@bob_the_fisherman Said
It's obviously an age thing, but the term 'gang banging" does not conjure up in my mind images of thugs brawling on the street...
As to your broader point - I suspect that there is a lot of truth in that. Here in Aus, we have a lot of white youngens that are 'wannabe blacks ganstas' and when I see them, I have several different reactions simulataneously. I wanna laugh, beat the piss out of them, and drop them in some American inner city area full of gang violence.
I despise with intensity the glorification of violent morons - here in Aus we have had to put up with a s*** series on our local crims called "underbelly". The only people dumber than the morons that these shows are about, is the cockheads that make or watch these shows...
This is funny, cuz know of several young teens who are currently
'under the influence' - kind of goes with being teen, but feel it is also definitely a result of music and music videos: all of a sudden the teen changes from a 'normal' person to someone who talks gangsta/gangsta wannabes; walks like one; acts like one; poses like one; and is
even less interested in doing well academically then they ever have been.
My reaction is same as yours: amused first, and then other thoughts.
But then back in the day, parents were worried about the influence that Elvis' hip swing would have on youngsters! Some things just gotta run their course, and for the most part with no major life-threatening influence being made.