Guess What? The “Knockout Game” is America’s Latest Phony Panic

[zappaman]

It’s not hard to see why media outlets have latched on to this as an ongoing story. The prospect of random assault from rowdy, aggressive teens is scary, especially if they’re uninterested in theft and just want to attack. It’s as if we’re living in A Clockwork Orange, with our cities under siege by violent young men.

But it’s this media panic—as well as the strongly anecdotal nature of the coverage—that should give us pause before we declare this to be a national problem. After all, this wouldn’t be the first media furor over teen behavior. Recall the panics over “wilding”—where teenagers were attacking innocent bystanders en mass—or “headlight flashing,” where gang members were marking their victims during nighttime drives. In both cases, you could find instances that fit either description, but in a country with tens of millions of teenagers, where you could find examples of almost any behavior, you need more than a few anecdotes to prove a trend.

With the “knockout game,” we have several cases in a handful of cities, as well as five reported deaths. Victims tell similar stories: They were walking down the street when they were suddenly punched from behind. There’s no doubt that it’s a terrifying and traumatic experience for anyone who has experienced it.

But the question isn’t whether these random assaults happen. Of course they do. The question is whether this is a new dimension of urban crime, or a new name for an old phenomena. Most of the evidence points to the latter. For starters, it’s not hard to find reports of senseless attacks on innocent bystanders. In 2011, for instance, Washington D.C. saw nearly 1,700 assaults excluding guns, including a random attack by a group of teenagers in a subway station. Violent crime is a fact of life in American cities—though it’s infrequent and on the decline—and that includes muggings and attacks by strangers.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/25/guess-what-the-knockout-game-is-america-s-latest-phony-panic.html

[Brickbat]

1. SUPERPREDATORS.

CHILDREN OF CRACK BABIES.

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. Jenkem.

[Brickbat]

37. Heh.

[TroglodyteScholar]

43. My FIRST thought when I saw the OP heheh n/t

[Vashta Nerada]

2. Um, duh.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. The folks that talk about the "knockout game" are pretty much right wingers

Drudge and the other conservative media outlets are flogging this and conservatives are lapping it up like good little puppies.

Nobody can point to any statistics that this is some kind of epidemic sweeping across America. And, like the article mentioned, nobody can point to any numbers showing that this is anything new.

I was walking outside recently and wasn't scared of being knocked out by teenagers.

Conservatives are racist and fearful by nature so it's no surprise a phony epidemic like this gets them talking.

They really do lead sad lives as they cower in fear.

Pathetic.

[Buns_of_Fire]

17. It's also a handy justification for a perceived need to be armed at all times.

Not that that'll do them any good unless they've also managed to grow an extra set of eyes in the back of their head.

I wonder how some of these people build up the nerve to get out of bed in the morning. Being aware of your surroundings is a healthy attitude -- being afraid of your surroundings isn't.

[alcibiades_mystery]

25. Ding Ding Ding...Maybe Trayvon Martin was playing the knockout game, amirite????

Racist gunner shitheads love this sort of bullshit.

[Hoyt]

26. Exactly. The gun fanciers are delighted -- rationale to buy another one and play Zimmerman.

True words of wisdom:

"Being aware of your surroundings is a healthy attitude -- being afraid of your surroundings isn't."

[blackspade]

57. The irony being that the perps in these attacks are likely

wingnuts and racists.

[FrodosPet]

71. It is all CGI and lies

Nobody is knocking anyone out. Those videos are all faked with actors or computer generated animation.

And if it IS happening, it is not a new thing, so there is nothing to worry about.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Next, you'll tell me that those epidemics of shark attacks during slow news Augusts arent real.

[zappaman]

6. Being attacked by a great white shark leads to

"rape porn".

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Sure, you would say that.

fungus-frotter.

[zappaman]

9. Nice try, pal

But I know straw man porn when I see it!

[Warren DeMontague]

10. proof

see what the erotoxins have done?

[TroglodyteScholar]

44. ...

