r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	artfuldodger1212
Comment	You make it sound like The Warriors. It really wasn't typically like that and certainly not every weekend night. I am old enough to have actually lived through that time and the old timers in your life are pulling your leg mate. Yes there were problems and there was a lot gang violence but your making it sound like every Saturday night in the 90s- early 2000s was like the Battle of Helms Deep when it really wasn't. There were many of the same substance abuse and deprivation issues Glasgow still has but it was not usual for 350 people to suit up and fight to the death in the vacant lots of Glasgow. Pure fantasy. Obviously we shouldn't be looking to repeat the mistakes of the past and there was a lot more violence back then but as important as it is to not minimise it I also don't think it is wise to exaggerate to the point of near glorification as many seem to do. The ned problem in Glasgow was 99% disillusioned wee boys chasing each other around and engaging in petty crime like underage drinking and spray painting signs. It was a symptom of the hopelessness and deprivation of the Glasgow area of the time, I have a mixed nationality background so spent the final years of secondary school in the US in a not great part of Connecticut where the wrong ones were genuinely terrifying and dangerous people, the Glasgow young teams would have nothing on those boys, but it was for the most part fine and I was almost entirely unaffected, just like it was here. People I know back in the US do the same thing you are kind of doing here, making it sound like we grew up in a war zone. It really wasn't the case. I really don't understand this compulsion to big up a hard image. I don't think it is healthy personally and I think it can have a damaging impact. You just needed to know who to avoid and not go looking for trouble. Same thing is basically true today.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/16ynhuv/the_stigma_towards_young_team_culture/k39xvti/
Created	Tue 3rd Oct 2023 1:42pm
Status	normal ()

You make it sound like The Warriors. It really wasn't typically like that and certainly not every weekend night. I am old enough to have actually lived through that time and the old timers in your life are pulling your leg mate. Yes there were problems and there was a lot gang violence but your making it sound like every Saturday night in the 90s- early 2000s was like the Battle of Helms Deep when it really wasn't. There were many of the same substance abuse and deprivation issues Glasgow still has but it was not usual for 350 people to suit up and fight to the death in the vacant lots of Glasgow. Pure fantasy.

Obviously we shouldn't be looking to repeat the mistakes of the past and there was a lot more violence back then but as important as it is to not minimise it I also don't think it is wise to exaggerate to the point of near glorification as many seem to do. The ned problem in Glasgow was 99% disillusioned wee boys chasing each other around and engaging in petty crime like underage drinking and spray painting signs. It was a symptom of the hopelessness and deprivation of the Glasgow area of the time,

I have a mixed nationality background so spent the final years of secondary school in the US in a not great part of Connecticut where the wrong ones were genuinely terrifying and dangerous people, the Glasgow young teams would have nothing on those boys, but it was for the most part fine and I was almost entirely unaffected, just like it was here. People I know back in the US do the same thing you are kind of doing here, making it sound like we grew up in a war zone. It really wasn't the case. I really don't understand this compulsion to big up a hard image. I don't think it is healthy personally and I think it can have a damaging impact. You just needed to know who to avoid and not go looking for trouble. Same thing is basically true today.