Park Vandalism (Colorado Springs: low income, violent crime, house)

[Vision67]

I just can't understand why people do this:

Security cameras costing $450,000 sought since vandals and thieves hit new Colorado Springs park | Colorado Springs Gazette, News

"Before the gates even opened July 8 at John Venezia Community Park, the city's first new park in 12 years, yellow hammer and sickle and red anarchy signs had been smeared across the park's buildings.

Construction workers arrived some mornings to find their equipment vandalized or stolen, lights stripped of their copper and merciless spray-painting across many of the park's yet-to-be-used amenities, said Kurt Schroeder, park maintenance and operations manager."



Can any of you explain the motivation that people would have to destroy park equipment?

How could doing that make somebody feel better? I really don't get it.

I'll admit that I'm much better at understanding technology than sociology.

[orngkat]

We seem to be raising a generation (or two) that have little regard for others or their property, i.e. lack of empathy. Or perhaps when individuals feel powerless, they raise hell. Or perhaps they are high. Or...

[LHS79]

And not like that part of town has "low income" issues like down south either.

Probably spoiled rich kids that are bored.

[otowi]

Most of today's youth are not like that - but it only takes a few bad apples. We're probably talking about the same small group of people hitting this park repeatedly.

[Kar54]

Originally Posted by otowi

Most of today's youth are not like that - but it only takes a few bad apples. We're probably talking about the same small group of people hitting this park repeatedly.

Agree. I was hearing essentially the same thing as a kid in the 1960's. Throwing crabapples at cars, dog poop in bags and lit on fire, arson in the corner of carports, theft of candy bars, and yes, graffiti. The big difference is now we have cameras filming the desperados everywhere, every time. At least my hope is that's what the difference is.

However, back then the adults would haul you off to your parent's house where you'd get in big trouble. If you do that now, there's a chance the adults will go at it and occasionally get shot or stabbed. Now THAT'S what's changed. Here's a participation trophy for you.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by Kar54

Agree. I was hearing essentially the same thing as a kid in the 1960's. Throwing crabapples at cars, dog poop in bags and lit on fire, arson in the corner of carports, theft of candy bars, and yes, graffiti. The big difference is now we have cameras filming the desperados everywhere, every time. At least my hope is that's what the difference is.

However, back then the adults would haul you off to your parent's house where you'd get in big trouble. If you do that now, there's a chance the adults will go at it and occasionally get shot or stabbed. Now THAT'S what's changed. Here's a participation trophy for you.

Kids today also run into legal trouble for things that back then would have been handled amongst the parents - apologize, do this as restitution, keep it out of the courts, etc. Now the parents usually aren't able/willing to make such arrangements and the police end up involved.

[LHS79]

I'm thinking some of this may be due to having a parent, not parents.

[Kar54]

Originally Posted by otowi

Kids today also run into legal trouble for things that back then would have been handled amongst the parents - apologize, do this as restitution, keep it out of the courts, etc. Now the parents usually aren't able/willing to make such arrangements and the police end up involved.

Absoulutely, If I fell out of a neighbor's tree, my Mom would tape me up and send me on my way. Today, you call "The Strong Arm".

[mtngigi]

Not that I wish criminal activity anywhere in the city, but this sort of thing puts to lie all the suggestions made in these forums about the "safest" and "better" areas to live in Colorado Springs. Crime can happen anywhere, not just the south/southeast/S. Nevada, etc. part of town.

They may be a different kind of criminal, but they're still committing crimes.

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

Originally Posted by orngkat

We seem to be raising a generation (or two) that have little regard for others or their property, i.e. lack of empathy. Or perhaps when individuals feel powerless, they raise hell. Or perhaps they are high. Or...

No, we seem to be living in a time where you have more access to news and events from across the world than ever before.

Crime is going down. Violent crime peaked 25 years ago.