how can a shit-dump be considered cool?

[ViolentPanda]

Teejay: good post, I agree and can't really add to it. Brixton is a place of contrasts, love it or hate it, sometimes I feel both in one day.

I am having horrible Nathan Barley-esque images flashing through my head of the original poster. You have made yourself look like a total wanker. And a liar. And a racist. Free your mind...

Why on earth would you want to walk about in the dark on your own for recreational purposes? Is that fun? I think it's creepy.

To be fair, I think your comparison is a bit brutal to Nathan Barley. This "nuttys" spoon has Barley beaten into a cocked hat for arseholeitude.

 

[waverunner]

This may be due to the fact that I'm a mean-looking bastard with a face that only a mother could love

Are you the guy that was sitting behind me on the bus the other day tugging at my hair? That's what he looked like and I was too scared to ask him what the fuck he was doing so just went downstairs to sit.

Edit: sorry total derail I know but had to ask

 

[AverageJoe]

"It's like how much blacker could [these muggers] get? and the answer is none, none more black"

*turns 'vibrant and edgy-ometer' up to eleven*

 

[ViolentPanda]

Are you the guy that was sitting behind me on the bus the other day tugging at my hair? That's what he looked like and I was too scared to ask him what the fuck he was doing so just went downstairs to sit.

Edit: sorry total derail I know but had to ask

Nah, wasn't me.

I look that way, but don't tend to act it until necessary.

Anyway, pulling people's hair, that's well girly!

 

[tbaldwin]

I think Brixton like most places is a lot better of youve got money. A lot of white incomers love the place and think its a cool place to live. Most of them wont have much first hand experience of theproblems of the area but when some of them do come face to face with problems they can always sell up and move to the suburbs or back to the home counties. Not everyone who lives in Brixton is that lucky.

 

[Blagsta]

no shit, sherlock

 

[PacificOcean]

I liked living in Brixton. My only suggestion would be "shooting galleries" where users can safely inject. Then you could clean up around the BR station, which frankly is disgusting.

 

[loud 1]

Do you walk about with your iPod swinging around in plain sight, talking on your mobile, with your overstuffed wallet sticking out your back pocket?

yeh but hang on a minute!!!!

why shouldnt anyone have the right to do that!!!!!

from what ive read on this thread bixton is edgy but not that bad....

 

[Dubversion]

I think Brixton like most places is a lot better of youve got money. A lot of white incomers love the place and think its a cool place to live. Most of them wont have much first hand experience of theproblems of the area but when some of them do come face to face with problems they can always sell up and move to the suburbs or back to the home counties. Not everyone who lives in Brixton is that lucky.

my god, Baldwin, you're a fucking genius

 

[pk]

So who is this "nuttys" character then?

Look like another incarnation of the spluttering alcoholic public school wanker Annakey to me, but I could be wrong.

 

[tbaldwin]

my god, Baldwin, you're a fucking genius

Thats what most people seem to think. I'm not so sure i think im just very intelligent and honest...
But that does seem to mark me out as SPECIAL for a lot of people.

 

[Dubversion]

I'm not so sure i think im just very intelligent and honest...

nope, maybe special but not in a good way

 

[jæd]

I think Brixton like most places is a lot better of youve got money. A lot of white incomers love the place and think its a cool place to live. Most of them wont have much first hand experience of theproblems of the area but when some of them do come face to face with problems they can always sell up and move to the suburbs or back to the home counties. Not everyone who lives in Brixton is that lucky.

I would've thought the opposite... Once I could afford to live outside Brixton the appeal left... Its nice to live somewhere you aren't constantly hassled by crack squirrels everytime you want to use the Tube...

 

[waverunner]

yeh but hang on a minute!!!!

why shouldnt anyone have the right to do that!!!!!

from what ive read on this thread bixton is edgy but not that bad....

No Brixton is not bad but I wouldn't walk about anywhere in London with my valuables in plain sight. You can't get away from the fact that there are junkies desperate for their next fix etc all over the place who would not hesitate to grab said valuables if on display. Just trying to find a reason why the OP is 'assualted' so often. Yes it would be lovely not to have to worry about whether people are pondering grabbing your mobile as you chat on it but... anyway. That's why I'm going home as soon as I can get enough money. I waste too much energy being alert and street wise and all that crap. I just want to relax maaan

 

[tbaldwin]

I would've thought the opposite... Once I could afford to live outside Brixton the appeal left... Its nice to live somewhere you aren't constantly hassled by crack squirrels everytime you want to use the Tube...

Loads of people who could afford to live in the suburbs would rather live in Brixton. They like the mix of people and the atmosphere etc...
There has been a lot of Black flight from Brixton in the last 10-20 years and the people who have moved in (starting with the squatters) are largely White Incomers.

 

[Streathamite]

Thats what most people seem to think. I'm not so sure i think im just very intelligent and honest...
But that does seem to mark me out as SPECIAL for a lot of people.

as in "...NEEDS", quite possibly

 

[TeeJay]

I think Brixton like most places is a lot better of youve got money. A lot of white incomers love the place and think its a cool place to live. Most of them wont have much first hand experience of theproblems of the area but when some of them do come face to face with problems they can always sell up and move to the suburbs or back to the home counties. Not everyone who lives in Brixton is that lucky.

The "white" bit of "white incomers" is gratuitous - the relevant bit is either 'rich' or 'middle class' and both of these come in all shades of skin colour and ethnic origin.

 

[tbaldwin]

The "white" bit of "white incomers" is gratuitous - the relevant bit is either 'rich' or 'middle class' and both of these come in all shades of skin colour and ethnic origin.

