surfing wears hoodies. It's comfortable, warm clothing and little more (bit of a fashion thing as well but no trackie b's or lacoste trainers etc).

It wasn't until recently that i noticed we were getting grouped in with all the local hoodlums.

:(

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

The people responsible for creating/maintaining a society that breeds antisocial behaviour will never find a cure for it either. Respect is one of the keys, but not respect from the youngsters, respect to the youngsters.

Now, I dont belive a word of what this man is saying, afaik they are for strong prison sentences, armed police, more surveilance, more capitalism and so on. Alas, this will only bring out more hate, frustration and antisocial behaviour.

Xtrasyn, look for the reason to find the cure, not the effect.
That people dont have respect for "private" property is a good sign, in my eyes. The property most rich and middleclass people have is theirs beacause exploitation. That people see this (even if they dont know it, just act on it) and take back what should be the common property (even if they do it for what is called private gains) is good.

Graffiti is not antisocial behaviour. I would dare you to find groups of young people that know and love their cities, subway systems, and art then graffiti artists. Even if you see what they do as destruction, they (and many others) do not.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

I don't really think that this is what he is doing. the reasons he gives for the 'breakdown of society' are the same tory policies that have been around forever. Whilst he might be using a different type of phrasing there really is no fundamental change.

Re: Hug A Hoodie
 

how can you respect someone who respects nothing themselves?