"Happy Slapping"

[ScapeGoat]

With claims the Asian kid who was killed yesterday may have been captured on film as a "happy slapping" incident is it not time the media acted more responsibly and reported it for what it was - a deadly criminal assault?

Ok words dont stop mindless folks but should the media use the term because of its "I woz only messin about having a bit of fun" connotations?

[s.a.m]

I know what you mean. It's a bit like road rage - loads of people would admit to having succumbed to a bit of road rage, but few would like to own up to having behaved like belligerent thugs.

The language may well not affect the behaviour, but it somehow euphemises it.

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With claims the Asian kid who was killed yesterday may have been captured on film as a "happy slapping" incident is it not time the media acted more responsibly and reported it for what it was - a deadly criminal assault?

Ok words dont stop mindless folks but should the media use the term because of its "I woz only messin about having a bit of fun" connotations?

I think you're right. Call it 'happy slapping' and it sounds like a bit of fun when it's actually a criminal assault. It never was fun, and it never was excusable in any way.