Quote:
Originally Posted by casstony
Your flippant comment indicates you are not aware of the extent of the problem. There are groups of thugs, ranging from teenagers to middle age, roaming the streets looking for victims - they get the victim on the ground, put the boot in and crack ribs and skulls. I am aware of this through professional sources and via street-fighting friends (my friends tend to find themselves in places where they run into the thugs - the thugs initiate the violence not realising who they've picked on). Cases are also frequently reported in the media. Obviously the these bullies are looking for trouble anyway but the nightclub environment contributes to the violent behaviour.
How's a weedy amatuer astronomer like myself supposed to feel safe at night in this environment?
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It's pretty bad when you are sitting on the foreshore on a camp chair on nice still and balmy summer's night watching the water and your rod , and maybe listening to the car radio , at 3am or there abouts, while fishing for jewie, when you suddening find yourself confronted by (and surrounded by a group of agressive boozes up (and probably drugged up) louds who have decided you look like a good target for some "fun" and they start abusing you verbally for no reason, interferring with your gear, getting too close for comfort to your unlocked car, and start the shoving and start to physically assault you even though you've had nothing to do with them , or interferred with them in any way , and were minding your own business.
I was punched in the head by one of the brave lads one night a few years ago hard enough to knock my mining lamp off my head , and the only thing the saved me was that I pulled my knife and showed I was ready to use it and a couple of other fishos who were fishing nearby came to my aid , these heroes backed out pretty quickly when there were 3 of us ..
We called the cops and they took their sweet time coming and never found my assailants.
These guys were all in their late teens or early 20s, and they were not a gang of angry islanders , ethnics or aboriginals .
And they were out looking to create trouble and find victims , and obviously a middle aged man by himself (a short fat one is even better) in a poorly lit location who is by himself was too good an potential target to pass up .... I have no delusions about what my fate would have been had I not been prepared to (do anything needed including use a weapon and potentially deadly force) to defend myself or if those other fishos who saw and heard everything hadn't come to my aid.... I don't think I'd have been sitting here now typing this now .... I think they'd've punched and kicked me to pulp (and would have probably picked up a handy boulder and dropped it on my head to finish me off) and they'd've robbed me too (thiugh they've found the contents of my wollet and car , very slim , as I don't carry more than $10 on me when I go fishing .... just enough to buy a big of coke and some nibblylies maybe).
Since then , I have always kept weapons handy when I go fishing on Nobbys Wall , or the Newcastle side of the foreshore , at night for jewfish , and if the other fishos nearby get to under 2 or 3 (within shouting distance / sight) of me go , I will too unless I'm getting runs , or there are not many "hoons" and boozers about.
I will not fish the Newcastle side of the foreshore on Friday, Saturday and Wednesday nights , as these are the most dangerous nights in Newcastle.
I am not objecting to people going out at night and drinking (even getting drunk) and having what they think is a good night with their mates or partners , the vast majority can do this and unless they drive , they have no effect on , or harm anyone (except themselve's).
However these all night and late night venues are concentrated , and act as magnets for thugs , troublemakers , and the idiot brigade , and show no sight of limiting sales or any interest in changing the situation , and aren't happy unless the patrons are packed in like sardines and the drugs, booze and liquor are flowing like water.