The Politics of Paranoia.
Croydon is a fucked up place. And A LOT of it is Fears & Anxieties.
Don't get me wrong, life is hard these days; so I get why some people are afraid; but others have actually shot themselves in the foot.
Cocaine & booze. Croydon-tastic. Standard Side-effects include Paranoia & Delusion. How fun!
So a bunch of kids have had a rough week and are generally feeling nervous due to the lack of prospects out there. They have nowhere to live, wages are low, prices are high, and... There are good reasons to be nervous. So they head out to party. To blow off some steam.
I'm a Work Hard Play Hard kinda Cyber-punk. So I get the 'party' bit. But I was never stupid enough to do the Cocaine bit.
The kids of Croydon are stupid enough to do the Cocaine bit.
So they don't rest & blow off steam, as much as make themselves even more nervous.
Panic then ensues.
The problem is that people who are panicking can lash out. Mix in delusion and it can get pretty damn silly. Welcome to Croydon City Centre.
I'm the other end of the spectrum. My life has been so harsh for so long I'm just not afraid, because I am so used to roughing it whilst in regular pain ( sometimes agony ). Yes, fine, I'm a grumpy bugger ( who wouldn't be ); but I never throw a punch. And I do not fear ( I even talk about my erectile dysfunction issues online ).
When these ultra-paranoid kids see me they panic. Some then do a pre-emptive strike, to hit me first, as they are panicking so badly.
They panic because they can see that I am not afraid, even when they have the numbers. My lack of fear terrifies them, because they can't threaten me.
The Politics of Paranoia. Interesting eh? And they remember me. And some of them become obsessed with me.
And always it is my fault, and can't possibly be them; as I sit there literally doing nothing bar reading some stuff & enjoying a quiet pint.
It is them I assure you; and in Croydon there are loads of them. Panicking & turning to violence & dirty tricks on a regular basis. Using their numbers & factions to try to keep control of their bit, otherwise their fear will get even worse...
Control; using street thuggery.
Bullies are often afraid. That's why they resort to violence.
Don't get me wrong, life is hard these days; so I get why some people are afraid; but others have actually shot themselves in the foot.
Cocaine & booze. Croydon-tastic. Standard Side-effects include Paranoia & Delusion. How fun!
So a bunch of kids have had a rough week and are generally feeling nervous due to the lack of prospects out there. They have nowhere to live, wages are low, prices are high, and... There are good reasons to be nervous. So they head out to party. To blow off some steam.
I'm a Work Hard Play Hard kinda Cyber-punk. So I get the 'party' bit. But I was never stupid enough to do the Cocaine bit.
The kids of Croydon are stupid enough to do the Cocaine bit.
So they don't rest & blow off steam, as much as make themselves even more nervous.
Panic then ensues.
The problem is that people who are panicking can lash out. Mix in delusion and it can get pretty damn silly. Welcome to Croydon City Centre.
I'm the other end of the spectrum. My life has been so harsh for so long I'm just not afraid, because I am so used to roughing it whilst in regular pain ( sometimes agony ). Yes, fine, I'm a grumpy bugger ( who wouldn't be ); but I never throw a punch. And I do not fear ( I even talk about my erectile dysfunction issues online ).
When these ultra-paranoid kids see me they panic. Some then do a pre-emptive strike, to hit me first, as they are panicking so badly.
They panic because they can see that I am not afraid, even when they have the numbers. My lack of fear terrifies them, because they can't threaten me.
The Politics of Paranoia. Interesting eh? And they remember me. And some of them become obsessed with me.
And always it is my fault, and can't possibly be them; as I sit there literally doing nothing bar reading some stuff & enjoying a quiet pint.
It is them I assure you; and in Croydon there are loads of them. Panicking & turning to violence & dirty tricks on a regular basis. Using their numbers & factions to try to keep control of their bit, otherwise their fear will get even worse...
Control; using street thuggery.
Bullies are often afraid. That's why they resort to violence.