Recently the “happy slapping” phenomenon has been covered widely in the media, following the death of 18 year old Triston Christmas in Illford.
A school in my own city, Londonderry, was also forced to suspend five pupils and ban mobile phones after three so-called "happy slapping" incidents.
In this city I have also witnessed another growing trend. In a new act of prejudice, groups of young men have been attacking anyone sporting clothes with insignia of metal bands on them. To put it bluntly, if you're a metal head or are wearing clothes, which identify you as a fan of metal bands, then more then likely, you could find yourself being jumped.
What price are we being forced to pay for our individuality? We should be able to walk around dressed in goth, skater clothes or any other type of clothing without persecution. It is our right to freedom of speech and expression that is at risk here.
Until recently this sort of thing has never been a problem. Personally I think it's extremely pathetic and sad how anyone could go around in groups, trying to make themselves feel like big men and attacking people for no good reason.
Whether or not this is just a random occurrence is still to be seen, but in my experience, things are more likely to get worse before they get better.
Why do people choose to act in this way? Is it some sad sadistic way for them to get their kicks and does it only increase the problem when the media reports these events extensively?
The media does have a responsibility to report these issues, but I think it is important that these attacks are not sensationalised, as this may only encourage more young people to gain publicity by taking part.
About the team
This story was written by Gavin Leung and edited by Rebecca Burns. It was published by Reach for the Sky website.
