tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post8933795427265072867..comments2024-02-13T10:20:04.888+00:00Comments on David Hepworth's blog: Kids With GunsDavid Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05973053694541321308noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-84270463382551091162008-06-29T01:43:00.000+01:002008-06-29T01:43:00.000+01:00Boys were probably making toy guns before the inve...Boys were probably making toy guns before the invention of the real thing..<BR/><BR/>The only substantial social change that seems to explain the upsurge in armed conflict among our young is the sharp increase in absentee fathers. If you don't see at first hand how men settle their differences in the real world then your only object lessons in conflict resolution are Batman, the Terminator, and Robocop.Mikeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09639836396121576665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-21265971722151638502008-06-28T13:12:00.000+01:002008-06-28T13:12:00.000+01:00One of the craziest things I ever saw was at a sch...One of the craziest things I ever saw was at a school in the Yemen Republic - Teenage boys carrying rifles into class with them. <BR/><BR/>I asked my new friend what was going on. He told me that the boys were all from different tribes, some of which were involved in ongoing blood feuds. The guns were for their protection.backwards7https://www.blogger.com/profile/04902342759719621771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-35167972828479948072008-06-27T20:10:00.000+01:002008-06-27T20:10:00.000+01:00A 'me too' post. I loved all types of toy weaponry...A 'me too' post. I loved all types of toy weaponry and grew up into a peacable sort. The only time I got into any bother was when i pistol-whipped my sister in a moment of high childish petulance.<BR/>Apart from the role playing games these toys allow they also confer an impression of power. Someone with a gun is more powerful than others, even more powerful than a mum or a dad - for as long as your a cowboy or a soldier you're a guy who doesn't have to come in because it's time for dinner/bath/bedtime. Until you actually are, of course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-89581429345572301102008-06-27T18:13:00.000+01:002008-06-27T18:13:00.000+01:00As Dr JOhnson said so memorably, 'Every Man think...As Dr JOhnson said so memorably, 'Every Man thinks meanly of himself for not being a soldier'<BR/><BR/>I suppose there are different ways of interpreting that in the context of your statement, David.<BR/><BR/>But one way is, to say that the feminisation of our culture and the subsequent idea that anything too male is bad, means that young boys no longer have healthy outlets for this sort of energy and it just builds up. So the only male-role models they have in the culture, whether they're black or white, are gangster rappers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-68644933132487055972008-06-27T17:41:00.000+01:002008-06-27T17:41:00.000+01:00I grew a few years later when toy guns had started...I grew a few years later when toy guns had started to be disapproved of, some people still had them, we didn't. So me and my brothers made our own out of lego.<BR/>I think male agression is totally seperate problem I'm sure some kids could start a turf war over needle point.<BR/>whilst doing some youth work recently I was shocked to find how my local area was divided into tiny barrios with the male kids unable to move around for fear of being attacked it was really disheartening. <BR/>I'm not sure of the answer, I was taught just to walk away and consquently rarely had a fight as a kid (except with my brothers!). strangely this didn't leave me open to bullying.<BR/>I do think that we tend to be more solipsitic now a days with our needs being primary, my nephews seem much more obsessed with status than we were.BLTPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06564846497205095201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-12608613875105567952008-06-27T15:18:00.000+01:002008-06-27T15:18:00.000+01:00Very true. I had mainly similar things including t...Very true. I had mainly similar things including the classic spud gun. My dad bought me and my brother fake fencing swords one year. All harmless fun, bar the odd misplaced hit. You're probably right in that doing so when you are younger means it is not really an issue as you grow up - even those who do grow up to stay interested in guns from this young stage probably do so as genuine interests, i.e. rifle clubs, airsofting etc, in which people are interested in the machine as a piece of machinery (like a car fan ) rather than as the fact it can just kill if they are disrespected. <BR/>And to end on a massive generalisation to end, it's a lot to do with the parents and how they pass on their views to their offspring.Dan Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11544340593291117457noreply@blogger.com