Its not because its "cool", its because kids don't feel secure on the streets anymore. The police are seen as oppressive to them, and not "on their side". Its dog eat dog out there nowadays, and it makes the young lads want to carry something to protect themselves with. The trouble starts when you get the more, should we say "troublesome" chaps that you get your stabbings, as there aren't any figureheads for them to be controlled by. Years ago if a young lad was seen on the street causing trouble for himself someone would take him under their wing and tell them a thing or two about what is and isn't acceptable. Kids have too much power over their elders, and have next to no resepct for them as they're untouchable.
Only the other week an ex-army chap lead a troublemaking lad into his home under citizens arrest the other week after weeks of harassment and vandalism on his property along with scaring his wife. The mother of the "child" got involved and the police promtly turned up to arrest the man on suspicion of kidnap... there is your problem. The police haven't got a ****ing clue what they're doing, and neither does the government. Its just quick fix after quick fix without any consideration for the long term impacts of their policies. Ten years under labour and ill-thought out policies and "reforms" have left the image of the traditional family torned to shreads, along with a host of other mistakes which have created an irrational fear of the suggested maruarding hordes of pheadophiles stalking the streets, which just means that the adults... namely the fathers can't grab the yobs by the scruff of the neck and give them a good hiding. The countries gone to bollocks, my parents are thinking of emigrating to Cyprus where we used to live for their retirement... I don't blame them... if things continue the way they are I will probably want to follow in their foot steps and create a new life for myself in Cyprus, away from the nanny state survellience society that has been created in the last decade of labour rule...
I used to be proud of my country, but now its a damned right embarassment... people are too ignorent and selfish, its all me me me and not about looking after your friends and your neighbour. Its not about helping others in times of need its about looking after your own skin, gone are the days where people used to be thoughtful and civilised. We live in a country of power hungry, greedy people... not something to be proud of.
"Great" Britain... yeah, Advance Britannia... to an early grave.
***End Rant!***