I think the thrill of the riot is pretty widespread. I myself am a pretty staid, law abiding, non-violent fellow. But I definitely feel the urge - whether its

I think the thrill of the riot is pretty widespread. I myself am a pretty staid, law abiding, non-violent fellow. But I definitely feel the urge - whether its wanting to destroy my tennis racket after losing a game or wanting to participate in post-victory riots that I've witnessed first hand. But the thing that holds me back are a) fear of getting in trouble and b) my conscience. My mom brought me up with a very strict sense of right and wrong and that still stays with me. From what I have read and experienced of inner city culture, its the parenting (or lack thereof) and the failure to instill a conscience that makes rioting more common in these communities. Another factor is that the media and/or educational system and/or community culture have generally built up a sense of grievance and entitlement. That sense of grievance gives an excuse to act out, and a rationalization that assuages the conscience. These grievances may be real or not, but the destruction is still completely unjustified, because its certainly not the hard working storekeeper who's shop is getting burned who is responsible for whatever grievances the rioter might have had.