[Posteritatis]

47. Just wait until the sharks start playing the knockout game. Or the kids become cannibals. (nt)

[Nye Bevan]

49. Heh Heh Heh! Jewish people being randomly attacked and knocked out is so hilarious, isn't it!

[Warren DeMontague]

52. You do know I'm Jewish myself, right?

...just curious.

Anyway, no. Random anyone being attacked is NOT hilarious. However I am familiar enough with media hyperbole to reserve judgment as to whether or not this is really a "trend".

Understand?

[Nye Bevan]

53. Oh in that case, carry on. Pardon me for interrupting the joviality (nt)

[Warren DeMontague]

65. Oh, please.

No one is "jovial" over any attacks. I just don't think it's some massive trend.

Maybe I'm wrong, but CNN isn't exactly my trusted source on stuff like that. I'll keep my mind open.

[PeaceNikki]

7. well the sharknado thing didn't pan out

[backscatter712]

34. We'll get the DU pornado next... n/t

[PeaceNikki]

35. or the dreaded pitbullnado!

[Egalitarian Thug]

11. Who could have guessed? Every time I come here and see these idiotic side-shows

dominating the conversation, I lose a little more hope.

[randome]

51. But that's only because you were vaccinated as a child, you fool!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[hrmjustin]

12. We have had several cases in NYC.

[geek tragedy]

13. It's not a nationwide problem, but in the very localized areas where it happens

it is a serious deal.

It's one thing for someone in Omaha or Peoria to fret about this. But Jews in Crown Heights have every right to worry about this crap, especially given ancient as well as fairly recent history.

http://brooklyn.news12.com/news/amrit-marajh-arraigned-in-connection-with-alleged-knockout-assault-in-crown-heights-1.6491024

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/11/12/brooklyn-rabbi-gang-of-teens-playing-disturbing-game-of-knock-out-the-jew/

[840high]

63. Happrning in more and more states. Philly for one.

[Recursion]

69. Black/Jewish violence in Brooklyn has been going on for a century

Not that it's OK, but it's hardly new.

[geek tragedy]

73. It has not been much of a thing for the past 20 years.

Given the history, this kind of hit-and-run pogrom becoming a regular occurrence is indeed cause for major concern

[DinahMoeHum]

14. Not surprisingly, there's a racial tinge to this urban myth. . .

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/25/guess-what-the-knockout-game-is-america-s-latest-phony-panic.html


(snip)
Race is an obvious element in all of this. In almost every report, the assailants are described as young black men, and many of the victims have been white. It’s hard not to see the sensationalized coverage of “knockout”—and before that, “wilding”—as a reflection of our national fear of young black men. Indeed, in the more sinister corners of the internet, you can find people who argue that these incidents are the opening shots in a “race war” by “feral black youth.”

It should be said that this is the same logic that drives the racial profiling behind policies like “stop and frisk.” Never mind that the vast majority of young black men don’t commit crimes; the behavior of a few turns everyone into a suspect.

Which means that, if the past is any indication, today’s panic over “knockout” is almost certain to become tomorrow’s excuse for justifying our skepticism and fear of black teenagers.
(snip)

[phil89]

15. so

are there examples of whites doing this specific act to african americans?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

16. ahahahha. good luck, buddy.

whites are guilty of mass violence on a much grander scale than someone punching someone else in the head. What color are most of the mass shooters in this country?

[gollygee]

18. There are certainly tons of examples of white people committing acts of violence

against African Americans.

[Capt. Obvious]

21. Yes. There are many.

[Vashta Nerada]

22. Not the best second post on this website I've ever seen.

[Cali_Democrat]

23. Welcome to DU

[Blue_Tires]

24. Welcome back!

I do give you credit for persistence...

[Hoyt]

27. Go to any gun store or gun show. I bet there is more diversity at a Klan rally.

[Recursion]

70. No, in US history there have been no cases of groups of white people assaulting young black men

It's literally unheard of.

Idiot.

[Blue Idaho]

19. Clockwork Orange

Ultra-Violence.

[Capt. Obvious]

20. This is an old game that white kids used to play 20+ years ago

And oh look, the WSJ was pumping this panic 5 months ago

[nyquil_man]

28. It's the Attack of the Anecdotes,

coming to a non-representative sample near you.

