Are these Riots?

[Curious George]

It seems to me that I have heard a lot about riots lately? Now I remember some riots and I have heard of others historically , but there seems to be a great difference between them. Is what we are seeing and hearing about qualify as a riot? What does qualify as a riot? Is this another how many grains of sand make a heap type of thing?

 

[Electus de Lumine]

It seems to me that I have heard a lot about riots lately? Now I remember some riots and I have heard of others historically , but there seems to be a great difference between them. Is what we are seeing and hearing about qualify as a riot? What does qualify as a riot? Is this another how many grains of sand make a heap type of thing?

I consider breaking down windows and assaulting people on the streets to be riots.

 

[Curious George]

I consider breaking down windows and assaulting people on the streets to be riots.

Any amount? Do a certain number of people need to be involved, a certain percentage? A certain amount of damage? Is there a means by which to judge?

 

[Electus de Lumine]

Any amount? Do a certain number of people need to be involved, a certain percentage? A certain amount of damage? Is there a means by which to judge?

I think the amount of those things happening just determines the size of the riot.

The fact that people are doing these things as part of a group makes it a riot.

Even if you do not consider it a riot does not make it any more right or intelligent.

 

[Laika]

It seems to me that I have heard a lot about riots lately? Now I remember some riots and I have heard of others historically , but there seems to be a great difference between them. Is what we are seeing and hearing about qualify as a riot? What does qualify as a riot? Is this another how many grains of sand make a heap type of thing?

This is a good question. I think this is something going on in the US but in the UK I don't get the same news as you. If you could post a link so people know what riots your talking about that would be great.

 

[Curious George]

This is a good question. I think this is something going on in the US but in the UK I don't get the same news as you. If you could post a link so people know what riots your talking about that would be great.

one only need to Google anti trump riots, and search. Or trump riots. The idea is that riot, Rioters, and riots are being tossed around a lot. I am wondering how we judge a riot to be such.

 

[Curious George]

I think the amount of those things happening just determines the size of the riot.

The fact that people are doing these things as part of a group makes it a riot.

Even if you do not consider it a riot does not make it any more right or intelligent.

So then what is a small riot and how does it compare to a large riot or a very large riot? If a group of men jumped a man in a street would it be a riot? If it was a group of kids in the school yard? Does a riot need to be political in nature?

 

[Curious George]

This is a good question. I think this is something going on in the US but in the UK I don't get the same news as you. If you could post a link so people know what riots your talking about that would be great.

List of riots - Wikipedia

Here is a list of riots. Some have pages, others do not. But this could be a reference for labeling riots.

 

[Augustus]

So then what is a small riot and how does it compare to a large riot or a very large riot? If a group of men jumped a man in a street would it be a riot? If it was a group of kids in the school yard? Does a riot need to be political in nature?

Interesting topic, never really thought about it. I'll chuck in my ill informed comments anyway though...

Riots don't have to be political, they sometimes happen after sporting events/parades (Bizarrely, often after winning. Hey, we won the championship, let's celebrate by breaking our own city)

I'd say there is no exact cut off point, but a riot needs enough people, doing enough damage to property and/or violence, for a long enough duration. Don't think there is an exact way to quantify what is 'enough' though. Probably one of these 'I'll know it when I see it' things.

If it is debatable whether or not it actually is a riot, then it probably isn't one.

Perhaps we need to create something like the Beaufort scale but for civil disorder. A few students smashing windows on campus would probably be the equivalent of 'moderate breeze'.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

is it a riot if there is a peaceful protest, but someone takes advantage of the situation to engage in property damage and theft? O does there have to be intent on the part of the organizers and/or the majority of people present to cause violence and mayhem?

Is it a riot if public safety officials decide to launch tear gas, release attack dogs, use water cannons, etc., even when no violence, looting, etc. is taking place? And in the ensuing panic of people trying to get away or protect themselves, people are hurt or property is damaged?

Are the organizers of a protest or rally or other event responsible for the actions of all who show up, including those showing up to take advantage of the event for personal gain? As an other event, are the team and the organizers of a championship game responsible for vandalism and looting by fans and others afterwards?

What I am seeing is that there is no really clear definition of what is and is not legitimate protesting, rioting, intent, police overreach, and so on. We can turn to the courts for some help along these lines, but even that is of limited value.

Is rioting like pornography, you know it when you see it, but individual and community standards apply, as well?

