Walking through an alleyway as a shortcut the other day, trudging up a
flight of steps, a bit out of breath when I rounded a corner and there they
were a bunch of lounging teenage kids. Maybe about 12 of them. Oh here we
go, I thought, no-one else around, they've got nothing better to do, wonder
what they'll come up with? All eyes turn to me as I walk past them.

"Awight m8?", pipes up the smallest, silliest looking one of the bunch
trying to show how tough and brave he is in as an attempt to glean some
respect from his peers later on when they laugh about it and bestow upon him
the acceptable street-cred title of "nutta".

I, naturally, ignored him as he clearly wasn't asking me out of polite
interest as to my wellbeing and so, continued walking on.  Othertimes, if I
wasn't so out of breath, I'd have probably humoured him by putting on my
most common accent saying "yeah, alright mate," and left it at that.

Because I ignored them and with my back to them, predictably, they all
started copying the first little monkey by taking it in turns to say
"alright m8?", progressively louder and thus more aggressively as I receded
into their distance.

What, out of interest, would you have done in my situation?

wrote in message 
news:fa7hk.51188$7B3.24173@newsfe30.ams2...
> Walking through an alleyway as a shortcut the other day, trudging up a
> flight of steps, a bit out of breath when I rounded a corner and there 
> they
> were a bunch of lounging teenage kids. Maybe about 12 of them. Oh here 
> we
> go, I thought, no-one else around, they've got nothing better to do, 
> wonder
> what they'll come up with? All eyes turn to me as I walk past them.
>
> "Awight m8?", pipes up the smallest, silliest looking one of the bunch
> trying to show how tough and brave he is in as an attempt to glean some
> respect from his peers later on when they laugh about it and bestow upon 
> him
> the acceptable street-cred title of "nutta".
>
> I, naturally, ignored him as he clearly wasn't asking me out of polite
> interest as to my wellbeing and so, continued walking on.  Othertimes, 
> if I
> wasn't so out of breath, I'd have probably humoured him by putting on my
> most common accent saying "yeah, alright mate," and left it at that.
>
> Because I ignored them and with my back to them, predictably, they all
> started copying the first little monkey by taking it in turns to say
> "alright m8?", progressively louder and thus more aggressively as I 
> receded
> into their distance.
>
> What, out of interest, would you have done in my situation?

Tricky one that. It depends whether you were pissed or not. Assuming you 
were sober the problem is extricating yourself with dignity. Two or three 
kids is easy, just look at the biggest one, give him a psycho look (with 
practice that look can be acquired for such occasions) and whisper very 
quietly looking straight at him that if he doesn't fuck off something very 
nasty will happen to him. The skill with which you appear psycho is the 
key here.

With 12 it's an altogether different problem, I'd probably have done the 
same as you. I'm ready for it now though. I'll look closely at the biggest 
one, again slightly psycho, casually get out my mobile, and say to it, " 
It's him, be quick and you can get him" and then give the location". Then 
sneer at him and say " You are out of luck this time sonny" and stroll 
casually off. Be ready to make a run for it though if they are not 
bluffed. Some yobs are too thick to be bluffed.

The Hatter will probably have a better solution. But then he has an 
advantage over most people, he scares people shitless just looking at him! 
:-)

wrote in message news:fa7hk.51188$7B3.24173@newsfe30.ams2...
> Walking through an alleyway as a shortcut the other day, trudging up a
> flight of steps, a bit out of breath when I rounded a corner and there 
> they
> were a bunch of lounging teenage kids. Maybe about 12 of them. Oh here we
> go, I thought, no-one else around, they've got nothing better to do, 
> wonder
> what they'll come up with? All eyes turn to me as I walk past them.
>
> "Awight m8?", pipes up the smallest, silliest looking one of the bunch
> trying to show how tough and brave he is in as an attempt to glean some
> respect from his peers later on when they laugh about it and bestow upon 
> him
> the acceptable street-cred title of "nutta".
>
> I, naturally, ignored him as he clearly wasn't asking me out of polite
> interest as to my wellbeing and so, continued walking on.  Othertimes, if 
> I
> wasn't so out of breath, I'd have probably humoured him by putting on my
> most common accent saying "yeah, alright mate," and left it at that.
>
> Because I ignored them and with my back to them, predictably, they all
> started copying the first little monkey by taking it in turns to say
> "alright m8?", progressively louder and thus more aggressively as I 
> receded
> into their distance.
>
> What, out of interest, would you have done in my situation?

He was after adult acceptance.  I'd have said "Alright mate, how's it 
going?".  I might even have ventured "what you lot up to?" and lit up a fag 
to see if a conversation ensued.  On the other hand, with the mood i've been 
in lately, i'd probly have clubbed him to within an inch of his life with a 
rusty pole and shouted at the others "you lot want some too?" just to see 
their reaction.

That always gets a reaction. 


** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

wrote in message news:fa7hk.51188$7B3.24173@newsfe30.ams2...
> Walking through an alleyway as a shortcut the other day, trudging up a
> flight of steps, a bit out of breath when I rounded a corner and there 
> they
> were a bunch of lounging teenage kids. Maybe about 12 of them. Oh here we
> go, I thought, no-one else around, they've got nothing better to do, 
> wonder
> what they'll come up with? All eyes turn to me as I walk past them.
>
> "Awight m8?", pipes up the smallest, silliest looking one of the bunch
> trying to show how tough and brave he is in as an attempt to glean some
> respect from his peers later on when they laugh about it and bestow upon 
> him
> the acceptable street-cred title of "nutta".
>
> I, naturally, ignored him as he clearly wasn't asking me out of polite
> interest as to my wellbeing and so, continued walking on.  Othertimes, if 
> I
> wasn't so out of breath, I'd have probably humoured him by putting on my
> most common accent saying "yeah, alright mate," and left it at that.
>
> Because I ignored them and with my back to them, predictably, they all
> started copying the first little monkey by taking it in turns to say
> "alright m8?", progressively louder and thus more aggressively as I 
> receded
> into their distance.
>
> What, out of interest, would you have done in my situation?

Move away from Augusta Gardens ?