I've been wondering about choppers, knives and bulky sharp objects in general. How do you carry these items around with you when you go hang out with your friends at the neighbourhood fast food restaurant, for example? Didn't you wonder that when you read this?
Oct 31, 2010
Teen slashed to death
HALLOWEEN horror became real on Saturday night at Downtown East.
A 19-year-old youth repeatedly hacked by a group of youths in full view of a crowd died in hospital hours later. The violent attack and subsequent attempt by the youth and his friends to flee left a 500m long trail of blood at the Pasir Ris resort and amusement park.
The story goes on to say that "it is believed Darren's attacker produced a chopper and slashed him several times", while another story said "at least two of the young men were wielding kitchen knives".
Assuming these youths are not the bag-carrying types, how do they keep a chopper or knife hidden from view? Hide it in their jacket? (Who wears jackets outside in such weather?) Hide it under their t-shirt? Stick it down their waistbands? Where else is possible? How does one not look suspicious with a chopper under their shirt or in their pants?
Some people who've responded to these articles say they've seen such weapon-wielding characters around, especially in their youth. It seems in my youth, I have either failed to identify them, or failed to hang around the right places at the right time.
Methinks there're several factors that make delinquents dangerous. Firstly, hanging out in packs results in peer pressure and a false sense of bravado. Secondly, being youths, most are not quite able to comprehend or accept the concept of responsibility, and act before they think. Thirdly, that sense of youthful ignorance means they are capable of any degree of violence. Whether or not they regret it after the deed is irrelevant. Fourthly, if they think you and them are peers, that's one less reason for them not to bully you. That's when not looking your age becomes a very bad thing.
Of course, some of these people may simply be sociopaths. I only say this because I've been watching too much of Criminal Minds. In one of the episodes, it was found out that two serial killers were using the names "Sunny" and "Holden" to communicate. To explain the significance, the investigators pointed out that the names are from characters in Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, and that many sociopaths tend to relate to the characters' sense of detachment from the world. Then, I remembered that someone once said Holden (or something Holden said) reminded him of me. Well. We don't really want to draw any conclusions from that, do we?
