Happy slapping in the US?

[LeCras]

I was just womdering if happy slapping is something that occurs in the US as well as in the UK? For those of you who don't know what happy slapping is, basically it's a recent phenomenon where a group of teenagers attack a complete stranger and film the incident with a mobile phone camera. The term doesn't describe the incident well at all - there is far more than slapping going on...as this article shows...

What's wrong with the world..? I'm sure things were not this bad when I was young...

Charlotte

 

[Feralpeg]

I've not heard of it here. I hope it doesn't catch on. What a sick thing to do.

 

[simba928]

I'm 15 and have never heard of it. The people in my high school can be the biggest idiots/jerks you will ever meet, but I have never heard of that.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Oh man, I hope this doesn't become a trend. How stupid can people be?

 

[disneymom3]

The article doesn't make it sound like this is a common trend or anything, just a terrible and awful, hateful crime. In fact you do wonder if it was simply a hate crime. (Not that hate crimes are ever simple.)

 

[LeCras]

I'm glad to hear this is (so far) contained to the UK. It is indeed sick and stupid, and I can't even begin to understand how the family and friends of that poor man must feel today...

ETA: Julie, this is definitely a trend I'm afraid - it has been going on here since 2004 and there have been numerous tv programmes about it here in Britain...

Charlotte

 

[Stitchfans]

How horrible. I really hope it doesn't come out our way.

 

[disneymom3]

I'm glad to hear this is (so far) contained to the UK. It is indeed sick and stupid, and I can't even begin to understand how the family and friends of that poor man must feel today...

ETA: Julie, this is definitely a trend I'm afraid - it has been going on here since 2004 and there have been numerous tv programmes about it here in Britain...

Charlotte

Ugh. That is really too bad. You just can't possibly understand some people. The article you referenced--and I understand now that was just to give more info about what it entails--sounded like this was an isolated incidence. How very bizarre. What are these people doing with the video from the phone and why on earth does that play into it.

Sick sick people.

 

[LeCras]

As I understand it they show the videos to their friends, to show off. I just don't get it - how would these people feel if this happened to their parent, their grandparent, their sibling??

Count yourselves lucky in the US. Of course, I guess they'd be shot sooner or later over there...

Charlotte

 

[USA Here I Come]

Eugh, this is so sick..the work of chavs, no doubt

I've never actually heard about this until a couple of days ago and havn't heard of it happening around here yet (i'm in Yorkshire), maybe its a regional thing?

 

[Sparx]

I've NEVER heard of this. I've heard of people getting is big fights, but not with total strangers. I got to school with the biggest bunch of idiots, and i've not heard of this.

 

[jonestavern]

A new handle needs to be made up for that right now, the 'happy slapping' thing just sounds too innocuous & appealing.
Of course, the 'murder' tag is so appropriate-
so very sad for this young fellow & his family & friends

Jean

 

[#1MMFan]

It's not an isolated incident and has been reported on CrimeWatch UK (our crime-fighting programme) in the UK... sad to say!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I was just womdering if happy slapping is something that occurs in the US as well as in the UK? For those of you who don't know what happy slapping is, basically it's a recent phenomenon where a group of teenagers attack a complete stranger and film the incident with a mobile phone camera. The term doesn't describe the incident well at all - there is far more than slapping going on...as this article shows...

What's wrong with the world..? I'm sure things were not this bad when I was young...

Charlotte

I've seen it before here in the States on the news but not for some years. It never caught on, as it has in the UK, but is not uncommon. There was a video out a couple years ago that sold pretty well online on which young boys beat up and degraded homeless people on the streets in Los Angeles.

 

[Bob Slydell]

There was a video out a couple years ago that sold pretty well online on which young boys beat up and degraded homeless people on the streets in Los Angeles.

We had a similar incident a while back here in Cleveland. They showed part of the video they made on the news right after they arrested the boys -- horrendous, disgusting stuff that I can't imagine anything thinking would be "fun".

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

We had a similar incident a while back here in Cleveland. They showed part of the video they made on the news right after they arrested the boys -- horrendous, disgusting stuff that I can't imagine anything thinking would be "fun".

I also know of a video called "Bumfights", where a guy in Vegas paid homeless people, most mentally unstable, small amounts of cash, or clothes or booze to fight each other on camera. Really pathetic! Where the market for this kind of swill is, I'll never know!

 

[Free4Life11]

Well so many kids these day are raised not by parents, but by videogames and cable TV. They've got no morals. They get spoiled. AND there's no discipline. Parents will defend their kids no matter what, make excuses for them, etc. It's sad and I am glad my parents didn't raise me like that.

 

[TDC Nala]

A new handle needs to be made up for that right now, the 'happy slapping' thing just sounds too innocuous & appealing.

How 'bout "assault and battery?"

 

[agnes!]

Well said. I raise a Kungaloosh to you, TDC Nala .

agnes!

 

[supercarrie]

I first read about it in the Metro this morning on the tube. I had never heard of it before in the US, although I suppose it could have caught on since I've been back home? It doesn't seem to have turned into a trend in the US though thankfully!