 

[Revoltingest]

Some basic indisputable facts.....
- At least 3 people are needed to qualify as a riot.
- Mere yelling, sign waving, organized running around, & flashing of privates is not rioting.
- Rioting is for the young.
- One broken window might or might not be a riot. Two broken windows is a riot.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

- Rioting is for the young.

--or at least it has to be scheduled for mid-morning, with at least coffee and donuts, and plenty of restroom availability...and not too much noise...

 

[Watchmen]

It seems to me that I have heard a lot about riots lately? Now I remember some riots and I have heard of others historically , but there seems to be a great difference between them. Is what we are seeing and hearing about qualify as a riot? What does qualify as a riot? Is this another how many grains of sand make a heap type of thing?

Do you think what happened at Berkeley earlier this week was a riot?

 

[Serpent Child]

It seems to me that I have heard a lot about riots lately? Now I remember some riots and I have heard of others historically , but there seems to be a great difference between them. Is what we are seeing and hearing about qualify as a riot? What does qualify as a riot? Is this another how many grains of sand make a heap type of thing?

I've heard of Antifa Riots, yes, they assaulted people and broke stuff...

Most are also saying "PUNCH A NAZI IN THE FACE, 2017!!!!"

Which makes me extremely worried for my brothers and sisters.

 

[Curious George]

Do you think what happened at Berkeley earlier this week was a riot?

Are you answering a question with a question?

I think throwing "smoke bombs" and flares, committing assault and battery, and destroying property are disturbances of the peace. If they are done by a "crowd" then the would seem to fall under the strictest definition of a riot. But I am trying understand how we define a riot. Would a 5 second graders breaking a window qualify as a riot? Would 10 men playing loud music qualify as a riot? What do we mean when we say riot?

 

[Watchmen]

Are you answering a question with a question?

I think throwing "smoke bombs" and flares, committing assault and battery, and destroying property are disturbances of the peace. If they are done by a "crowd" then the would seem to fall under the strictest definition of a riot. But I am trying understand how we define a riot. Would a 5 second graders breaking a window qualify as a riot? Would 10 men playing loud music qualify as a riot? What do we mean when we say riot?

I'm just trying to get an understanding of your understanding. Do you believe what happened in Berkeley was a riot?

 

[Monk Of Reason]

It seems to me that I have heard a lot about riots lately? Now I remember some riots and I have heard of others historically , but there seems to be a great difference between them. Is what we are seeing and hearing about qualify as a riot? What does qualify as a riot? Is this another how many grains of sand make a heap type of thing?

What it is is protests whith select few individuals within some of the protests doing violent things. And the media likes to call them riots. Man the 80's knew how to riot I tell ya what.

 

[Watchmen]

From dictionary.com:

noun
1.
a noisy, violent public disorder caused by agroup or crowd of persons, as by a crowdprotesting against another group, agovernment policy, etc., in the streets.
2.
Law. a disturbance of the public peace bythree or more persons acting together in adisrupting and tumultuous manner in carryingout their private purposes.

 

[sun rise]

Interesting topic, never really thought about it. I'll chuck in my ill informed comments anyway though...

Riots don't have to be political, they sometimes happen after sporting events/parades (Bizarrely, often after winning. Hey, we won the championship, let's celebrate by breaking our own city)

I'd say there is no exact cut off point, but a riot needs enough people, doing enough damage to property and/or violence, for a long enough duration. Don't think there is an exact way to quantify what is 'enough' though. Probably one of these 'I'll know it when I see it' things.

If it is debatable whether or not it actually is a riot, then it probably isn't one.

Perhaps we need to create something like the Beaufort scale but for civil disorder. A few students smashing windows on campus would probably be the equivalent of 'moderate breeze'.

When I was in college, there was one fraternity-inspired riot where drunk college students dropped beer bottles from the top of a building and smashed windows. There was nothing at all political about it just alcohol. And as noted, riots happen around sporting events as well.

 

[Curious George]

I'm just trying to get an understanding of your understanding. Do you believe what happened in Berkeley was a riot?

I would say portions of what happened in Berkeley would be classified as a riot. But then by the same definition 5 second graders breaking a window is also a riot, as is a city in chaos such as with the Rodney king riots, as is a group of people wearing sheets setting fire to a cross in someone's front lawn.

So, are all of these riots? They are certainly distinguished from each other. So are there different levels of rioting? Are all riots equal?