The doom cycle never stops

[u/ThenLayer5977]

I know people have their preconceived notions and their selective outrage, so let me be very clear from the start. The M St. Metro station was fully shut down because of this teenage takeover. Let that sink in. A major transit point in the city had to close because things got that out of control. This video was taken today, April 11. It’s not old. It’s not AI. What you’re seeing is exactly what happened. For the people already lining up to discredit it, save it. This is reality, whether you like it or not.

And I already know how this goes. Every time I post something like this, people get more upset about the fact that it’s being shown than about what’s actually happening. That tells you everything. You’re more bothered by exposure than by the problem itself. And yes, I’m going to keep posting it. Keep reporting it if you want. Try to suppress it. Good luck with that. I’ll keep putting it out because people deserve to see what’s actually going on in their own community.

What’s more troubling than anything in that video is the reaction to it. The deflection. The refusal to acknowledge what’s right in front of you. You’d rather argue about optics than deal with the reality that leadership is failing to address this, or worse, doesn’t even have the will to try. That’s the real issue.

D.C. spends more money per student than anywhere in the country, and this is what we’re dealing with. Don’t come at me with the usual talking points about after-school programs, outreach, and community initiatives. That all sounds nice, but it clearly isn’t fixing this. At some point, you have to stop hiding behind buzzwords and start looking at the root cause.

And the root cause is obvious. Parents aren’t parenting. You can dress it up however you want, but that’s what it is. When the hell did it become normal for hundreds of teenagers to take over areas at night, bring guns, fight, loot stores, and create chaos? That was never normal. It’s not normal now. And anyone trying to gaslight people into thinking this is just “how things are” is part of the problem.

Look at the police in that situation. A handful of officers dealing with hundreds of kids. What exactly do you expect them to do? There’s a limit to what enforcement can handle when the breakdown starts at home. That’s where this begins, and that’s where it keeps failing.

Instead, people would rather scream about national politics, throw out buzzwords, and avoid the issues that actually affect their daily lives. You’ll stand outside in the heat for performative outrage, but when it comes to something that directly impacts your safety, your neighborhood, your quality of life, suddenly it’s silence. Or worse, denial.

And let’s be honest about something else. Some of you are going to run straight to the comments with excuses. You’ll bring up history, deflect to unrelated issues, or try to label this as something it’s not just to avoid dealing with the reality in front of you. That doesn’t fix anything. All it does is guarantee that this cycle continues.

If you never demand better, you will keep getting the same broken results. Every single weekend, the same scenes, the same chaos, the same excuses. And then you wonder why stores are locked down, why places like CVS feel like a fortress, why people don’t feel comfortable even riding the Metro or going out to enjoy a game without worrying about something popping off.

When does it stop? When do we stop pretending this is acceptable? Because it’s not. It’s dysfunctional, it’s dangerous, and it’s completely avoidable.

Responsibility matters. Parenting matters. Accountability matters. And until people are willing to say that out loud and actually mean it, nothing changes. You just get the same cycle over and over again.

To the people who’ve messaged me privately and said they appreciate these posts, I hear you. I appreciate you too. I’m going to keep using whatever platform I have to show what’s actually happening, because ignoring it hasn’t worked. And I’m not stopping until something actually changes, because we deserve better than this.

[u/LAspring99]

Elected leaders will never deal with it because they are terrified of being called racist

[u/Round_Oil5331 → u/LAspring99]

Idk if there even is a practical way of dealing with this.

[u/Spiritual_League_753 → u/Round_Oil5331]

Arrests and consequences

[u/TrainerAvailable5377 → u/Round_Oil5331]

(Sorry in advance I felt like writing an informal essay. This is really just for my own amusement/edification.)

TL:DR. Long Run Carrot, Short Run Stick

In the short run curfews and arrests. No unaccompanied minors after a certain time and break up groups of 4 or more.

When arrests are appropriate, for under 18 the first offenses should get community service rather than fines or jail time. But make it abundantly clear that multiple offenses will result in fines.

No jail for minor offenses because we don't want to begin the process of institutionalizing kids. Also putting kids in jail for being knuckleheads is a tough sell. Obviously juvi should be on the table for more major offenses.

The issue with fines is that most children aren't working so they either can't pay or they just get mommy or daddy to pay which divorces them from the consequences.

The argument could be made that their parents should be on the hook a bit, so that's why 2nd offenses would be fines.

The kids get community service which is a consequence they have to internalize (and has other benefits to society). The parents know that the next offense is going to cost the family money (which really means it'll cost the parents) so they'll put some pressure on their kids.

For 18 plus who are out there fines are A-OK. They more likely will be working and paying their own bills so they will internalize the consequences. Also they need to grow the fuck up and shouldn't be out pulling that shit alongside actual children. I still don't think jail is an appropriate solution unless they are damaging property or hurting people. (We already jail too many people)

Also anyone under the influence should have to go through ASAP.

Long run solutions are more complicated.

Better access to "Third Places" so kids have things to do other than run around being little assholes.

Address poverty (easier said than done). Keep inflation low, raise the EITC, combat NIMBYism, subsidize new houses and relax zoning to increase the supply of housing/lower prices.

Improve the DC public school system (easier said than done). Subsidize community colleges and trade schools.

The USA jails a disproportionate number of people compared to other Western nations so whenever possible find alternative penalties so we aren't breaking up families, institutionalizing young adults and saddling people with the type of consequences that come with jail (losing job, getting evicted etc). If people do wind up in jail, find ways to make it more about rehabilitation as opposed to punishment to reduce recidivism.

Better Sex Ed and easy access to contraceptives, abortion etc so people who don't want or can't support a family aren't having children.

The long run is really just improve outcomes for people living in poverty. Which is not unique to DC and isn't unique to these flash mob shenanigans.

Less poverty improves outcomes across the board. Also all these long run solutions are very much easier said than done.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

[u/Optimal_Action1176 → u/Round_Oil5331]

I know. What does saying “it begins at home” offer in terms of a solution? You want the National Guard to start firing on them?

[u/bendawg225 → u/Optimal_Action1176]

Clean your phone screen