Yesterday I had an appointment after work, and had to ride the bus. (I expect to be riding the bus daily in my quest to get to and from work so that I can maintain both a job and a home of sorts.) There was a group of teenagers who were waiting for the bus, acting reasonably normal, laid-back, even moderately friendly - or at least respectful of others. As soon as they got on the bus, however, they clustered together in the back, where they proceeded to indulge in EXTREMELY LOUD and largely offensive conversation. This went on for 10-15 minutes, until one of them started using what, if one has any sensitivity at all toward "foul language" could only be called "foulest of foul," at which point the bus driver intervened, only to be cussed out ... however, the kids did quiet down, for 5 minutes or so. Then they started up again, more or less in the same manner as before. I REALLLLY wanted to suggest that they go home and yell, perhaps at their parents, or maybe at the nearest police officer. However, the person sitting across from me kicked me in the shins to restrain me (I'm not kidding), where upon I realized that yes, people who manifest a complete lack of respect for others in their manner of speech could be dangerous, particularly as a gaggle, herd, clump, or (probably the most appropriate word) gang.
In riding the bus, I have noticed that it is primarily - honestly, universally, in my experience so far - groups of young urban blacks who indulge in this kind of anti-social behavior. I have to wonder, do they do this because their parents failed to rear them properly, or because they have succumbed to peer pressure rendering them a**holes, or are they somehow trying to make a point, perhaps to persuade those of other races who THOUGHT they had managed to shed the last vestiges of their "residual racism" to resume the mantle of hate? I don't dislike them as people, and my feelings have absolutely nothing to do with their color, ancestry, or what might legitimately be called (in any potentially positive sense) culture. Specifically, I do not wish to have loud, deep and/or shrill, boisterous, obnoxious voices shouting curses continuously for long periods of time in my immediate vicinity, without having the reasonable alternate of exiting the situation (unless I want to wait an hour and take the later bus).
One thing that I have to say for JW parents of all races, and maybe it is the dreaded rod that does it, but I can't recall ever having experienced JW youth behaving anywhere near as obnoxiously. Or maybe I just grew up with a saintly bunch?
Cruithne