[Riftaxe]

29. Unprovoked violent assaults

are minor and should be ignored as kids being kids...

Of course if the author is ever misfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of one, I suspect he will pen an equivalent number of paragraphs on blaming everyone else for not taking them seriously enough previously.

[nyquil_man]

30. How on earth do you prevent them?

You can punish the perpetrators and hope that sends a message to others who would consider doing it. What else?

[passiveporcupine]

31. fixing inner city poverty might help

just sayin

[nyquil_man]

32. It might.

Now how?

[passiveporcupine]

36. kick republicans out of office and vote in some progressive social and economic policies

That's where to start any way.

[nyquil_man]

38. Of course, this assumes that the 'higher' classes never perpetrate violence,

as if simply having more money in one's pocket makes one a better person.

For me, the primary difference between the violence of the lower classes and the violence of the higher classes is that the higher classes can afford to hire people, either to do it for them or to help them get away with it.

We should lift people out of poverty but, unless we address the fundamental madness which makes violence seem acceptable, have we really eliminated the problem?

[passiveporcupine]

39. we have to start somewhere

"unless we address the fundamental madness which makes violence seem acceptable"

Lifting urban youth from a pattern of unending poverty and drugs and crime, would be a good place to start. Tackling white collar crime would be another one. Inequality of wealth and opportunity is a big problem and the people at the top are often promoting a different form of violence on the blacks especially. Progressive policies can work here too.

What are your suggestions? Surely you have some.

[nyquil_man]

40. A suggestion for dealing with people randomly punching strangers in the back of the head?

Besides prosecuting and punishing those who do it? No, I sure don't.

It's not like these people are robbing banks or grocery stores to make ends meet. They're punching people for "shits and giggles." How you tie that action to economics is beyond me.

[nyquil_man]

41. I'll go further.

It's a lack of empathy, coupled with the narcissistic belief that one's own feelings are more important than any other consideration (up to and including the lives of other human beings) which leads to this sort of violence. It is the objectification of others which causes people to say, "I'm upset and depressed. So I'll shoot up a classroom" or "I need amusement. So I'll punch somebody in the back of the head."

It's selfishness. And I've never seen a mechanism which could make people less selfish.

[Capt. Obvious]

33. Outlaw rap music

It has to be the rap music.

[ck4829]

74. And video games. Don't forget video games.

Also jazz for good measure.

[Nye Bevan]

42. Al Sharpton seems to think that it's a real phenomenon.

He just made a statement condemning it.

http://nypost.com/2013/11/23/al-sharpton-condemns-knockout-attacks/

I know a lot of DUers have contempt for Al Sharpton but surely that suggests there is something to this.

On Monday, Sharpton and other leaders plan to discuss a “next move".

“Kids are randomly knocking out people [from] another race — some specifically going at Jewish people,” he said. “This kind of insane thuggery — there is nothing cute about that. There is no game play about knocking somebody out, and it is not a game. It is an assault and is bias, and it is wrong.”

Well said Al!

[Cali_Democrat]

45. Has Al cited any statistics detailing how widespread this is?

[Nye Bevan]

48. I can certainly understand your skepticism of Al Sharpton, given the Tawana Brawley case,

and various other incidents. So take his statement with a grain of salt if you like. My point was that it is not just the Drudge Reports and the Wall Street Journals who are expressing concern over this phenomenon.

[Puzzledtraveller]

46. of course it will not be enough for some here

they will persist that it's just kids being kids. Randomly knocking people out, some to the point of death. Unbelievable.

[Nye Bevan]

50. 1. It's pure fiction. 2. It's an urban myth. 3. It's purely anecdotal.

Last edited Mon Nov 25, 2013, 10:40 PM - Edit history (1)

4. It's an invention of the Drudge Report and other conservative media.
5. It's just an excuse for white people to buy guns.
6. OK so maybe it's real, but white kids did it first.
7. Yes, maybe it's real, but it's caused by poverty. Being poor makes people go out and randomly knock people out.
8. And it's also caused by not imprisoning enough banksters.
9. Al Sharpton condemned it? Well... er.... HE'S part of this vast right-wing conspiracy too!
10. Heh Heh! Sharknado and stuff! This whole thing is HILARIOUS!

