polgara
DP Veteran
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- Jan 25, 2013
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I'm going to buck the trend here and say No, there is NOT more violence today than there was in, say the 1970s and early 80s. Not in general.
I grew up in that period. Teenage boys and young men fought CONSTANTLY. At least, in my area they did. By the time I was 18 I couldn't count how many fights I'd been in, and I'd seen people knifed, and been on the wrong end of a couple pistols in the hands of hostile persons.
Today, by contrast, real fights among young males seem relatively rare.
Now there IS a difference...
Back then, we still had some remnants of the Code Duello and old-school honor. Generally you faced your enemy and let him know you were coming for him; sucker punching was frowned on. Sometimes weapons were involved, but there was a reluctance to kill... knives were usually used to cut not stab, and guns were usually pointed and not fired. One-on-one was the rule, gang beatdowns were mostly frowned on.
When I say "frowned on" I mean other guys might take it out of your hide.
These days, it seems that violence is more rare but more explosive, and that ambush attacks, multiple attackers and weapons are more typical, and that the reluctance to kill that I'd mentioned has faded.
But statistically, violence in the US is down from a high in the 70s. The 24/7 news hype makes it seem worse than it really is.
Good morning, Goshin. :2wave:
Great post! "Ganging up" on one person is cowardly! In the past, if you had a beef with someone, you handled it one on one. Women might have catfights, but it's usually of the verbal kind, and everyone doesn't usually jump in, unless it becomes physical, then you try to separate them. To attack someone from behind has always been wrong and gutless, and shows what kind of loser you are. And now it's considered "fun" by some to attack and hurt or kill a stranger? WTH is wrong with these people?