Wildings in Pittsburgh: New Trend or Isolated Incident? (Liberty, Penn: neighborhoods, high school)

[Caladium]

I'm saddened to hear there was a wilding in East Liberty after a church picnic. What do you guys make of this--is it a trend that's happening all over that has now arrived in Pittsburgh, or just an isolated incident?

[gg]

Teenagers Leave Church Picnic To Riot In East Liberty - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Keep in mind, East Liberty is still East Liberty. Even though there are stores coming in and such the area has tons of bad eggs. It will take years for it to clean up. Seems it was a Baptist church that had fights and of course the kids got in that gang mentality. It is a shame, but city life isn't for everyone and one needs to get used to stuff like that in the city since there are so many poor and drug ridden areas. I don't think you will see this very often. Kids like that may mess with the wrong adult and many will end up laying on the street in pools of blood. Lots of gun carriers around and if I was in the city, I would be one of them.

It is always sad when you think an area is coming along and then that happens and you realize it hasn't gone very far.

[airwave09]

^^ Gotta love the melodramatic posts... always entertaining!

[Aqua Teen Carl]

This is a national trend. Between riots, "flashmobs", and various unflattering slang terms for mob mentality, it seems that young black folks around the nation are losing their damn mind with little repercussion.

[Picksburg Stillers]

Luckily, this mob only seemed interested in creating a mess and not attacking, and sometimes killing, random bystanders like they do in Philly. Maybe the city needs to have police on hand in certain neighborhoods any time there is a gathering like this where a lot of teenagers will be present.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by Picksburg Stillers

Luckily, this mob only seemed interested in creating a mess and not attacking, and sometimes killing, random bystanders like they do in Philly. Maybe the city needs to have police on hand in certain neighborhoods any time there is a gathering like this where a lot of teenagers will be present.

We have had an incident where a "mob" of people beat a random person for no reason:

Bicyclists Targeted In East End Attacks - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

8 on 1 attack near the same area that this recent incident happened.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

This is a national trend. Between riots, "flashmobs", and various unflattering slang terms for mob mentality, it seems that young black folks around the nation are losing their damn mind with little repercussion.

I will say one thing about national trends vs. Pittsburgh. People in these parts don't like that stuff and are ready for it. Have a look how we handled the G20. Most every resident I know were very pleased at the police state we were under and had no problem with it. If things like this continue in our area watch for much more police presence and a much different style of policing. Most around here would welcome a strong arm in such a situation and if it ends up really ugly, most will look the other way and a police officer will get a medal for taking care of business. There is no room for such behavior in our region.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I will say one thing about national trends vs. Pittsburgh. People in these parts don't like that stuff and are ready for it. Have a look how we handled the G20. Most every resident I know were very pleased at the police state we were under and had no problem with it. If things like this continue in our area watch for much more police presence and a much different style of policing. Most around here would welcome a strong arm in such a situation and if it ends up really ugly, most will look the other way and a police officer will get a medal for taking care of business. There is no room for such behavior in our region.

If Pittsburgh (or any American city) ends up like we were during the G20 on a permanent basis I think it's safe to say that I will be moving to another country.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Picksburg Stillers

Maybe the city needs to have police on hand in certain neighborhoods any time there is a gathering like this where a lot of teenagers will be present.

There were over 3,000 people at that event. People were parking (illegally, it appeared) in the right-hand lane of eastbound Penn Avenue from the Reizenstein School on up to the Fifth Avenue intersection, causing traffic tie-ups. There wasn't a single cop to be found directing traffic and/or keeping an eye on things, and I don't know why.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

We have had an incident where a "mob" of people beat a random person for no reason:

Bicyclists Targeted In East End Attacks - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

8 on 1 attack near the same area that this recent incident happened.

Sometimes things that happen are not reported. I was riding in a group of cyclists a few years ago and while we were riding past Peabody High School which thankfully is closed, a cyclists was punched. I was quite a ways behind him and noticed what looked to be an aggressive act, but wasn't sure what happened. I road toward the gang of four or five and was ready with an elbow, which could be lethal if landed while riding by with speed, (thank you Muay Thai). They noticed that they were going for a real conflict if they wanted to mess with me and they probably wondered why, so they didn't test it. I was lucky that day and rode past them with just looks between us and me looking straight into their eyes. Sometimes an offense is a better defense and I am glad I didn't know the other cyclist was punched. If they didn't back down, who knows what would have happened, but I am glad it worked out.