Teens cut a family in line, then sucker punch a 12-year-old

[left-of-center2012]

Nightmare’ at Six Flags: (Gurnee, IL)
Teens cut a family in line then sucker punch a 12-year-old

According to witness accounts, the incident began when a large group of people cut in front of the family waiting in line for a ride.

“Words were exchanged between the two groups, and member of the family asked the teenagers not to curse,” Smith said.

The 12-year-old was then “sucker punched,” police say.

“The father then stepped in to defend his son, and then the whole family was attacked by this big group of teenagers,” Smith said.

Police arrested Gregory Battle, 18, of neighboring town Waukegen, Ill., on charges of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, mob action, and aggravated battery in a public place, according to court documents.

The eight other minors involved ranged from 15-17 ...

(More at link)

[KT2000]

1. I recall a story

about elephants in Africa. The villages were having serious problems with adolescent male elephants trampling homes in the villages. There had been an effort to reduce the elephant population by killing adult males so the "teen" elephants formed a group that was rampaging through the villages.
A wise person realized the boys needed guidance so they introduced adult males to their group. The teens stopped destroying the villages immediately.
People are no different, adult guidance is needed - especially at the adolescent age.

[tazkcmo]

2. Apples to oranges.

elephants are much smarter than this gene pool. I'm sure at some time in their lives their parents told them it's not polite to beat up a little kid and his dad while out and about with your chums and while I agree that children at this age need parental guidance, I don't assume they haven't received it. They all may have received the best parenting in the world. Parents can't and shouldn't have to escort their almost adult children every where and these kids were old enough to know better even with crappy parenting.

[KT2000]

3. peer pressure and

group dynamics can certainly weaken ethics. The need to fit in and follow the leader is strong at that age. The adult does not need to be on the scene all the time but the work of instilling morality and ethics starts at the beginning with a child. The knowledge that there is a parent or other strong figure, can cause kids to think twice about what they are doing. Of course this is not a guarantee, but it is how we preserve social order - as do the elephants.