Boodah wrote:
Don't be too quick to point the finger. Witness statements and security camera footage has already shown what are dubbed "professional rioters" coming out of alleyways prior to the ruckus wearing balaclavas and sporting weapons, molatov's, tire irons, etc... likely the same type of people that showed up in Toronto for the G20 summit and started problems there. Riots are like a contagious disease, people who wouldn't think of starting one become susceptible to being swept up into the riot mentality and joining in once it starts. For example...you're standing there minding your own business, people in your immediate vicinity start flipping a car so you stick around to watch, the cops show up in riot gear and slam into you with a riot shield because you're in the area and piss you off. Bingo, you're now a rioter. Also, don't be fooled by the targeted media coverage, out of the tens of thousands of people out on the streets that night very few of those people were actively burning cars, breaking windows and wreaking havoc. I'm sure a riot could break out amongst post-fight MMA fans who've been drinking just as easily as a group of hockey fans given the right instigators.
Well said and as I said before I hope people learn from this and think twize next time someone are trying to start a riot.
But, even if it is possible that some people intentionally try to start a riot, it is the people that get drunk and follow the idiots that really does the damage.
Martial arts teach you from the first lesson not to use violence on the street, and only in self defence. I was taught this as a kid by my master when I started training and Im sure most masters have that philosophy. So I actually think that as among the crowd of MMA fans there will be more people with an educated attitude about violence then in a hocky crowd, in my opinion the chances for people engaging in a riot are a lot smaller with MMA fans.
But as we all know, in MMA anything can happen lol