quote:

Thousands of police were preparing for the event known as macro-botellon, which had been arranged anonymously through cell phone and internet messages with some 20 cities vying for which one would draw the largest number of people to get drunk at squares or parks.

Taipei Times

If it feels good do it. Right in public if the urge grabs you.

The 15-18 age group is troublesome. You know some kids are going to get hurt. Let them learn by experience the price of indulgence.

Wonder what has changed in the last 10 years to spark such open debauchery? I don't think it is just the communications.

If you don't stand for something then you will fall for anything.

I suspect we will see more, not less, of this kind of activity in other locations.

I wonder how many of these youths (1) have a future based on realistic economic prospects, and (2) have been taught critical thinking in their schools.

Seems to me the children lead the way on how technology can be used to generate a buzz. They could use their internet and cell phone connections to bring the group together for any common cause. It's a jolt to see them using it for simple debauchery.

A future based on economic prospects? Spain is in pretty good shape. I would think that they should have prospects similar to what their parents have/had. Not as wide open as the US, but not as dire as many other places.

Critical thinking? That I doubt. At least it almost certainly is not emphasized as it should be.

Common cause like the French terminate employment without cause protest would be a good thing. Bringing attention to political causes is a good use.

One trend I am seeing the world over is a decline in resistance to drug use. Both legal and illegal drug use is becoming less and less taboo. In a way I think steriods have also contibuted to this phenomena. MLB has been very visible about the drugs actually working with only a couple negative consequences like the sad tale of Jose Canseco.

Chemical and even genetic human manipulations look to be the wave of the future. I will be stuck in the past then where anything that is not food is poison.

Cell phones are another item I could do without. Bumping into lone people talking in "conversant" tones on a cell phjone is something I can't get used to. Autos and cell phones do not mix either.