I LOVE this place!

[Puzzledtraveller]

56. You got it

Red Alert! raise shields, divert all power to forward shields, must not, let, particle, of, reality, breach hull....

[840high]

64. People close their eyes till

it happens to them or some one they know.

[cherokeeprogressive]

55. Someone needs to tap Al's shoulder and hand him a clue. There's no HERE here. Move along people...

I'm not afraid, but then again I'm not really the kind of person who gets picked out as the target of random violence by cowardly punks. I'm 6' tall, and not your average "fat guy" at 238 lbs. I can understand there might be people in certain locations who might be though, and I'm fucking astounded at those here who seem to have made it their purpose in life to either call them cowards or racists or gun humpers looking for a reason to pack.

As I said in a post in another thread... and I paraphrase... it's only a joke until it happens to YOU. Then it's catastrophic, life-changing, or possibly even life-ENDING, as it has been for a few people. What is "IT"? So far "it" can only be described as "random violence". How wild is it though that there are posts using images of slavery to justify poo-pooing "it"?

It's not a "trend", and it's not an "epidemic". A particular Democrat from California seems to keep using the word "epidemic" even though no one else is. What is the purpose for that? Maybe someone can point it out for me... but the SAME person has said anyone talking about it is pretty much a "right winger". He (or she) walked into their front yard "recently", and feeling unafraid, decided anyone giving this a second thought is a right-wing conservative fearful racist living a cowardly life and cowering in fear.

Take that to heart, Al, lest you be branded a Right-Wing Racist Coward who lives in fear. Then, shut the fuck up, will ya?

[last1standing]

59. He's black so he should know.

Do you not realize how patronizing your post is?

[Nye Bevan]

60. I see his race as irrelevant, and I'm not sure why you are choosing to bring it up.

The point is that he is indisputably not a "right-winger". My post was addressed at those claiming that this whole phenomenon is a fiction, invented by Drudge, the Wall Street Journal, and various others on the right.

[last1standing]

61. Just an interesting coincidence. Ok.

n/t

[last1standing]

54. Knockout is merely the latest scare tactic to make people think black kids are animals.

I've been finding it interesting how the comments about this 'game' always seem to get filled up with comments like "thugs" and "animals."

But when, like in "A Clockwork Orange," the kids are white, they are misguided and able to be rehabilitated.

No one ever seems to talk about rehabilitating black youths, only about how quickly we can get them into prison cells.

[PeaceNikki]

58. Exactly. They are itching to be Dirty Harry. Literally. THIS is what they post on FB.

[greyl]

66. That's Walt Kowalski from Gran Torino, but

your point stands.

[840high]

62. Sharpton made a

statement on this today. He's meeting with other black leaders trying to figure out how to stop this "game".

[Pretzel_Warrior]

67. no surprise. latest in "Black people are ruining our nation by hurting white people"

kind of like the many stories people were digging up during Travyon and Zimmerman case about white couples being murdered by black people. In some cases reaching back into the 90's for such cases.

It also feeds into rural white folks' disproportionate fear of cities and all they contribute to our society. "Well, I would NEVER go into the city. I could be window shopping and be punched out at any moment by some black thug!"

Yeah, just stay in your rural home grandpa. Watch Foxnews, crack open a Budweiser and sing about those Glory Days.

[Rex]

68. Snopes agrees with you and I usually go by what they say.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/montgomery.asp

[JI7]

72. that whole thing reads like some right wing fantasy

older person armed to protect themselves and praying to the lord, person happens to be some neighborhood watch also. and article claims they can't release names of those she shot and died because they were underage. doesn't this only apply if they are alive ? since they are dead i don't believe there is any law to prevent the release of their names due to age. in fact i never heard of anything like that before.

it's like they couldn't say they were alive because people would look for info on the case and where they will be charged and anything else which of course doesn't exist because it is made up so they just claim they are dead and names can't be released.