youth gangs in Nanaimo

[31jetjet]

I grew up in a town that had lots of bush parties & bonfires. Our parents thought that was acceptable (90's were my teen years). The raves started and they too would announce the "secret location" the day of the party. As raves became more mainstream, people started getting their invite with the location on it.

Problems can happen anywhere inside/outside/friends house/someones car. Kids just wanna hang and the idea of a "secret party" makes it sound a lot more fun. (especially in this little city)

@alvinchip. for you to say that they do not exist , is a bit of a stretch. kids like to even pretend they are in gangs. Especially if kids are into serious rap music. You would never know if the cute 16 y/o boy next door was selling drugs to all his friends and planning to be the next Tony Montana.

[alvinchip]

@31Jet and Nanaimo1

I guess that I was pushing my luck by saying that there aren't any youth gangs. I have just never seen any, even in places where you would expect to see youth gangs. But yeah, you're right about the fact that all of this could be going on behind closed doors rather than out in the open.

[Bathtub in Bohemia]

I was a youth gang for a month or so. I'd wander around downtown with myself looking for kids skinnier and weirder than I was so I could pick on them and steal their fake red Chucky-T's. I got so bored I started tripping myself so I had somebody to yell at and beat up. I even called myself a fag a few times but I never took it seriously.

[riverrat]

Hahahahah, fun post!

[nza]

I wish someone had told me how important education was and thinking and planning for the future at a young age. Although I agree that kids should be kids if they do not understand the importance that a good education means a good job with good income to pay the bills and do the things you want to do IN THE FUTURE...too many kids are just in the now. For many different reasons: they were kicked out of home/school, unplanned teenage pregnancies, juvy....there needs to be more programs in place for the most vunerable. And they need to KNOW the programs are there...so more awareness.

I disagree with you. Youth aren't stupid and oblivious to the fact that a decent education can equate to a decent job with a decent outcome. Even at a young age, any person who has their own wits can easily observe that life decisions affect future outcome. What isn't being ingrained is work ethic and applied diligence and patience. The Western consumerist influence of "ready at your finger tips now" really has shortened attention spans, and the way we do things. (I say can just because I know of several people who have decent educations but work at **** jobs with **** pay, due to their inability to be resilient, and their resistance to change.)

Even my wife doesn't understand the thought of "measure twice, cut once."
Also quite evident when my 3 year old, can't touchscreen and "flick" her dad's computer screen...

Technology, though, isn't the sole blame. Role models, fatherly figures, motherly figures, etc...are. I am to blame, I like cool new toys, and I don't mind having my daughter flick through photos WITH ME. having technology babysit your kids is not an opportunity to mentor and teach something.

A lot of what you described as programs are really meant for people who have ALREADY made poor life-decisions. Although there are very many success stories of transformed lives, what is really needed are programs and family-time that build upon relationships that will PREVENT poor-life decisions.

We made a family decision that my daughters will grow up knowing how to shoot guns. So this past father's day I exposed my 3 year old, for the very first time, to what I do for a living. Although she is too young for range time, she's about the right maturity to learn about the maintenance and care of personal items. So, as she sat beside me, we disassembled my guns, cleaned them, oiled them, and reassembled them TOGETHER. Not only was it a bonding moment, but it was also a mentoring opportunity about gun safety, what dad does for work, maintaining things, cleaning up after using things, cost of things... etc.


So while, I agree with you that kids are in the NOW, I have to say that kids already know the benefits of good grades. Some just don't have the ass-kicking they need (within a safe loving environment, of course), to cowboy up.