# No-one pitted the fuckers burning London down yet? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 8, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998 "2011-08-08T21:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/161 "2011-08-09T19:30:37Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Which to my mind suggests the problem isn’t a lack of support for the unemployed; it’s too much support. Children look around them and see people living the life of Riley on benefits, with perhaps a bit of petty crime on the side to provide an additional income. They don’t need qualifications, they’re never going to apply for a job because why should they? The state will look after them. And if they’re a bit short of cash and can’t quite afford a new games console or TV, well they can just chuck a rock through the window of the nearest electrical shop and the police will just stand and watch. JSA is about 65 quid a week. That’s just above starvation level, when gas and electricity is factored in. “Life of Riley” indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/162 "2011-08-09T19:44:23Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > JSA is about 65 quid a week. That’s just above starvation level, when gas and electricity is factored in. “Life of Riley” indeed. The ever increasing cost of fuel is causing a great deal of hardship in Britain. We’ve just had two extremely cold winters, after a long run of milder ones, just as the price of gas, in particular has risen and risen. For the low paid and those on benefits the proportion of income needed to keep warm has risen to frightening levels. I do say this from a personal perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/163 "2011-08-09T19:52:19Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > JSA is about 65 quid a week. That’s just above starvation level, when gas and electricity is factored in. “Life of Riley” indeed. Yeah, my last experience of JSA was over three years ago and it was derisory compared not only to what I’d been earning but what I’d been paying into the system for 27 years without a break. Still’n’all, let’s not assume that the long-term claimants are just on JSA. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/164 "2011-08-09T20:20:45Z")
Violent protesters usually get what they’re after, absent a Tienanmen-style crackdown. I can’t see any Western government with the kind of resolve needed for that. They’re all busy imagining what they did to deserve this. Mind you I’m not endorsing a crackdown, just guessing what will happen. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/165 "2011-08-09T21:20:05Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Don’t insult me, I wouldn’t buy that rag unless all other toilet tissue had been looted. I’m a fully paid-up liberal (yes I even read the Guardian) but the welfare state combined with an open immigration policy simply doesn’t work in its current incarnation. As a fully paid-up (lower case) liberal, for whom do you cast your vote? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/166 "2011-08-09T22:19:47Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > JSA is about 65 quid a week. That’s just above starvation level, when gas and electricity is factored in. “Life of Riley” indeed. A person who reckons that benefit offers the life of riley, and that he is a liberal who wishes for a clampdown on the welfare state and immigration. In other words, a prick. ---
**Author:** ![pikey\_pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pikey\_pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pikey_pete)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/167 "2011-08-09T22:27:09Z")
maybe its just the bitter, republican sympathizing, bogstomper in me, but you can look at the riots in a positive light. Firstly, its just London and its suburbs, not somewhere important. Secondly, if you stop and think about it, think of all the jobs the clean up will create. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/168 "2011-08-09T23:16:50Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > In other words, a prick. Yes, a colossal prick. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/169 "2011-08-10T00:42:01Z")
> [@pikey\_pete](#): > > maybe its just the bitter, republican sympathizing, bogstomper in me, but you can look at the riots in a positive light. Firstly, its just London and its suburbs, not somewhere important. Secondly, if you stop and think about it, think of all the jobs the clean up will create. Not anymore. The riots have spread to [Birmingham](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690273/Birmingham-hit-by-riots-as-internet-campaign-encourages-violence.html) and Oop North. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/170 "2011-08-10T01:16:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not anymore. The riots have spread to [Birmingham](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690273/Birmingham-hit-by-riots-as-internet-campaign-encourages-violence.html) and Oop North. Also Bristol and Nottingham. It’s not at the scale of London here, but one of Nottingham’s police stations has been firebombed, and there’s lots of other incidents. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/171 "2011-08-10T01:56:57Z")
In other news, [sales of certain baseball bats are up 52,000%](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/movers-and-shakers/sports/ref=zg_bs_tab/275-7271972-5318967). ---
**Author:** ![pikey\_pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pikey\_pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pikey_pete)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/172 "2011-08-10T02:01:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not anymore. The riots have spread to [Birmingham](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690273/Birmingham-hit-by-riots-as-internet-campaign-encourages-violence.html) and Oop North. still not like its anywhere really important. ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/173 "2011-08-10T02:13:43Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > In other news, [sales of certain baseball bats are up 52,000%](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/movers-and-shakers/sports/ref=zg_bs_tab/275-7271972-5318967). It must be rough waiting for your amazon delivery. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/174 "2011-08-10T02:14:24Z")
> [@pikey\_pete](#): > > still not like its anywhere really important. Where would you say is “important”? Carlisle? Alloa? Lerwick? ---
**Author:** ![pikey\_pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pikey\_pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pikey_pete)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/175 "2011-08-10T02:24:53Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Where would you say is “important”? Carlisle? Alloa? Lerwick? Anywhere that isn’t in the bloody UK. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/176 "2011-08-10T02:25:16Z")
Hipsters of the world, the London riots just got personal: [http://pitchfork.com/news/43478-labels-react-to-sonypias-warehouse-fire/](http://pitchfork.com/news/43478-labels-react-to-sonypias-warehouse-fire/) ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/177 "2011-08-10T02:39:58Z")
> [@pikey\_pete](#): > > Anywhere that isn’t in the bloody UK. Em…I see. So if the UK isn’t important, what’s your interest in this? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/178 "2011-08-10T03:00:54Z")
> [@pikey\_pete](#): > > Secondly, if you stop and think about it, think of all the jobs the clean up will create. Fixing all those broken windows… ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/179 "2011-08-10T04:02:01Z")
> [@George\_Kaplin](#): > > Fuck the London rioters. What, they don’t get enough free shit already? What a beautiful way to repay those whose hard work affords them the accommodation they possess, and the benefits, emergency services, and educational programs they have access to; beat them, rob them, burn down their shops and terrify them into self-imposed house arrest. They can all go get fucked. > > The only concrete observation one can make of the riots is that there are a lot of scumbags in this country who need a fucking good kicking. Fuck their deprivation. If these indolent pigs put one tenth of one percent of the effort into policing their own communities as they’re currently putting into thieving, terrorizing, and throwing petrol bombs at police then maybe, just _maybe_, there’d be a bit more potential for upward mobility. But no, they’d rather languish in their shithole council estates in a fog of weed smoke, throwing jewelled fists at anything that looks like an opportunity. They can all get fucked again > > I hope that tonight’s the night the police finally break out the tear gas and rubber bullets. I hope the ringleaders are arrested, convicted, paraded on national television, and are put to work as a chain gang clearing the debris while dressed in humiliating and emasculating outfits, before being dragged off to prison to, once again, get fucked. Interpret that how you will. +1, except for the bullets being rubber. If people want to behave like murderous animals, we should treat them the same way we treat rabid dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998/180 "2011-08-10T04:14:08Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > +1, except for the bullets being rubber. If people want to behave like murderous animals, we should treat them the same way we treat rabid dogs. Ah, yes, nothing says that you have the moral high ground like slaughtering tens of thousands of poor people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-pitted-the-fuckers-burning-london-down-yet/591998.md?page=10)