I dont really know what your trying to say there?
I think that my points that White Incomers have moved in and there has been Black flight out of Brixton are important in any understanding of Brixton as a cool place.
The squatters were in the vanguard of the gentrification and the process is continuing to this day.

 

[Dan U]

History repeats in reverse

the middle class reclaim brixton!

shite innit

 

[Winot]

History repeats in reverse

the middle class reclaim brixton!

shite innit

Yes the trouble with the uppity middle classes these days is they don't know their place. Perhaps we can petition Lambeth to put up some signs so it's clear where we're all supposed to live.

 

[netbob]

Yes the trouble with the uppity middle classes these days is they don't know their place. Perhaps we can petition Lambeth to put up some signs so it's clear where we're all supposed to live.

 

[Winot]

Tip top. And there could be a meeting point half way for those of us that like to mix with hoi polloi -- Opus perhaps? I'll stand you a PG Tips memespring...

 

[hiccup]

Ealing is the new Brixton anyway.

 

[netbob]

Tip top. And there could be a meeting point half way for those of us that like to mix with hoi polloi -- Opus perhaps? I'll stand you a PG Tips memespring...

Surely Acres


actually now you mention it why can't you buy a decent sit down cup of tea anywhere in London?

 

[TeeJay]

I dont really know what your trying to say there?
I think that my points that White Incomers have moved in and there has been Black flight out of Brixton are important in any understanding of Brixton as a cool place.
The squatters were in the vanguard of the gentrification and the process is continuing to this day.

You keep using capitals to describe "White Incomers". You really think that someone's skin colour defines how gentifying they are? What exactly is your point about race and being 'cool'?

The "black" people I know (born in Brixton, second generation Jamaicans) who have moved out of Brixton gave the following reason: "I don't want my kids growing up round here - there's too much trouble". They afforded the move when them and their partner both exercised right-to-buy and/or sublet their social housing. Not exactly "middle class" as he is a builder, but at the same time what defines him isn't his skin colour - he personally has aspirations just like a lot of people his age (ie late 30s, young kids) to live somewhere "nicer" and really doesn't give a shit about 'cool' nightlife or having a tube line to central London.

I am not saying that this represents all "black" people or all long term Brixton residents who end up moving away - in fact everyone has their own reasons, and I really dislike the way you want to racialise everything without even trying to offer any more analysis of culture, communities or anything else other than "Black" and "White".

I do remember reading this tho':

More foreigners than ever are coming to London, and more Britons are leaving
and
Black Britons flee the inner cities
These two articles alone show that things are far more complex than you'd like to paint them.

I know you don't actually "do" evidence, but maybe you'd like to explain what exactly you are burbling on about?

 

[tbaldwin]

You keep using capitals to describe "White Incomers". You really think that someone's skin colour defines how gentifying they are? What exactly is your point about race and being 'cool'?

The "black" people I know (born in Brixton, second generation Jamaicans) who have moved out of Brixton gave the following reason: "I don't want my kids growing up round here - there's too much trouble". They afforded the move when them and their partner both exercised right-to-buy and/or sublet their social housing. Not exactly "middle class" as he is a builder, but at the same time what defines him isn't his skin colour - he personally has aspirations just like a lot of people his age (ie late 30s, young kids) to live somewhere "nicer" and really doesn't give a shit about 'cool' nightlife or having a tube line to central London.

I am not saying that this represents all "black" people or all long term Brixton residents who end up moving away - in fact everyone has their own reasons, and I really dislike the way you want to racialise everything without even trying to offer any more analysis of culture, communities or anything else other than "Black" and "White".

I do remember reading this tho':

More foreigners than ever are coming to London, and more Britons are leaving
and
Black Britons flee the inner cities
These two articles alone show that things are far more complex than you'd like to paint them.

I know you don't actually "do" evidence, but maybe you'd like to explain what exactly you are burbling on about?

I do seem have hit a bit of a raw nerve with you Teejay. Racialising the discussion? Just like i was accused of Racialising a thread on Equal Opportunties. What exactly is it that people are scared of....Telling the truth or an opinion that does not fit into a narow world view?
The fact is that Brixton has loads of affluent White Incomers who have moved in,in the last 10 to 20 years.
In my view it has not been a totally good or bad thing. But it is not something that should be overlooked.
You say it is far more complex than id like to paint them,What on earth are you talking about????????
It is not me who wants to push uncomfortable truths under the carpet.

 

[isvicthere?]

are you donal macintyre?

No! It took McIntyre three whole days of loafing around Brixton waving a laptop and an expensive phone before the desired "mugging" took place.

 

[Streathamite]

I dont really know what your trying to say there?
I think that my points that White Incomers have moved in and there has been Black flight out of Brixton are important in any understanding of Brixton as a cool place.
The squatters were in the vanguard of the gentrification and the process is continuing to this day.

it's obvious what TeeJay is saying - the issue is Class, not Race. If you're a sopcialist, surely the first thing you zero in on is class-based analysis?

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Funny thing was that you previously posted about being mugged in, err, Islington High Street.
Have you ever been mugged in Brixton? Or assaulted/robbed/bothered in any way?

I have! I was nearly beaten to death on coldharbour lane about 8 years ago.

 

[tbaldwin]

it's obvious what TeeJay is saying - the issue is Class, not Race. If you're a sopcialist, surely the first thing you zero in on is class-based analysis?

The truth is that Black working class people have moved out and White Middle class people have moved in. And that is why Brixton is now "Cool"
Its based on both Race and Class.
To pretend that Race is not a factor is just dishonest.

The gentrification of Brixton over the last 15 to 20 years was started off by squatters and has led to a situation where young people from the home counties are snapping up houses for £400,000 + with a little help from their parents...
These prices are forcing more and more people out of the area.